Fan Letters: “I think that Sunderland’s squad has IMPROVED after the summer transfer window!”

Dear Roker Report,

I keep seeing people say that Sunderland have a weaker squad than we did last season, but I couldn’t agree less. Sure, Oviedo and Cattermole are decent footballers, but has our squad really weakened as a result of losing them? Cattermole scored a few last year but I’d say overall his performances weren’t a level above this one, and we really never saw anything from Bryan Oviedo bar a small handful of moments.

I think the squad has improved as a collective and that we have more players now who suit the overall aim. I was just wondering what you think about how our squad looks now the window has shut.

Kieran Gibson

Ed’s Note [Gav]: I suppose time will tell if this is a better squad or not - now probably isn’t the time to judge. I think Willis and Lynch are likely to be a squad upgrade on Baldwin and Loovens, and that George Dobson has the potential to be a very good player, whilst Marc McNulty is a better striker at this moment in time than Kaz Sterling.

I don’t honestly know if we’re any better as a result, though - I guess if you ask this question again at the end of October we might have a better idea of what the answer is!

Photo by Ian Horrocks/Sunderland AFC via Getty Images

Dear Roker Report,

The supporters are important but more is the players and I feel some of them are not putting their heart and soul into it because there are some sure if we get promotion to the Championship they will be gone from our wonderful set up and their wages.

It is time for a reassessment of our players.

Ian D

Ed’s Note [Gav]: Errrr... I can’t really agree with that.

I think that in the past you definitely could have levelled that at some of our players but nowadays I think that’s a tad harsh on the current squad we’ve got. They mightn’t be the best players we’ve ever had but in the main I feel the attitudes of all the players across the board are fairly faultless. I certainly don’t get the impression that we have players who don’t want to be here and are riding out their time with the club because I think the people in charge now care so much about what goes on that they wouldn’t have lasted the summer if that was the impression those within the club were getting.