ALS NEWS ROUNDUP a-love-supreme/roundup.htm WINDOW SHUT... DERBY DAY Overall it was quite a productive transfer window for Sunderland. We offloaded no less than 9 players on loan; Mikael Mandron (Fleetwood Town), Billy Knott (Port Vale), Cabral (Genoa), Modibo Diakite (Fiorentina), David Moberg Karlsson (Kilmarnock), David Vaughan (Nottingham Forest - Extension), Duncan Watmore (Hibernian), Alfred NDiaye (Real Betis) and Danny Graham (Middlesbrough). Not to mention we sold Ji Dong Won to Augsburg albeit in somewhat controversial circumstances, with the player leaving on the cheap and already signing a pre-contract with Borussia Dortmund. On the other hand we brought a few players in, left back Marcos Alonso joined on loan from Fiorentina, following him was an Argentinian double in defender Santiago Vergini on loan from Estudiantes and goalkeeper Oscar Ustari on a free transfer after leaving Almeria. Ignacio Nacho Scocco was next through the door, the highly rated striker joing from Internacional for a bargain sum of £3 million. Last but not least, we finally secured the signature of midfielder Liam Bridcutt from Poyets old stomping ground Brighton. We also recalled Connor Wickham from his loan spell at Sheffield Wednesday. On the whole Id say we shifted some deadwood and brought in some exciting players in positions we were definitely lacking in. Meanwhile, we still have a North East derby to play! Ahead of the game Gus Poyet has admitted he wants no trouble, despite recalling the time that Sir Bobby Robson claimed that he wanted to kill the Uruguayan given his record for scoring against him! Poyet said: I have the newspaper cutting. It was so nice that he said it that way. It was special because it was him . . . but its just a game. I would like fans to enjoy it and no fighting. Poyet is very much of the opinion that our new found confidence will give us the push we need against our local rivals: After the last two months, this is the best time for us to play a derby. That doesnt mean were going to win it, but with the wins weve had, the atmosphere, the players weve got available, the situation, how weve been playing away from home – everything is there. Its a great, great opportunity to go and win a derby. Im really looking forward to going to play there. Its a great stadium with a great atmosphere so it should be a great day of football. I hope we can do well. Lee Cattermole was the subject of a bit of a transfer saga yesterday, but in the end he stayed put, a result which the manager and the player are very satisfied with. Poyet said: I have no problems with Lees move not going through and neither will he, I know that. I trust him and I had a very good, very long conversation with him the other day so I know him and I know where he is at. It was one of those things where I knew that if he stayed, no-one would be more committed to the cause than him. Lees character is fantastic and people have said to me that he is not my type of player but that is nonsense. Of all the players at the club, hes the one who has played the defensive midfield role for me the best so far and if he was fit he would have been playing that role against Newcastle this weekend. He has also learned, he has learned what we want from him in that role and he has responded - he is getting better and of all the players here, he is among the ones showing most improvement. He has learned and learned about what weve wanted and has adapted very well. Poyet also admitted that he had to fend off interest for both Steven Fletcher and Jozy Altidore yesterday, and became frustrated by some of the requests made: You know what? Ive got no problem with making offers. Ive got a problem with people calling and asking if players are available. I hate that. Its impossible that Im going to say someone, even for a player that is not playing, that they are available. The idea is if you want a player, make a proper offer between the two clubs. Then we will analyse it, you can see the options and get different opinions. We had plenty of enquiries from Jozy or Fletcher, but they were asking are you thinking of selling? or can we loan him? What? Despite Altidores lack of goals, Gus has commented on his improvement, particularly against Stoke: I think his performance was decent. If he had scored, it would have been a perfect day for him. The only thing he missed was that one-on-one chance. He needs to understand what is needed weekly and when, and the type of actions he needs to make to bring the rest of the team into it. The full package needs to come together and the other day, Jozy was close to that. We sealed the signing of Liam Bridcutt yesterday, a player who Poyet is thrilled to see the arrival of: As soon as we started playing the system I wanted to play (at Sunderland) and knowing the importance of that role, I started checking if it was a possibility. You never know if hes available or the price they will put on his head. Sometimes its possible, sometimes not. But it was an easy option. Hes British which is very, very important. Its difficult to get British players. We are getting a very important player, who understands that role in the middle of the park. And the price... its a bargain. Absolute perfection. Its impossible to do better. I saw him train yesterday and it was kind of a relief. I thought oh yeah, nice to have you Liam. I know what he is going to do. He can have a bad day; a few bad games. But at the end of the day, I know what Im going to get. I know how he trains, how he behaves and what he brings to the team. Even yesterday, he was saying to a couple of players: go over there. The gaffer also offered some explanation as to the departure of Modibo Diakite, the defender joining Fiorentina on loan: We have been trying to help a few players who were finding it difficult to get involved and Modibo is one of them. As of now, we have five senior centre halves on our training ground without him. We have that, because Carlos Cuellar has now returned to full training, so getting him involved was going to be even more difficult. And Modibo? Hes the sort of player who needs to play. I think that Diakite has one thing which is important - he is very strong. He has a specialist strength and when you are like that, you need to be playing regularly to keep you at your maximum effectiveness. If Modibo is not playing, you are not going to get the best out of him. Others can be different - Santiago Vergini for example has a different type of fitness, you can always play him - but Modibo needs a run of games and we couldnt give him that. So the best thing for him was to go there to Fiorentina and hopefully get the run of games he needs. Fabio Borini also cant wait to sink his teeth into the derby occasion, he was of course the hero last time around. Borini said: In Italy, we have an expression when we say We never give up. We always fight. So I put an imaginary knife between the teeth to show the hunger I have every game and every day when I get to the training ground. The day I scored against Newcastle was the day I made my relationship with the Sunderland fans. Scoring in a derby is always important but a winning goal is always a winning goal whether it is a derby or not. If it gets you three points, that is what matters. But obviously this one was more emotional because it will always be remembered by the fans. They always remember every game against Newcastle. That goal has been really good for me in cementing my relationship with them. It was so important for my confidence on the pitch. Borini also admitted that he has no clue on his future, but hes just happy to be playing football: In football, it is not worth thinking long term especially at my age and what has happened to me in the past. I have basically changed teams every year so I am just focusing on every game. And I have a big target to achieve which is the World Cup in the summer and if I have any decision to make I will make it after that. I have not really spoken to Brendan Rodgers since I have been here. He did text me after the Newcastle goal, but after that, I have not heard from him. Well going off your performances so far mate Id be delighted to put you up at mine if you stay on at Sunderland. Top player.
Posted on: Sat, 01 Feb 2014 09:35:06 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015