Bumped into my Sunderland ST holder mate in the pub last night, and his opinion is that 'all three promoted clubs have 'been pushed' into buying too many players and by the time the coaches sort it we'll all be in trouble'.

It may gel for all three teams, two, just one, or none. If we can have a right good go at trying to stay in the Premier league that’ll do for me. It’s a tough ask but we’ve earned the right so let’s see where it takes us.

I'm banking on the happy environment at the training ground and within the dressing room counting for a lot. I believe Parker is the best equipped of the three managers to pull it off. Here's to Brentford, Wolves and one or two other clubs having a big drop off this season.

dougcollins wrote: ↑

Fri Aug 15, 2025 6:24 pm

Bumped into my Sunderland ST holder mate in the pub last night, and his opinion is that 'all three promoted clubs have 'been pushed' into buying too many players and by the time the coaches sort it we'll all be in trouble'.

Or, all three clubs have realised the gap between the top of the EFL and the bottom of the PL is huge, and that quite a few of the players who stand out at the lower level can’t perform at the higher level and have given themselves the best chance of PL survival by bringing in players who give themselves that chance.
I think we will see a gradual change in our lineup as opposed to lumping everyone in at once. I think that will be the key, so I’m expecting a slow start….

Little alternative for us given we lost Trafford, Egan-Riley, and Brownhill, and some in our squad wouldn't have stood out in the Championship never mind the Premier League.

Lets just give it a go ... "In Scott we (have to) trust"

I certainly don't think we have signed too many players.

We need more yet, ideally ones who can score goals.
I know people go on about there being an obsession with ex players but i think Ings on a free is a no brainer or alternatively Cornet who showed again at Genoa last season that he's a goal threat.

ollieclarets8 wrote: ↑

Fri Aug 15, 2025 7:24 pm

I certainly don't think we have signed too many players.

Yep, I didn't say I agree with his view. I think SP will manage this better than the other two coaches but I wasn't going to say that.

Goliath wrote: ↑

Fri Aug 15, 2025 7:32 pm

We need more yet, ideally ones who can score goals.
I know people go on about there being an obsession with ex players but i think Ings on a free is a no brainer or alternatively Cornet who showed again at Genoa last season that he's a goal threat.

Agree with Ings but not Ice Cream

I think we've bought too many players, but I don't think SP will make the Kompany mistake of chucking them all in too early.
I don't think Broja will start for a few matches.
Hartmann, Walker and Dubravka on the other hand will comment last seasons team.

taio wrote: ↑

Fri Aug 15, 2025 7:02 pm

Little alternative for us given we lost Trafford, Egan-Riley, and Brownhill, and some in our squad wouldn't have stood out in the Championship never mind the Premier League.

This, for me, is the key difference between the Kompany and Parker approaches. VK seemed to sign players left right and centre and rip up the promotion team sheet whereas Parker has signed more out of necessity, rather than want.

Quite a lot of our players have already played in the Premier League so have an idea of what to expect. I have read some of the Sunderland fans comments and I don't think they realise how difficult it is now. They are still acting as though it is the same as last time they were in it. Some of their players are in for a shock. Not sure about Sunderland but us and Leeds have been signing players over 6'.

I think a lot of fans see we've signed 13 players and take it at face value. In fact we've signed 9 as 4 were in the side last season. Of those 9, 2 were replacements to players we've lost, so in reality we've signed 7 additions, which isn't too disrupting I don't think

Four of our signings played last season, so not as big a number of incomings as it looks.

Expect a few more incoming in the next weeks before the window closes judging by Scott Parker’s comments.

Ric_C wrote: ↑

Fri Aug 15, 2025 11:57 pm

I think a lot of fans see we've signed 13 players and take it at face value. In fact we've signed 9 as 4 were in the side last season. Of those 9, 2 were replacements to players we've lost, so in reality we've signed 7 additions, which isn't too disrupting I don't think

We have as 4 were kind of established. I think it over egged the pudding a little when some people were lauding the business carried out in the transfer window & then you have 3 that needed replacing when all said & done after the deductions it still isn't so bad but when laid bare it's not 13 fresh new additions. People posting charts listing all the teams that made the most transfers didn't tell the full story.

dougcollins wrote: ↑

Fri Aug 15, 2025 6:24 pm

Bumped into my Sunderland ST holder mate in the pub last night, and his opinion is that 'all three promoted clubs have 'been pushed' into buying too many players and by the time the coaches sort it we'll all be in trouble'.

Yes, although we have such a big squad, the manager has some choices.

I think the spine has gone which spells trouble most times.
For me i would have been happy with 4 or 5 qualtity players from 20 to 30 million bracket.
Maybe it's just me but we will soon fine out .

Tribesmen wrote: ↑

Sat Aug 16, 2025 10:38 am

I think the spine has gone which spells trouble most times.
For me i would have been happy with 4 or 5 qualtity players from 20 to 30 million bracket.
Maybe it's just me but we will soon fine out .

Hopefully a new spine has been brought in. The transfer money is seriously scary and it must be difficult for teams like us to attract players in that bracket.

Elizabeth wrote: ↑

Sat Aug 16, 2025 10:51 am

Hopefully a new spine has been brought in. The transfer money is seriously scary and it must be difficult for teams like us to attract players in that bracket.

I have to agree when trying to bring players in what is the hard part is their agents who are very interested in ££££££ and not much else .

Tribesmen wrote: ↑

Sat Aug 16, 2025 10:57 am

I have to agree when trying to bring players in what is the hard part is their agents who are very interested in ££££££ and not much else .

We probably started off with a shortlist of 1000+ players and have a handful remaining.

Tribesmen wrote: ↑

Sat Aug 16, 2025 10:57 am

I have to agree when trying to bring players in what is the hard part is their agents who are very interested in ££££££ and not much else .

Hopefully we have found one or two gems among the many 'low budget' signings. Things definitely moved on from Eric Hall in the nineties.