Saint Matty 76

I suppose it could be Stewart in for Che and Ballard in for Mara? Risky but I don't think I'd be too disappointed seeing Ballard get Mara's minutes. The obvious issue with this being who plays up front whilst Stewart is currently/and potentially injured.

Mara going, not too big a surprise but it definitely means we need another on top of Stewart.

I'm excited about the signing. There seems to be absolutely no doubt on the players ability from the Sunderland side of things, just understandable doubt regarding injuries and his remaining contract length leading to some acceptance of the sale. Obviously there's the worry that players lose a great deal after an achilles injury, but you'd like to think we've done our due diligence on this area. Fingers crossed we're also happy to commit £10m~ because we've been made aware he's back pre-October, because our September is brutal.

I just can't quite understand the idea of having to fund a striker ourselves and letting Wolves have Che temporarily, only to be in the exact same situation next year if we don't go up, or to have a striker back who is just decent at the level if we do. I imagine we'll get a couple million as a loan fee and Wolves will have an option around £15m which they likely won't take, but I'd struggle to understand this move.

The difference is they (understandably) didn't want the guy and this is our best attacker. Che's biggest use for us is in the Championship, as we've all seen he's a replaceable level player in the Prem. Not sure what the benefit of us getting him back next year (maybe) when we're (hopefully) back in the Prem?

That is pretty baffling to me, I have to say.

Honestly god knows how it works. I'm sure they have clever ways of diverting the payment until next year. Either way it'll be disappointing.

Strange rumour. Would have to be a way of Wolves fighting FFP with an obligation to sign, considering his contract will be up anyway.

I don't disagree, but it is nice to be signing players who people are raving about. Usually they haven't kicked a ball at all.

Ah, the neutral aspect is completely void then. 😆 Still, definitely talked myself/been talked into being excited about the signing.

Not sure if this has already been posted, but one of the neutral Football League accounts posted this about an hour back -

Fuck no, just an optimistic idiot. Unless it happens in which case I'll delete this reply immediately.

IN: Harwood-Bellis (Loan) Stewart Lewis-Potter (Loan) OUT: ABK (Loan) Sulemana Adams Onuachu (Loan)

I think ABK will go on to have a great career if he can get a metal shoulder put in place, but getting anything around £25m and Harwood-Bellis on loan would be some more very good business financially.

Welp, sorry Nixon. Absolutely love that signing and it means I'd not be fussed if ABK goes in the last couple days, it'd just be a nice additional bonus if he does stay. Fingers crossed there's a buy option in there as well.

Same here. If we're lucky enough to land him on loan then I hope there's something along the lines of a £15m option in there, because he could easily be a player who can make the jump to the Premier League after another good year at this level. Unfortunately, Alan Nixon rarely gets anything right.

I know nothing about Paintsil but this is my opinion as well. I don't see how he could offer us any less than Onuachu can in a Russell Martin system.

He's gone! Maybe... again...

I don't think anybody would've expected Gnonto to be playing & scoring for Leeds a week ago but it proves players can get their head down even if they were desperate for the move. I'd be happy if we kept 50% of those players because I'm still expecting 0 at this point.

At least Ross Stewart will make friends quickly.

You think? I’d suggest he’s 4th/5th choice and that Downes, Smallbone & Alcaraz are the preferred 3. Charles rotating in for Downes/at CB and Stu rotating in for Smallbone/Alcaraz. However, could easily be a case that Smallbone isn’t risked immediately you’re right.

Can’t see Stu starting this weekend so I guess we’d then land on Bednarek.

Sounded very much like Che will be the captain for the next few months if he stays. Hopefully an added incentive for him sticking around. Spent a little while reading the Sunderland forum about Stewart and they're pretty much all of the opinion that if he comes back how he was, he's the best striker in the division now Gyokeres has left. However, there is a lot of reiteration that he is simply injury prone.

Stewart's stats are pretty incredible, albeit in a limited sample size. As I mentioned yesterday about incomings needing additional context, if he comes alongside Che/somebody else then I absolutely love the move. If it's Che out, Stewart in when he's not even going to be fit throughout our hardest run of the season and hasn't kicked a ball in 8 months... it's a problem. Player looks really good, so hopefully the medical team are certain that the achilles injury isn't going to play a part, and his hamstrings aren't prone to snapping again right away.