I don't know when his contract is up, but if I were him, I'd be off somewhere else. He'll never get a chance to prove what he can do at CCFC.
In a weird combination of ex players, Stuart Beavon and Lee Hughes are now the front 2 for Mickleover Sports. A combined age of 78. That’s also Pablo Mills who’s ex Derby.
Not an ex player as such but good article with Tommy Widdrington here. Some info about his time here and how he ‘nearly’ got Wan-Bissaka on a free. How Tommy Widdrington dragged Rovers kicking and screaming into the 21st Century
I’m always a little wary when things like this come out after a player has gone for a lot of money. I remember Ranson saying we could have had Henderson, Carroll and Cork for two million combined. Saying that though there is some truth in this one as the guy who covers Palace youth teams published an article on the Athletic with the 23s manager there who said he was close to being released.
What is interesting here is that Widdrington asserts there was no scouting dept at all when Robins arrived the second time and recruited him in to set one up. Crikey. Secondly he sees the three ex-City players as very important. Was Robins in error at letting any of them go? Maybe Davies, not the other two? Thirdly their business model is an exact replica of CCFC's; it is a trading one, buy cheap->develop->sell dear. They will certainly get more for JCH now. I suspect almost all League 1 clubs bar maybe Sunderland and Ipswich have this as a goal, so it is actually a fierce contest for talent between us all and potentially quite labour intensive. Bremang came from Sheen near Richmond in London, McCallum from Herne Bay in Kent. (Who the hell goes to Herne Bay to watch football? How did they know?..Ed)
McCallum was at the V9 academy event, which is set up for young players who haven’t been picked up by a pro club yet. Bremang was at the Conquest Academy - their players trial a lot of the time at pro clubs. One of their players just got signed by Sheffield United. Toby Sibbick at Barnsley was also from there.
Not normally an advocate of people visiting Sunderlands forum as it tends to create tension between the twqo sets of fans. However, I've just paid it a visit (bored, no other excuse) and this delightful comment about Burge may gain some common agreement between ourselves and our Mackem brethren, if not in words, certainly in sentiment
Can't say I agree he has the heart of a pea. He tries his best and won us many points plus always played well in the big games. His saves in the play-offs, final and checkatrade final helped us win. Along with Gael Bigiramana he was instrumental in our wins. He just was not good enough over a season and that's why we had to replace him. Same with Bigi, but does not mean people should say the heart of a pea. They tried their best, it just was not good enough.
I did say that the wording they had used was inaccurate. But considering the verbal beating Burge has taken on this forum, I think the sentiment is still in the right area. His failings may all be down to frail confidence but in a keeper, that is probably the most important asset they have, apart from decision making.
Leon Clarke's there too, had to check their squad list to make sure Conor Thomas isn't in their reserves somewhere
just settling down to watch Eastleigh v Crewe on BT Sport and they just said Reda Johnson is out injured. Why am I not surprised?
Watching Solihull vs Rotherham, is the Gudger that scored for Solihull the same lad we had in our youth system a few years ago???
He was in Nuneaton’s youth team but wasn’t kept on by them. Always looked a good player. (My son was in the same team).
He was at Cov until 18s and got released. Same age group as Wilson and Christie. Looks like he could be in the FL soon, they had a good season last year and third this season.
My son was a year younger. He (my son) played for Nuneaton youth team from the age of 16 until he was 18. My son was right back, Alex Gudger was left back. So Alex must have been 17 or 18 the year my son started to play. They got to the final of the Birmingham County Youth Cup in that first season. They beat Stratford Town at Rugby Town’s ground (my son scored his only goal in his two years in that final!). Gudger was the outstanding player that year but wasn’t kept on. I saw him play for Solihull at Tamworth last season. He played at Centre half and had an outstanding game. I can’t see why he couldn’t have made a lower league player.
