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Roker Rapport Podcast: With Stewart Donald (Tues 28th May)

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Guinness Guzzler said:
The trouble with this is that most of my queries would be relating to Ross. Assuming Ross sanctions the signings what does Donald think of the fact that he's been utterly unable to fashion them into a coherent unit? What does he think of the fact we've got the biggest budget (as we keep hearing) and some of the best players in the league but have consistently been unambitious in games, even at home to poor sides, settling at one and sitting back rather than going for the kill like almost every decent side would do? Is he alarmed by the way that, despite the summer being the time of upheaval, we've actually got worse was the season has gone on rather than better? With next season being absolutely crucial for our club as we cannot afford to still be in league one when the parachute payments run out, has he really seen enough to suggest that Ross will suddenly get it right and get a side together that can win promotion and would he trust him with more money when the vast majority of the money spent last season has been poor?

Thing is, now isn't the time for him to answer those questions, and the podcast isn't really the platform for it. He's obviously not going to publicly criticise the manager so a lot of key points won't be able to be addressed. I hope he knows that the job him and Methven has done has been appreciated, can't blame them for us not going up imo, just feel like there's not much he can say this time and every one is probably a bit raw for it. Fair play to him for fronting up mind, I just hope next season the good PR and soundbites are supported by results on the pitch
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Agree completely with this, the podcast should have been with JR, as it's his side that has ultimately failed.
 
kildaremackem said:
you dot know how much he paid/....it was less than reported..and if he is the sort of onwer that overules the manager and DOF then we are fucked...because no manager or DOF would stick around for that..
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He's the chairman. He has to be the final accountable voice. But that’s all academic as he said himself he pushed it over the line. In every sport worldwide ownership have final sign-off - or certainly should. If his DoF and manager are bringing him a deal for a player like Grigg that obliterates the league one record (which it did however you equivocate it) then Donald has failed in setting down adequate parameters in which they are working. As a minimum it’s his job to ask hard questions - and that deal looked bad at the time. Whichever way you cut it, he failed on that one.
 
Zak's Dad said:
He replied to every one of my posts on this thread about the academy making excuses. Except the one where I call him "Charlie" and call him out for having an agenda in stead of an opinion.
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Whoever it is is quite hostile towards the club, it’s history and the expectations. They can’t differentiate between expectation and entitlement. Whoever it is is not a genuine Sunderland supporter. If you were to ask about a particular game, or event, or player’s performance from the past, they wouldn’t have a clue. They’ve openly said they aren’t interested in football in the past too. Yet every thread or post about what goes on behind closed doors there’s a response; even if the response has completely missed the point or ignored the question that has been posed.

I don’t think it is Methven and I genuinely hope it isn’t anyone actively involved with the club as there isn’t a lot of warmth or passion towards the club on show.
 
kildaremackem said:
didnt the kids win a major tournaent this year?


why?the manager can pick academy players if he wants-he picked mumba-its not the owners fault JR then stopped picking him and signed leads..
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The major problem is we don't have a philosophy, identity, ethos, structure, system or strategy when it comes to football. The whole thing looks like a non-league set up. The recruitment has been terrible and the scouting set up is none existent. Ross might have the final say but it's his scouts who make him aware of players and who is available. If Hill is the negotiator then he's doing a terrible job. Donald was shitting himself because our wage bill will go up by £4m if we had of got promoted. Who put these clause in the contracts. These rises will be for the players signed during Donald's reign.

Winning trophies is nothing in youth football. You can go a 100 games unbeaten and win every pot and pan available. But the main goal is to develop players for the first team. Any player who has shown promise has gone. Asoro, Maja, Nelson, Kimoipia, Emberton and Greenwood have either left or look like leaving. Then there's the stories of players be sold against the wishes of their parents.
 
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