As I've mentioned before the system/style and tactics of Valerien are a work in progress. He's hit on something straight away, that has worked, we've shot up the league as it's something different and other coaches can't work out what to do. I'm quite sure that he'll be working on something that can utilise our best player more. In Val we trust
Trouble is, there might not be offers for any of those players. Especially given Thomas and Simoes are barely even getting a game at League 1 level. I don't know how Ritz and Schmidt are doing in Austria, but it would be a massive bonus if offers came in for them. I'd also listen to offers for Woodrow, but only if there's an obvious trade off, whether that be the fee we get for him helps us to keep the rest of the first team, or goes towards signing Dike.
Me too. I'd be disappointed for any of them to leave but as long as the club keeps moving forward I'd accept it.
Seen this article from a few hours ago where they expect him back in May when his loan is up. https://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2021...yl-dikes-success-barnsley-were-very-happy-him
Ritz seems to be doing OK, playing most of time including in Europa league mostly LM, Schmidt played 7 scored once.
Would you not give Kane a chance before looking to sign a replacement or do you not think he’ll make it?
He's repeatedly said he personally doesn't want to leave and wants to sit down with the Club and discuss his contractual position at the end of the season. Being where we are in the league at this time, from his standpoint, it makes little sense to agree new terms, when it's not beyond the realms of possibility that we just might be in the Premiership come early May. Unless he signs a new deal at Sunderland, looks very much as though Josh Scowen could be available on a free at the conclusion of this season. Probably played his best football when he was with us. Could be worth a punt if we are still in the Championship next term. https://the72.co.uk/228238/sunderland-risk-losing-27-y-o-midfielder-for-nothing-this-summer/
I think that will depend on what division we're in sadly. Will be a crying shame if we never see Brittain and Dike in a reds shirt or Big Val in the dugout, and that scenario is highly probable.
I might have to stay off this board. Too depressing. So, who do you think will still be here next season, assuming we're in the Championship?
Doesn't make me depressed but it's the likely outcome and is a realistic chat to have. I can see up to five departures if we don't go up plus the Head Coach. Dike, Mowatt, Brittain, Madds and Helik. Something makes me think Styles will stay or we might keep him for one more season on loan after selling him. That doesn't factor in fringe players or someone like Soll who could return to Austria with just one year left on his contract (or New York).
Well if we sell two centre backs, as well as a wing back, the club haven't learned an awful lot since selling Pinnock and Lindsay at the same time. If Helik is sold, Mads needs to stay or vice versa. In fact, if Helik is sold it should be for enough to be able to put improved contracts in front of a fair few players.
I can see a decent turnover of players again whichever division we're in. But if we stay in the Championship, I can see it being more of the players we don't want to leave. There's only Mowatt out of contract this summer, but if you look at players who've only 1 year left, thats Sollbauer, Styles (with another year option), Halme (+1), Ben Williams, Frieser (+1), Ritzmaier, Adeboyejo, Palmer and Miller. Woodrow still had 2 years, as does Andersen (+1), Chaplin, Jordan Williams (+1), Walton, Collins (+1), Helik, Thomas, Brittain (+1), Sibbick (+1), Oduor, Simoes, Schmidt (+1), Morris (+1), Aitchison and Christie-Davies (+1). The past suggestion has been the owners want to get a good amount of contract length left to push for bigger bids. If so, and if the transfer market returns at Championship level in the summer, that would mean we probably have to extend contracts, or Andersen, Woodrow, Helik, Styles, Chaplin, Halme, Oduor and Simoes are at their zenith. I'd guess we'd ideally like to offload Schmidt, Miller, Ritzmaier and Simoes. I can also see Sollbauer going and Red Bull is a good shout.
I think i sol will leave i think its one of the reasons why we brought the lad in from forest Green and why we are playing sibbock so much, plus sol will only have a year left and was originally one of strubers mates. I don't think dike will be here I think mowatt will be gone or he would have signed a new deal by now. And I wouldn't be suprised to see clubs interested in helik, mads, styles and britain
If Helik plays for Poland, does well & then performs well in the Euros no way we will keep him in Championship.
