The Kraken

Yep, was just thinking this myself, the dynamic isn’t great with him there plus THB will surely benefit from playing alongside a slightly older head. I like the 4 of THB, Janny B, Stephens and Holgate.

He hasn’t got many followers but I looked back through his timeline and there’s a few saints snippets in there that were true. Not sure when he made them compared to when the news came out, mind. But he’s not a total crank.

Yep, very surprised we’ve managed to get him. Would’ve thought any loan would be to a PL side, but I thought a few PL sides would come in for him on a perm.

Bench at best I reckon. The manager said he’s been pulled from pillar to post so I imagine his head is all over the place. Plus he won’t have done final prep training today with the team.

Very much so. Keeping Che and signing Stewart is a great result for this season. I get the feeling Che will likely be pissed off though so he might not sign the new deal offered, which is far from ideal for next season’s funds.

Ings has his bumper £120k a week contract weighing down any move elsewhere. West Ham might offset some of it but you can’t think they’d go 50/50 and loan him to a rival, and at 60k a week that’s out of championship club range. And I’m sure Ings won’t be taking a drop in pay to move elsewhere. Hard to see anyone wanting him who can afford him.

10 goals in 12 games (it’s actually 13) is unproven? Sunderland fans rave about him, I’m listening to them.

I can see how people could be worried about Stewart’s injury problems but being underwhelmed as a whole is pretty bizarre. Take the injury out and it’s a brilliant signing for this level. Most Sunderland fans (a side who finished in the Championship playoffs last season) are gutted to see him go and plenty saying they think he’s the best striker in the division.

If Mara is indeed off I think we absolutely need a replacement. Hopefully it’s in hand.

Because we’ve agreed he can leave to go there for the fee the club wants, it’s just a deferred payment as Wolves are stuffed for FFP. It’s why their old manager Loptegui left in acrimonious circumstances before the season started, Wolves need to get money in and only spend a little this window. Hence, they get Adams for “free” this summer and can put the £15M in next summer’s FFP bundle. it’s a shit deal tbf. But it is what it is, Adams clearly wanted to go and was at times shoved on the bench and/or training away from the first team. If anything I’m not sure why we’d give someone like that the flipping armband.

So far it’s 13 senior first team players: Caballero, Theo, Elmo end of contract; DCC, Perraud, Lyanco loaned out; Tino, Orsic, Salisu, JWP, Lavia, Diallo, Tella sold. The rest are the likes of Dan Nlundulu and Kegs Chauke. Of those gone I’m only sorry to say goodbye to 4 or 5 of them, it’s been a good reset and was entirely predictable.

Touchdown.

The fuck is going on, off for another flyby.

😆

Well he’s had a lovely tour of England’s major cities. Strange flight plan but makes for a nice view.

Yeah sounds like it I suppose, end of September at a push but won’t want to rush it.

Sunderland forums were suggesting he’s been in light training and they were trying to organise a behind closed doors friendly in the international break for him.

Loganair flight leaves Newcastle at 1755, lands Southampton 1910.

Need to make sure the fax machine is plugged in and working.

Sunderland were trying to get hold of him on loan earlier in the summer, perhaps still are as a replacement for Stewart.

Looks like he’s gone to Salford so obviously didn’t make it at Watford.

Our manager. Great presser. It also has the written press Q&A which get delayed until much later on.

Very surprised that nobody has had a nibble at THB for £15M.

It’s of course up to you what you would or wouldn’t be shocked with. I watched the press conference where Russ said that, and he was absolutely unequivocal about the fact that it would be “madness” if Che left and he wasn’t replaced. That is pretty much exactly what Martin said in his press conference last week as well. So, when Saturday comes we’ll have a definitive picture of how the club have done with this, and also of the Tella replacement which they said is a high priority. We at least know for sure what the communicated objective is.

Thursday rest day, Friday travel day.