Agree. Furthermore, if Watson gets a bad injury he will not have the security of a lengthy, relatively well paid contract to fall back on. Don't have a problem if Sunderland consent not to pick him. The only real interest I have had in the PL this season was to check on Jack Clarke - next season it will be Watson - and I hope no-one else ! Unless of course in May ...
-
The forums will be unavailable for a few hours on Saturday 6th June, when they do return they will initially be in a degraded state with some features missing, but normal posting/reading will be possible. The main website will not be affected by these updates.
New user registrations are currently disabled.
Some other features of the forum are also currently disabled.
Tommy Watson ( ...off to Brighton)
- Thread starter Daffy
- Start date
Ned Land
Winger
We spent £££ unwisely the last time we were in the prem and ended up in league one for 4 seasons.But of course you know this because we now at least have a transfer strategy.
nelford_safc
Striker
How do you propose we get back there if we sell any prospect at the first opportunity?
But of course you know this because we now at least have a transfer strategy.
Nathan Gunn
Striker
Clarke had more than earned a shot at premier league football and was an example of a player out growing us. He was coming into the last 2 years of his contract and realistically wasn't going to be signing a new deal with Harte saying almost daily how much he was pushing to get him a move. Don't forget we turned down strong interest in him the window before - we could have cashed in then but we didn't. If we kept clarke another year then we'd have done well do get half of what we did. There'll be times we have to reluctantly accept it makes sense to let a player go.
Watson was different in the sense that he hadn't outgrown us. But he was coming in to the last year and had (presumably) indicated he wouldn't renew. What are you suggesting? Allow that contract to run down and get £500k at a tribunal?
As a championship club we can't afford to be effectively writing off tens of millions of pounds just through stubbornness.
You say this isn't a good look. I have a different view. In the last few years we've developed so many younger players and gave them opportunities to flourish. Watson has got a chance at 18 and immediately earned himself a move to a club pushing for european football. Chris Rigg got a chance at 16 and signed a 3 year deal turning down elite clubs. We are a huge attraction for any young player looking to get a chance. Selling an 18 year old to a PL side for £10m doesn't change that, it enhances our position imo
chriswallace85
Striker
Whey you saying the players don't like us.
Where Watson's concerned though, it might be the best thing for his career. It depends what Brighton wanna do with him really.Are they hard nosed professionals or just sheep? They see the big bucks now and lots of them grab it even though long term it might be not best for their career. No doubt led by talentless wanker's like Danny Graham
Clarke should never have gone to Ipswich, they were always likely to struggle. He got a big signing on fee and a big wage increase but he has done nothing at all for his career.
I think the Bellingham's are very clued up. The move to Dortmund was perfect for Jude. Jobe's move here was the right level for him too. I think Rigg also made a wise move. There's no rush when you have talent in your late teens, you have another 15 years of a career in front of you. You need first team football not under 21's or a loan to a random club.
But here, he was behind Mundle. Possible/probably behind Le Fee in that position too. Footballing wise, not a lot is going to change for him between now and the end of the season. Then he'll go to Brighton in the summer, and he'll have to make the most of his summer with them. Likelihood is he gets loaned back out to the Championship where as a player with a Premier League parent club he might be able to guarantee more minutes.
If he stayed here I don't think he plays.
Last edited:
He’s far from ready mate. Be about tenth in the pecking order for you lot. Great business for us.
rubberface
Striker
...maybe not after 7 appearances tho eh??
Depends on the player, contract situation and fee, Robertson & Cotcher left as they didn't want to be here
rubberface
Striker
They were nowhere near the first team squad.
Maybe that's the reason they left as no pathway to first team squad for them as we bought in players instead
let’s be honest, Watson has potential. But fuck me, 6 first team starts of which he had 2 good (but hardly outstanding) games. Of the other 4 starts 2 were in fact pretty poor.
Brighton have an abundance of wingers in front of him. He might get a few cup/late sub appearances if he’s not farmed out but stick him in against any PL team and he would hardly get a touch. He’s probably two seasons off and that’s IF he continues improving at his current rate. He’s gone for one reason and one reason alone, and that’s money. He will probably x3 to what he was on here and be on 50-100% more than what we would offer in a new contract.
More than likely he will be farmed out next year to a championship or even L1 side. He certainly won’t be playing regularly in PL games. I personally couldn’t give a rats arse, he’s done nothing whatsoever to endear himself to Sunderland fans and I get the impression he’s a bit big for his boots. I expect this to be a move he’ll regret.
Brighton have an abundance of wingers in front of him. He might get a few cup/late sub appearances if he’s not farmed out but stick him in against any PL team and he would hardly get a touch. He’s probably two seasons off and that’s IF he continues improving at his current rate. He’s gone for one reason and one reason alone, and that’s money. He will probably x3 to what he was on here and be on 50-100% more than what we would offer in a new contract.
More than likely he will be farmed out next year to a championship or even L1 side. He certainly won’t be playing regularly in PL games. I personally couldn’t give a rats arse, he’s done nothing whatsoever to endear himself to Sunderland fans and I get the impression he’s a bit big for his boots. I expect this to be a move he’ll regret.
This entirely
He shouldn’t play for us again unless we are down to the bare bones….
Last edited:
SAFC Wilks
Striker
It’ll be a long term deal they’ve signed him on thinking of the future years - like us with Aleksic.
But aye, he’ll be nowhere near their best 11 next season imo.
rubberface
Striker
..because they weren't good enough at the time to be anywhere near the first team squad.
We’ve done well on this one I think. The lads too big for his boots at 18
SAFC Wilks
Striker
Has a lot of potential, but is miles away from Mundle never mind the Brighton wingers.
£10m with sell on for a lad who doesn’t want to sign a new deal coming up to his last year is good business.
garyeaststand
Winger
He’s an outstanding talent, don’t blame the lad for wanting to move to a prem club
jcrossan
Striker
I left the UK to seek a better life elsewhere more than 40 years ago, leaving Roker Park behind all those years ago.
Not sure us fans are really that different from players when push comes to shove.
MustardAndOnions
Winger
gards2
Striker
Flipping of players incoming! Before they've barely even 'got going' The Sunderland Model.
But of course, it's taken on a case by case basis. In this case it seems the 'Boyhood Sunderland fan' was fine with leaving a club he's supported since he was a child.
