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

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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
 

Scotty 1978 said:
Put it this way the lad who told me this morning words were “they’ll be no one left”
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A big mistake in our club philosophy here - and one that SD by his own admission has had a hand in. We should be giving young players chances. There should be room in the first team picture that we can do this. It also helps us concentrate our wage budget into a smaller, higher quality pool of players. The ones who are on the bubble get a shot. The ones who are just below know it’ll be their turn soon. When SD says publicly that he insisted on the club bringing in an extra striker for the second half of the season when the manager wasn’t that fussed, that sends all the wrong signals to our youth system.

That being said, the fans also need to play their part by keeping it buttoned. I’d be happy if Donald came out and explicitly promised our Academy that getting them football was one of our main priorities going forward. That will then mean that the fans need to stop whining on about buying three reserve centre halves every window, though.
 
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Zak's Dad said:
And how are they all being offered deals elsewhere at the same time?
It's almost like they're aware of the availability of these players in advance?
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well didnt they win a good competition this year-so they would all be known through that..and as they havent got pro contracts (being in the same age group would mean they are all at the same stage) would mean they all are available at once..

The Cabbage said:
A big mistake in our club philosophy here - and one that SD by his own admission has had a hand in. We should be giving young players chances. There should be room in the first team picture that we can do this. It also helps us concentrate our wage budget into a smaller, higher quality pool of players. The ones who are in the bubble get a shot. The ones who are just below know it’ll be their turn soon. When SD says public ally that he insisted on the club bringing in an extra striker for the second half of the season when the manager wasn’t that fussed, that sends all the wrong signals to our youth system.

That being said, the fans also need to play their part by keeping it buttoned. I’d be happy if Donald came out and explicitly promised our Academy that getting them football was one of our main priorities going forward. That will then mean that the fans need to stop whining on about buying three reserve centre halves every window, though.
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the owner has said they are putting more into the academy-what he cant do is make SAFC a prem team-which is the thing prem teams can offer..
 
kildaremackem said:
the owner has said they are putting more into the academy-what he cant do is make SAFC a prem team-which is the thing prem teams can offer..
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It’s more than just talking about money. By allowing - insisting even - that the first team squad gets to its current, bloated level, he has effectively signalled the academy that they won’t get chances. All the nice words about youth investment go out of the window at that point.
 
On previous podcasts it was mentioned by Donald that Juan Sartori is a foreign investor who was excited about the football, his enthusiasm was infectious, he had a desire to get South American talent into the academy and it was even mentioned (maybe tongue in cheek) about him talking about playing Monaco in the quarter final of the champions league. He was deemed to be ‘absolutely loving it’. Is this still the case and is he still committed to investing in the club given the amount of new investors being actively sought?
 
Wearside Wanderer II said:
They can’t be that highly rated as they have been nowhere near the first team and the U23’s imo
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didnt the kids win a major tournaent this year?

The Cabbage said:
It’s more than just talking about money. By allowing - insisting even - that the first team squad gets to its current, bloated level, he has effectively signalled the academy that they won’t get chances. All the nice words about youth investment go out of the window at that point.
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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..
 
Kevin said:
Wouldnt this indicate that most of our academy players are coveted by other clubs? Given they havent been anywhere good enough to get anywhere near the worst team in our history, i find it hard to believe that clubs are flocking for there signatures.
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These are 14/15 year olds that are leaving.
 
The Sheepfolds End said:
On previous podcasts it was mentioned by Donald that Juan Sartori is a foreign investor who was excited about the football, his enthusiasm was infectious, he had a desire to get South American talent into the academy and it was even mentioned (maybe tongue in cheek) about him talking about playing Monaco in the quarter final of the champions league. He was deemed to be ‘absolutely loving it’. Is this still the case and is he still committed to investing in the club given the amount of new investors being actively sought?
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he has invested in the club and isnt selling up-SD said the youngsters thing was tongue in cheek.
as his fatha in law is getting rid of monaco that last bit wont be happening:)
 
kildaremackem said:
he has invested in the club and isnt selling up-SD said the youngsters thing was tongue in cheek.
as his fatha in law is getting rid of monaco that last bit wont be happening:)
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No it wasn’t tongue in cheek. I’ve just sat and listened to two podcasts where they discuss it in a little bit of detail actually. It wasn’t a glib remark. It was mentioned, then it was followed up on a subsequent podcast. See, I support Sunderland and listen to these things.
 
The Sheepfolds End said:
No it wasn’t tongue in cheek. I’ve just sat and listened to two podcasts where they discuss it in a little bit of detail actually. It wasn’t a glib remark. It was mentioned, then it was followed up on a subsequent podcast. See, I support Sunderland and listen to these things.
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SD said afterwards that Juan was tongue in cheek with that comment-that was on the podcast..
 
kildaremackem said:
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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By his own admission, it is his fault that we signed Sterling. It’s also his job to set out the parameters in which the manager works. From budget to overall club ethos. He should be telling Ross that his squad size will be limited and he needs to focus on developing young players. If he isn’t capable of being sufficiently focused and insists on acting like a fan in his decision making he’s gonna fail at this club.
 
kildaremackem said:
SD said afterwards that Juan was tongue in cheek with that comment-that was on the podcast..
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Well then he’s telling lies. I’ve literally just listened to two podcasts while I’m out and about and the issue is discussed on both of them. One goes as far as discussing logistics how it would work.
 
The Sheepfolds End said:
Well then he’s telling lies. I’ve literally just listened to two podcasts while I’m out and about and the issue is discussed on both of them. One goes as far as discussing logistics how it would work.
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the two of whom? juan wasnt on a podcast? I think SD was asked about how it was going and said something like Juan got ahead of himself..SD is not accountable for what Juan promises..
 
kildaremackem said:
well didnt they win a good competition this year-so they would all be known through that..and as they havent got pro contracts (being in the same age group would mean they are all at the same stage) would mean they all are available at once..


the owner has said they are putting more into the academy-what he cant do is make SAFC a prem team-which is the thing prem teams can offer..
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You're not giving up are you mate?

You keep responding to any post that is vaguely critical of the club or SD with assumptions - not facts.
And your responses always minimise the blame / responsibility of the club no matter what the circumstance.

This issue has been raised on here since kids started leaving for compensation payments - coincidentally after the takeover.

Aren't you curious to know the truth?
Don't you want it cleared up once and for all?
Wouldn't you like my assumptions to be proved wrong with an unequivocal response by a named responsible officer from the club?

If you believe the club has acted with complete propriety why not add yourself to the request that this is cleared up by the club in the forum they facilitated with the fans to answer fans questions and to ensure that communication replaced assumption due to the lack of information?
 
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