Fair. I think a rebuild is needed anyway. I’d sell the silver again this summer and do a proper clear out.
Fair. I think a rebuild is needed anyway. I’d sell the silver again this summer and do a proper clear out.
It’s a bit drastic. Not many neutrals would agree with that view at all.
It’s best to go off the assumption the coaching hasn’t been where it’s needed to be. Now there’s a new setup, a bit of time with the players to show that they’re up to the level required.
Leadership is the bedrock of any squad and we need to rebuild a strong leadership core that we had in the L1 and early Championship days.
I think MvE and Sheaf will be off bare minimum. Wright I wouldn’t be surprised to see push for a move and maybe Simms too. Wilson Bidwell Allen and Tavares are OOC and I’d cut our losses on BTA, Dasilva, Kitching and Collins. Start with:
Dovin
Thomas, Binks, Lats
Eccles, Torp, Rudoni
Saka, EMC
Bassette
That’s 10, you’d need at least another 10-12 in I think.
I don’t think our glorious leader will sanction another rebuild seeing as we’ve got one of the next decks we’ve ever had.
If bids are in and players want to go I wouldn’t be surprised. He seemed to imply wanting to stop players leaving was part of his motivation for appointing Lampard.
This is catastrophising. We’re not going to have an exodus on that scale and most of the players listed haven’t hit form warranting a move up to the Prem.
There’s a lot of players in this ‘deck’ where the individual and team performances have dropped off a cliff. It’s not probable that all those players have become bad overnight. It is more likely that the coaching and tactical setup for these players wasn’t good enough.
I’m sure many Sunderland fans felt as you do right now about their team last season. All it took was a few good signings.
The problem is that the chairman thinks the deck is good enough for top 6. I feel the first thing is to convince him of the truth and the shortcomings is the way forward else no additions will be incoming to rectify the situation.
Before we axe the entire team we need to see how FL can work with what he has and whether he can turn the form of certain individuals around.
Pointless making these kind of forecasts at this stage of the season.
Do people genuinely think our league position is representative of the quality of our squad?
I think we easily have a top 10 squad. Honestly confused at some of the opinions on here.
I think we easily have a top 10 squad. Honestly confused at some of the opinions on here.
It isn't, but our league position is representative of our dire defensive record. The second most goals conceded at home in the division, that is completely unsustainable.
True but we’ve been unlucky with how many goals we’ve conceded. And we’ve really struggled to control games. I think our problems are more tactical than individual quality.
I think after Christmas we will know where we stand but for me our most realistic aim is a mid table finish.
I think our recruitment is absolutely diabolical. We have a lot of players that I wouldn’t want on a free transfer never mind paying money for - Kitching, Dovin, Collins and Asante.
Dean Austin should be next on the chopping block.
If we bring in a DoF, I think there’s a good chance he’ll be gone. Not sure there’d then be many pre-King staff members left then.
Never thought I’d say the words but with this set up we need a DOF. Austin has made a mess of recruitment and DK doesn’t have any football background to be deciding which players we need.
Dovin is an international at U17, U19, U21, and full. He just needs a proper chance.
The fella you are speaking to likes to make grand overegged statements, it's his think.
For me as well King shouldn’t be negotiating transfers either. The EMC one being a case in point.
Maybe you’re right and I wasn’t 100% on whether to include Dovin in that but from what I’ve seen so far I’m really disappointed and then seemingly the fact we have 3 number 2s and no solid number 1 adds to the disappointment of his fee.
Thankfully Dovin’s young enough and there is potential there. I don’t think dropping the keeper every time there is a mistake helps the situation either.
Kitching, Collins and Asante are all 25 or over and look a massive waste of money and there’s serious question marks over EMC for me but he had a promising game on Saturday. Not perfect but positive and a goal.
I can't buy that reason. Sunderland and Cardiff have scored from long range but did we even try to close the shot-taker down?
That, and tracking opposition runners, is basic defending.
Sunderland and Cardiff scored 4 goals against us from a total of 1.4 xg. We’re either unlucky or Collins is crap. Probably a bit of both.
To be fair to Latibeaudiere, he wasn’t marking anyone because he wasn’t even playing…
Low bar I know but the Cardiff comms said Sheaf was the best player on the pitch
We’re three or four quality players away from a decent team. Maybe 5. Astute signings, like MR did with Kelly, Godden, Fadz, Allen, COH, Gus and Vik.
Maybe, with a vein of experience and a dash of an on-field general, we will be gracing that elusive top 6.
Until then, we are right in it, if the magic wand of Frank and his coaches does little to steer the ship.
Maybe, with a vein of experience and a dash of an on-field general, we will be gracing that elusive top 6.
Until then, we are right in it, if the magic wand of Frank and his coaches does little to steer the ship.
How will you take it if Austin is appointed DoF and he gets to choose who replaces him as Head of Recruitment.
NB As of April 2022, Austin was studying on the FA's technical director course.
Low bar I know but the Cardiff comms said Sheaf was the best player on the pitch
He's been fine this season, not at his best but nowhere as bad as some on here make out. Where he has been struggling most is decision making when he's got the ball, he's so often delaying a pass and taking extra touches. It's no doubt confidence though. He's a good passer and should have a bit more faith in himself.
Sheaf is our highest rated player this season on FotMob, 37th highest rated player in the division with most (90%) of those above belonging to teams in the top 6.
I mean if we are really desperate for an experienced centre half we could get James Tomkins in on a free or Tim Ream on loan from Charlotte FC now the MLS has finished
Well if it is that, that is rectifiable and can be fixed relatively easily.
Closing down and tracking back can be worked on in training and is miles away from a player just not being good enough and lacking quality.
He's 22. That's really young for a keeper. He's been brought in with the future in mind.
Hopefully, he should only get better.
A football team is like a machine, and if any of the moving parts are not working well it unbalances the whole thing. As a simple example, if a McLaren F1 car had (say 
) a squidgy left rear tyre it would be way at the back of the grid.
We’ve seen many times over the years that quite small changes can make a huge difference to the performance of a team. Talk of shipping out half the squad and starting again is a wild overreaction IMO.
We need reinforcements in key positions, because recruitment fell short by two or three players in the summer (easily enough to explain the stuttering start to the season, without the need for endless conspiracy theories). Hopefully Lampard will be given the resources to rectify that. In the meantime, there’s no need for all this panicking and slagging players off as crap or lazy – it isn’t true.
) a squidgy left rear tyre it would be way at the back of the grid.We’ve seen many times over the years that quite small changes can make a huge difference to the performance of a team. Talk of shipping out half the squad and starting again is a wild overreaction IMO.
We need reinforcements in key positions, because recruitment fell short by two or three players in the summer (easily enough to explain the stuttering start to the season, without the need for endless conspiracy theories). Hopefully Lampard will be given the resources to rectify that. In the meantime, there’s no need for all this panicking and slagging players off as crap or lazy – it isn’t true.