Badger

New tattoo for the Championship?

Having mentioned Piroe, Stewart and Van Hooijdonk in an earlier post but didn’t Darren Mowbray rustle up a few players from obscure leagues whilst at Aberdeen ?

Of those mentioned Piroe looks the stand out option for a forward. Stewart coming back from injury despite a good L1 record, would be a bigger risk. Van Hooijdonk might tick a few boxes, mainly being a big Dutch fucker, and we need one of those for promotion (a la Jos*), just hope he doesn’t specialise in scoring on Tuesday nights. * hoping he’s not the Hoedt of Dutch strikers though if he does join.

Agree about sorting a striker out, but that’s a pretty bold prediction….

I thought they were linked with ABK

That’s probably straight out of the Semmens Guide , if one youngster is outstanding and makes the grade, then they all will. Yes, Lavia was unproven twelve months ago, but the same thinking through the squad didn’t work. On the subject of Charles though, I’m reasonably optimistic on this one.

Fair point. Either would be a good addition.

Isn't Charles meant/hoped to be the Lavia replacement ?

That's the first bit I hope they've got wrong...

What was Bazunu doing for their goal yesterday??

Send him to the jungle.

Fair point, wasn’t aware of that.

Weren’t ‘metatarsals’ a bit ‘brand Beckham’ at the time ? After him every player was claiming one, it became a fashion injury to have. Bit like Gascoigne who seemed to patent cruciate ligament in the early 90’s.

Can’t see Sunderland selling to what they regard as a promotion rival, unless stupid money. Or that the player would be interested.

Probably a lot of talking between the potential buyers with players agent and Lavia also. Unfortunately that tends to be agreed before the bid.

As you say, PR spin, but looks better than when the squad met Gao in China. Although to be fair to Gao that was largely downgraded with Austin being a bellend, getting on everyone's tits by being the 'big man' wanting to take centre stage

Will probably still do a good rendition of ‘King of the Road’ at the end of season dinner even if he doesn’t play much.

Quite disappointing to see some of the names still here, and those we might be relying on. GK, CB, ST, really in need of sorting.

Worthy of a caption competition: Dragan to Jack : “fucking hell, are you still here ?”

Probably remembered as his most effective in those years under Koeman, true. But my recollection is that he was at his best at the start and end of his time. Brilliant for the first six months, then to his great credit came alive and stepped up when we really needed him c April under Hughes when we avoided relegation. Seemed pretty average at times in between despite knowing he had more in his game to offer.

Is that because he’s going to cook in the Championship or whatever ?

That’s generally been the case but it doesn’t apply re the two I’ve mentioned. As I recall we had agreed the fee with Norwich for Maddison (c£22m), Sangarre went to PSV for £8-10m depending on reports. As a further example of our misguided recruitment dept, Botman cost less than Salisu the same year.

See on the BBC Gossip that Sangarre (our first choice MF that year) being talked about at £35m. Players are totally different, like Maddison & Elyonoussi, how did we go from A to B with such a drop in standard ?

Say Diallo, wave goodbye ….

Looks a good signing from his stats last season.