Fan Letters: “I’d leave Sunderland if I got a Championship offer!”

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Dear Roker Report,

Lee Johnson is not the answer. We either part with him now (before his spends any money) or KLD will be doing so at Christmas when we will be nowhere near the play offs.

The man has no tactical idea whatsoever, he is scared to play young players which will mean they will all leave and go elsewhere.

I finally believe we have a good chairman in place. his father was ruthless businessman who built up strong brands, lets hope he can do the same.

Lee Johnson is where he was when we got him for a reason, I do no doubt he would interview well, however football is brutal, his bottle went as did the players once they got their shot at the top.

Massive clear out needed if Lee Johnsons idea of a player is Carl Winchester oh dear!

Finally, Wyke will never repeat that performance again if we rely on him next season to promote us, we will be disappointed.

As for the treatment Lee Johnson received it is no use in cuddling him, he needs to toughen up.

If Lee Johnson is Manager all next season Sunderland will not go up again.

I do not think he will be given the luxury of time.

Mike Traynor

Ed’s Note [Rich]: Thanks for your letter, Mike, but I have to disagree with the idea of getting rid of yet another manager and we know for certain - direct from Louis-Dreyfus no less - that it will not happen this summer. Johnson will be given this window at least to shape his squad and I believe we’ll see a very different side emerge once all the ins-and-outs are complete. I do think you’re right that if, by December, we’ve not shown a marked improvement both in style of play and results, then Speakman and KLD will have to reassess.

Photo by Ian Horrocks/Sunderland AFC via Getty Images

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Dear Roker Report,

I read with interest your article about giving players who are out of contract deadlines to sign back up. I wonder, are we offering any of them better money do we think? I’d imagine not, given everyone bar Hume will have been amongst our highest earners.

Got to put yourself in their shoes too. I’d leave if I got a Championship offer!

Even if it’s Luton!

I love SAFC but careers are short.

John Danby

Ed’s Note [Rich]: Thanks for your letter John. I think a couple, Hume like you said and O’Nien, will be offered improved deals as they were both youngsters when they last signed on.

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Dear Roker Report,

For me we need a new goalie. Burge seems honest enough but I want to see a Sunderland goalkeeper be able to do the basics, and importantly, make hardly any errors. Burge is too error prone which is why I think he needs to be relegated to the bench or sold.

Thoughts?

WokingMackem

Ed’s Note [Rich]: Cheers for writing in. Burge had a pretty decent season - he made the League 1 team of the year - and for every mistake you can be sure that there were a good few match-winning or point-saving stops too. At this level, you’re not going to get a keeper with high all-round stats in every department - good on the floor, intelligent distribution, commanding on crosses, great at one-on-ones, agile shot stopper - and so much of their performances are based on confidence and form. But I agree that it’s a position that we need to improve and having competition for Burge will be important some August.

Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt - AMA/Getty Images

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Dear Roker Report,

I think it is only fair to wait to see who we bring in, as I think the players in question have shown their commitment to the cause playing through injuries and out of position a lot of the time.

Dave Henderson

Ed’s Note [Rich]: If you're on about the out-of-contract players who’ve been offered new deals, Dave, they’ll take all the time they need as these are big career decisions that they and their families will want to get right. I’m sure Speakman et al will have plans in place for both scenarios with each of those players that we’re waiting on, and if they do go then we can use their wages elsewhere.

Photo by Pete Norton/Getty Images

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