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Dear Roker Report,
A lot of fans and supporters are worried over what is going on (or not going on) at our beloved SAFC.
They want something good to happen for us because of years of disappointment and turmoil. Some say that LJ is the wrong coach for us and have condemned him before the season has even started, based on his performances last season! Winchester also comes to mind playing in a different formation.
It wasn’t even his team! I am sure he was told to do the best you can with what you’ve got, and he almost did it. Playing a style that he had to, and not what he wanted to, because of who he had available. Not even taking into consideration all the injuries and Covid we/he had to endure.
So Plan B was implemented.
Now people are saying KS is the wrong man too to be a Sporting Director, and if his data driven analysis is so good, why have we not seen any results yet? You know, the clock is ticking!
My answer to that is obvious. We are looking at players who will fit seamlessly into what they want to, and are used to playing in the style they want. Therefore, the lead-in time will be very short, and hopefully very successful. The Pritchard signing gave me a good feeling considering he knows what the coach wants and expects, and will fit into the style of play the club is hoping to attain. I hope we have more like-minded players coming in and we can all move forward... KTF.
MackemChris
Ed’s Note [Chris]: There is always concern over the summer break no matter what the scenario and it’s no different for this one. In an ideal world I’m sure everyone associated with the club would like us to get our business done early and start preparing, but sometimes it doesn’t work like that and considering the deals secured so far, we should be in for a busy few weeks.
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Dear Roker Report,
At last, we have signed a creative midfielder - finger’s crossed the lad is a big success. The thing I can not understand we are taking a gamble. Johnson’s words were we would not sign players that have a bad injury record from now on. Well, Pritchard’s record in the last few years has been poor.
I hope for the first time in years this gamble pays off because over the years we have signed some shite. We have to replace thirty goals this season the lad Piggott looks a decent player get him signed up and quickly. I think in the end Wyke made his mind up after the altercation outside the ground after the Lincoln game.
For him he knew he was never the fan's favourite and he probably thought I have had enough of this why take all this stick. Thirty goals will take I lot of replacing the likes of Gooch and O’Brien have to step up to the plate.
Gooch’s ten in five years is shocking for a player who played with Sunderland in the Premier League. I will say it again this is the most important recruitment period for the club in years we have to get it right and get out of this league. The season start is weeks away we have no left-back, we’re short of center-halves, and no right back.
Actions win things not words and the time for talking is over let’s get the recruitment done and get the team together and for once get off to a flyer.
Mark Wild
Ed’s Note [Chris]: We clearly need to replace Wyke’s goals, that much is obvious, but I’m hoping that it will lead to us having attacking options that we gain more results by not having an overreliance on one focal point. Pritchard is a gamble but to bring any player of quality to this level is going to have to be.
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Dear Roker Report,
Do you believe that Sunderland are going to be promoted? I don’t think your readers do.
No cash spent, signing injury-prone players and we will be left with poor players no one else wants, then we will panic because supporters will be wanting players in and then as the transfer window goes to close we will end up paying over the odds - Will Grigg springs to mind.
Clubs will screw us because they will know we have cash and my question is, what the hell is this so-called backroom staff been doing for past six months?
They would know who was leaving and who are free transfers. Other clubs have signed players including ones we have been linked with, come on team let’s get players in to put bums on seats.
Richard Downey
Ed’s Note [Chris]: Let’s see where we are at the beginning of the season in terms of how the squad is looking to start making predictions. I’m hoping they’re waiting for the rights deals and as they’ve had six months they know their targets and it’s a case of waiting to get them.
Dear Roker Report,
I don’t want to put a dampener on the signing of Alex Pritchard. My son Simon has a friend, Braith, who is a lifelong Huddersfield fan and he told Simon that in his opinion Pritchard was the worst player he had seen in a Huddersfield shirt.
I asked Simon if he had any good news he said he’s got a ticket for England Italy game, lucky so and so. I hope Pritchard can come good with us.
Brian Grove
Ed’s Note [Chris]: Yeah, he struggled for form and fitness at Huddersfield, but there was a reason they paid £11 million for him three years ago and if he’d been fantastic for Huddersfield he wouldn’t be signing for us now, so let’s hope a fresh start is all he needed and he helps us out of League One.
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Dear Roker Report,
I was wondering as to the latest regarding Dion Sanderson? Our billionaire owner having been impressed, how come we are waiting for another team to buy him? Last season I recollect having five centre-halves, yet often only one fit.
Likewise in the past we have had two adequate forwards to replace those who started. As usual we are late with our signings, not a good omen since any quality players will have gone.
Dave Haswell
Ed’s Note [Chris]: Time will tell if we’re late or just being patient to get the players they have targeted all along. With Dion Sanderson, the last I read was that he was determined to make his mark at Wolves this season. As much as he might have enjoyed his time with us, he’s destined for a higher level and maybe if he stays and we go up the timing might be right.
Dear Roker Report,
Hoping competent and financially comfortable ownership will bring SAFC back to the second level of English football during the coming season, I thank Roker Report and Roker Rapport for keeping this U.S. supporter up-to-date with the activities of the Black Cats.
Notwithstanding the many other helpful R.R. writers and bloggers, I want to especially thank Editor Gav and Rich Speight for their many contributions. I add a shout out to Malc Dugdale, since we share a first name. Trained in medieval history, I know the importance of his surname in English historiography, through Sir William Dugdale, the 17th century historian and antiquary. An ancestor perhaps?
Malcolm (Mac) Craig
Ed’s Note [Chris]: Thanks for the email Malcolm! We’ll pass your kind words on to the rest of the RR squad, especially Malc who I’m sure will be looking into if he has famous heritage or whether he’s the true heir to the throne... or something.