A little over 3 weeks to season start....

[craigypants]

Expect Mayenda or Rusyn to start against Cardiff and a predictable defeat to zero or if we do score will be Jack Clarke. Speakman can just say we were waiting for a positive decision from another club (that will be Mendy). Yet again no sense of real urgency or desire to fix a problem that will see us flirting with relegation.

 

[The Beautiful Game]

Boro in talks with Bristol City about Tommy Conway according to Sky.

I’d be disappointed if we missed out on him to another team around us. He’s the lad I’ve been saying I’d be looking at. They said the fee?

 

[Mboma]

Boro in talks with Bristol City about Tommy Conway according to Sky.

Funny isn't it, even clubs who already have first team strikers can go out and strengthen with more, whilst we've only strengthened our first team with one signing who's come in on a free and two more for the bench. Still no strikers.

 

[Richie K]

Can you imagine having a couple of strikers already on your books, and about to add another..... unbelievable.

Like when we had Bent, Gyan, Welbeck.....or Quinn, Phillips, Bridges, Dichio!

 

[Binxy]

Can you imagine having a couple of strikers already on your books, and about to add another..... unbelievable.

Like when we had Bent, Gyan, Welbeck.....or Quinn, Phillips, Bridges, Dichio!

Aye but no striker will come to sit on the bench...oh wait that's yesterdays excuse.

 

[Alfa]

I’d be disappointed if we missed out on him to another team around us. He’s the lad I’ve been saying I’d be looking at. They said the fee?

No mention of the fee and Celtic are also reportedly interested in the player.

“Boro say agreement is yet to be reached, with talks between the two Championship clubs ongoing. Conway was identified as a leading target this summer as Boro look to add to their forward line before the end of the transfer window.

Celtic have also been linked with the Scotland international, who is currently training away from Bristol City's first team squad having turned down the offer of a new contract at Ashton Gate. He's now in the final year of his deal and City boss Liam Manning recently admitted Conway wants to leave. Manning wants the situation resolved before the start of the Championship season.”

As another poster mentioned it must be nice for your club to be looking to strengthen a forward line rather than still looking to find one !

 

[Smiler]

What is Rusyn's natural position if it's not striker?

Winger, where he scored and assisted most of his goals at his previous club

 

[Mboma]

No mention of the fee and Celtic are also reportedly interested in the player.

“Boro say agreement is yet to be reached, with talks between the two Championship clubs ongoing. Conway was identified as a leading target this summer as Boro look to add to their forward line before the end of the transfer window.

Celtic have also been linked with the Scotland international, who is currently training away from Bristol City's first team squad having turned down the offer of a new contract at Ashton Gate. He's now in the final year of his deal and City boss Liam Manning recently admitted Conway wants to leave. Manning wants the situation resolved before the start of the Championship season.”

As another poster mentioned it must be nice for your club to be looking to strengthen a forward line rather than still looking to find one !

Thing is, some players will look at us now as a sideways move. Our insistence on bringing in kids who haven't played mens football and cheap players from abroad have seen the recruitment go backwards. Would many players with a gaining reputation see us as a club on the up, even if the club was willing to part with the cash?

I don't think the club have a real intent on promotion, it's possibly why the likes of Still turned us down after talks. It's one thing talking about it, but another thing actually seeing it through.

 

[Mackem Al]

Thing is, some players will look at us now as a sideways move. Our insistence on bringing in kids who haven't played mens football and cheap players from abroad have seen the recruitment go backwards. Would many players with a gaining reputation see us as a club on the up, even if the club was willing to part with the cash?

I don't think the club have a real intent on promotion, it's possibly why the likes of Still turned us down after talks. It's one thing talking about it, but another thing actually seeing it through.

I don't disagree with you. I have the same perception myself, but there is something in the background that conflicts or contradicts this premise. Over the last couple of years they have managed to get Ballard, Patterson, Roberts, Clarke, O'Nien, Alese and Hume to extend their contracts so they must be doing something right internally to achieve this?

 

[Mboma]

I don't disagree with you. I have the same perception myself, but there is something in the background that conflicts or contradicts this premise. Over the last couple of years they have managed to get Ballard, Patterson, Roberts, Clarke, O'Nien, Alese and Hume to extend their contracts so they must be doing something right internally to achieve this?

I think there's only really Clarke in that selection who's of real quality. Ballard and Hume are close, but not of his standard. Clarke hasn't signed a new deal (wish he would) but its looking likely that these players will start to look away from the club if progress isn't being made.

Most of the names you've mentioned were brought in when we were league one or had just come up, the recruitment since hasn't been nowhere near as good, and were now in the position where a we're probably struggling for room on the bench for players. Of the 3 brought in, the GK and Poveda are likely to be on the bench, were not really seeing the club strengthen the first 11 to push foward.

 

[peterlaws]

The problem is that the values that we have put on our better players won’t be matched until very late in the window. When that happens what do we do?

I know we are being very canny with our finances but teams tend not to sell if a replacement can't be brought in in time.

 

[Mboma]

I know we are being very canny with our finances but teams tend not to sell if a replacement can't be brought in in time.

Aye, we did a fantastic job in replacing Stewart both whilst he was here, and when Southampton went a bit mental and gave us all that lovely money.

 

[Zidane]

Sunderland have a blind side to strikers under this current regime there's no doubt about it.

 

[craigypants]

What bloody good is it to get an assistant in after the season has already started and we lose 2-0 at Cardiff (both goals from set pieces with some big bastard defender causing chaos). Wonderful start to their career at Sunderland. Insanely bad management.

 

[The Truth]

Aye but no striker will come to sit on the bench...oh wait that's yesterdays excuse.

This is one thing we have that puts us ahead of any other club, sign for us and you are absolutely guaranteed your place in the starting XI

 

[Ale taster]

I was a very valid concern.
Of course with 20/20 hindsight, we all knew deep down that Mayenda would come good.

 

[ned_werby]

Expect Mayenda or Rusyn to start against Cardiff and a predictable defeat to zero or if we do score will be Jack Clarke. Speakman can just say we were waiting for a positive decision from another club (that will be Mendy). Yet again no sense of real urgency or desire to fix a problem that will see us flirting with relegation.

Relegation you say?

 

[FatDrummer]

I was a very valid concern.
Of course with 20/20 hindsight, we all knew deep down that Mayenda would come good.

It WAS a ‘valid’ concern….but my thoughts on what Mayenda MIGHT turn out to be were more along the lines of “he is a young foal that could go on to win the Derby….or end up picking up the odd win at Wincanton or Catterick”.
Gladly he looks like the former!

 

[CARLOS CLASS]

....and Speakman still hasn't secured a Championship standard, proven striker.
Three weeks to relocate to the region, settle in, integrate into the new coaches playing style and effectively get to know your teammates. Already a big ask. Pre-season games will soon be lost opportunities to achieve the same too.
Once again, Speakman running out of time and not demonstrating lessons learned from last season.

Haha - you absolute helmet

 

[Useful_Idiot]

I was a very valid concern.
Of course with 20/20 hindsight, we all knew deep down that Mayenda would come good.

Wasnt meant as a slight at you mate, was just reveling in my prediction and feeling very smug