FAN LETTERS: Sunderland are soft touches no more - only players who WANT to be here are needed!

Dear Roker Report,

I think the podcast with Stewart Donald summed up a lot about the squad and the problems we’ve been having over the last two seasons.

Exposing some of the players has gave the fans a massive insight into the mentality of the team and shows why we’ve had back to back relegations - because very few of them want to be here. Many of the Sunderland players who joined over the last couple of seasons will most likely leave at the first chance they get.

Some massive squad rebuilding will need to be done over the next couple of weeks, but Jack Ross and Stewart Donald have the backing of the fans. Haway the Lads.

Luke Brown

Ed’s Note [Gav]: My fellow RR editor Tom Atkinson wrote a fantastic article today detailing the need for supporters to re-align their expectations, and I think that marries up well with the message that you are trying to put across here.

For YEARS now Sunderland has been a place where people come for an easy ride - and that isn’t just on the pitch, but off it. If we want to change the mentality of this club going forward, we have to bring players in that want to play for us, and aren’t motivated by the money on offer but the opportunity to play for what is undoubtedly a massive club at this level.

Just think if you are a player who has plodded around the football league since your career started - imagine if the chance to play for Sunderland arose? If that’s not enough to make you want to come here, then we don’t want you. What is likely is that we’ll sign a large number of players that our fans aren’t familiar with, but it is what it is - we must build a team for THIS league, and not any other.

Sunderland AFC via Getty Images

Dear Roker Report,

I can understand Hughie’s concerns about how long it appears to be taking for us to sign new players, but I would have to disagree.

Too many times in the past Sunderland have been criticised for not signing players quick enough, only then to find out that the ones that we signed were perhaps not the best option.

I fully understand that the new season is fast approaching, but I would rather be safe than sorry - yes, let’s get new players on board, but let’s get the right ones so we can get Sunderland back to where they belong.

Anthony Catterson

Ed’s Note [Gav]: I agree. In my reply to the letter above I’ve outlined my reasons for why we need to recruit differently this summer, and this all ties in together. We can’t rush in to decisions, nor can we just throw money at attracting players here again.

Sunderland AFC via Getty Images

Dear Roker Report,

When is the next installment of Cans & Megabus?

I haven’t laughed so much since Catts clattered Colback!

Gary (in deepest, darkest Dorset)

Ed’s Note [Gav]: I’m glad you enjoyed it! Walshie is a fantastic writer, and his Cans & Megabus series is one of my favourite Roker Report features. He’ll be writing away guides, post-away day journals and much more over pre-season and the coming journey into League One, so be sure to keep up with that as and when they appear.