Fan Letters: The pre-season hope and despair of Sunderland fans continues

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Dear Roker Report,

I really don’t get the panic over Sunderland taking their time with signings. In recent years the sides in this godforsaken league that have tended to have success have utilised the loan market well, often picking up astute young loan signings from the top sides when it’s clear their path to progress is blocked by an incoming ‘Carlos Kickaball’ as Alan Sugar once put it.

Of those coming in, if we work on the basis we need 7 or 8 players, I’d reckon at least 3 of them need to be that type of signing, and some of them frankly aren’t even aware they are going to be surplus to short term requirements at the moment.

Secondly, if we bleat so often that our own youngsters like Neil and Younger aren’t getting a look in, then remember a certain Josh Maja, who forced his way into the team because he was better than what we had the potential to bring in.

I’d simply rather we took our time, and signed people who are hungry and not just signing for another paycheck in their journeyman career think about how exciting it might be for a Wigan fan who ‘acted decisively’ and brought in a 30 goal forward. Good luck with that.

Act in haste, repent at leisure...or at least division 3.

Slappymac

Ed’s Note [Rich]: Cheers for your letter, Slappymac. Lee Johnson has spoken about his sleepless nights spent worrying about making the signings we need ahead of the new season, but like you I am keen for our youngsters and others brought in from higher tiers to be given as many opportunities to shine as possible.

Photo by Ian Horrocks/Sunderland AFC via Getty Images

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Dear Roker Report,

I have written several posts on here and elsewhere and I have said more or less the same on a lot of them. Despite our dream of a young billionaire owner, nothing has changed that I can see. This is the same old, same old SAFC. The laughing stock of English professional football. Yet again they do not learn from previous mistakes of the last 50 years. They appoint backroom staff who then proceed as per usual to not do their jobs to the required level.

If KLD had bought an Aero engine factory instead of a football club, would he then expect his engines to be made by cowboys using a hammer and chisel? Of course not. If we get anywhere near promotion this coming season it will be a miracle. They are in last chance saloon for me.

Open your eyes Kyril, you are sleepwalking into a catastrophe. A huge amount of fans have had their full quota of failure. Not ONE PENNY will be spent by me on supporting your business until you start running it properly. Get rid of the cowboys and start recruiting engineers. It is the only way to get us out of this mess.

Mick Colman

Ed’s Note [Rich]: It’s a real shame that you seem to have have given up hope, Mick, but if you’ve really had enough of the same old SAFC, I’m sure that there are plenty of local non-league sides that would welcome your custom this season.

Photo by Ian Horrocks/Sunderland AFC via Getty Images

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Dear Roker Report,

I have just read A Club Transformed what a good read, players playing for the shirt or for a Carlos Edwards or a David Connolly or Johnny Evans or Nosworthy bought for peanuts what a trier or for them days to return a winning team. I just have a feeling that right now with the right signings we could finally get out of this league.

We have some good young talent in Neil and Embleton and Hume and Diamond. If we can get the defence sorted in the next two weeks and a forward and finally get some pace in the team who knows what can happen. As the book I have just read A Club Transformed could we do it again. All the ingredients are there new owners no Keano though but you never know Johnson could be the man to finally get us out of this league.

Mark Wild

Ed’s Note [Rich]: Thanks for writing in again, Mark. Jonathan Wilson is an excellent writer - I enjoyed his history of football tactics last summer - and A Club Transformed is a book that is now on my reading list. It’s always good to look back at what’s worked in the past, and what hasn't, and learn the lessons for the future. It’s also nice to hear that you're feeling optimistic about the season ahead. Keep the Faith!

Photo by Jamie McDonald/Getty Images

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