He's obviously a decent lad and a very talented footballer. However, he played for Sunderland in The Championship. We haven't exactly blown that league away. Remember back to The Mags when they won their first 10 on the bounce in the second tier, including a derby win.
But Sunderland fans, and no doubt other fans, are often unable to remove their rose-tinted specs when they see their own players week-in, week-out. I remember writing to Terry Butcher when I was a kid begging him not to sell "world-class" Gary Owers. His poster was on my wall alongside Gordon Armstrong, Marco, John Kay and Tony Norman.
Jack Clarke will reach his natural level, and that is probably in The Championship, which is where Pisswich Town are heading. We got a decent fee in return for us losing his services. At the end of the season if we manage to get promoted we'll likely pass him on the Pisswich bus coming the other way. He will likely regret his decision in the long-term but he will be richer. It was probably a no-brainer decision at the time.
I wish the lad luck and I hope that he can get a run in the side, score some goals and enjoy his football against top class opposition. But ultimately I think I will return to playing Championship football from next season onwards.
Pickford?