Roker Roundup: Sunderland linked with loan move for Man Utd prospect & Parky discusses his plans

Parkinson on what to expect from his Sunderland

Phil Parkinson experienced an almost perfect start at home for Sunderland last night as his team brushed aside Tranmere Rovers 5-0.

Despite only taking over a week ago, Parkinson has already overseen two games which has left him with very little time to work on the training ground.

Speaking to the Totally Football Show in the aftermath of last night’s victory, Parkinson explained what he has been doing to get a performance like that out of the players and what the fans can expect from his team:

I have just been trying to address the balance in the team.

We’re a team who has a lot of the ball, but we need to be more effective with it, especially at home. We’ve got to make sure we’re penetrating the opposition back four, getting early crosses into the box like we did last night.

We’ve also got to make sure we’re more solid defensively. When you’re attacking, you’ve got to make sure you’ve got players in place so you don’t get counter-attacked on. It’s just those little areas we’re looking at.

We’ve got a lot of work to do, and we’ve had limited time on the training pitch to do it.

You can listen to the full interview with the Sunderland manager in the podcast below, where he reveals what he discussed with the owners before taking over, how he sees Duncan Watmore as a key player and what he thinks of the club’s promotion hopes.

Photo by Sunderland AFC/Sunderland AFC via Getty Images

---

Manchester United youngster linked

Sunderland have been linked with a move for 18-year-old Manchester United midfielder James Garner, according to reports.

The Sun claim that as well as Sunderland, Wigan Athletic and Preston North End are interesting in taking the player on-loan in the January transfer window.

Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solksjaer has likened Garner’s playing style to that of one of his assistant coaches and former England international Michael Carrick:

He knows we believe in him, we’ve got great faith in him as the next Michael Carrick.

I know he’s young and I know it’s not fair on kids to compare great players like Michael was, but he’s the same mould. He plays simple passes through the lines.

Michael had the pressure of coming in after Roy Keane, so that’s just the way it is at Man Utd.

Garner has been named in the 20-man squad to face Partizan Belgrade in the Europa League later today and made his debut for Manchester United as a late substitute in a Premier League away game at Crystal Palace in February.

Photo by John Peters/Manchester United via Getty Images

---

Rodwell to Roma?

Italian side AS Roma are currently experiencing a bit of an injury crisis and in their search for free agents that could help them out in their time of need have been linked with renowned fitness freak Jack Rodwell.

According to Corriere Dello Sport, the Giallorossi are unable to register non-EU players until January and that has led them to placing Rodwell onto their list of possible reinforcements alongside Joe Ledley, Riccardo Montolivo and Emil Hallfredsson.

Rodwell has been unemployed since leaving Blackburn Rovers at the end of last season but had recently been on trial at MLS outfit New England Revolution.

Photo by Ian Horrocks/Sunderland AFC via Getty Images

---

Academy product in demand

Grimsby Town youngster Joey Hope has not yet made a senior appearance for the Mariners but has already been attracting attention from elsewhere.

Hope, who spent time in the Sunderland academy before joining Grimsby, has been linked with a move to Premier League side Everton.

The Sun also claim that our North East neighbours Middlesbrough are interested in the 17-year-old left-back.