Shane Long is now reported to be a Hammers target
There are people in this world who believe the opening of the transfer window is similar to rubbing a magic lantern and watching a genie appear ready to supply everything required on our wish list.
Frankly I gave up on pantomime nonsense when I was about 12 – hoping for the best and fearing the worst has always proved to be a more realistic proposition.
Much went wrong in the summer…that’s a given. It was the worst transfer window in many years, just as last year’s was the best.
Whether people became over-confident or not is a question that is difficult to answer but to expect all the wrongs to be righted over the next month would be daft.
It’s a testing time for the board’s recruitment director Tony Henry who was employed specifically to find the top prospects. After the summer of 2016 he will know he needs to be bang on the case.
With the slow emergence of Havard Nortveidt in the right back role and the imminent return of Sam Byram, the right back position may not be as critical as it was a few weeks ago.
But the relentless emphasis on trying to grab Jermain Defoe from the club that sent Henry on gardening leave after he was head-hunted by West Ham, demonstrates that it’s up front where all our efforts are focused.
Brentford’s Scott Hogan (below right) and Southampton’s Shane Long are also apparently in the frame too but, despite having big doubts it will happen, Defoe alongside Carroll seems a belting option to me.
Much is going to depend on Defoe and how difficult he and his agents are prepared to make life for the Sunderland board I reckon.
That’s why genies and magic lantern talk is a nonsense but it often becomes par for the course at this time of the year and it needs to stop.
I recall reading on Twitter last summer that we simply had to have Gokhan Tore. Very informed people who had clearly never seen him play said so . That didn’t work out too well did it?
January is a poor month to pull rabbits out of hats but after our summer there’s a lot of pressure on Tony Henry, the board and the manager to get key deals done.
It is not going to be easy but Henry needs to produce. He was appointed by the board – which is also under pressure – for that sole purpose.
Patience is required by us in the meantime and judgements must wait until the window slams shut. But we and he need a result.
Nortveidt was left for dead by Rashford. I think we do need a right back. You are correct though Hugh….. its only a matter of time before the moans appear that the board haven’t signed anyone.
Beat me to it stratford on nortveidt
.Had one good game against swansea and people are saying he is the answer to our problem,he is not..He was terrible against united,got roasted by rashford and gave two sloppy back passes which luckily enough randolph got to.
Agreed Hugh much will depend on Defoe & how much he wants it.
Im not on the lets flog Nordtveit train,i think he is a fair option despite what some footballing experts on here think.
He has improved but I agree he is not the long term solution. To be fair to the bloke he is not a RB and he might prove a good stop gap in midfield if there are injuries while CK is away. I would like to see an experienced right back and a striker in Jan. But the striker is a must. Oh, and one who can score goals would nice.
Patience is not something too many West /ham fans possess……. It’s hit the ground running or go.
Are you sure TRB? We have unlimited patience …. we have been fed snippets of rubbish window after window by owners who talk big …12 inch zip … but nothing to show for it . For once just make an offer to Slumberland that they cannot refuse …. get rid of Noble and give his ridiculous wages to Defoe who will contribute something to the team … DREAM ON !!
Well, so many players have never been allowed to settle (esp. those from overseas) before our fans are on their backs, then they never find their feet. I agree with your comment of Defoe and apparently, £6m has been offered today (which means they’ll end up paying more). As for Noble…..when Kouyate, Antonio, Obiang, Lanzini, Payet, Ayew and now Fernandes are available….there’s no starting place for our captain.
Short memories TRB.It was only last season fans were claiming what a good scouting/transfer network we must have after the previous two summer windows.
Its all a load of balls how some change like the wind.
Sorry fellas but it does my nut in Lol
I wouldn’t be so harsh on Nortveidt ; Rashford is a very cool and collected player who belays his tender age of 19 . True talent is hard to play against for any defender . It does look though as if Nortveidt is starting to improve and with more game time could become one of our better players . I’m prepared to hold opinion on him to be honest .
What I find troubling is the constant rumblings of signing Defoe . Sure he would or could be good for us but , we need to broaden our horizons a little . Sunderland won’t part with Thier best forward and chance of avoiding relegation unless Defoe actually wants to leave .
Even Shane Long would be good for us . Maybe even Enner Valencia , again .
Our target this season has gone from European Qualification to survival , so any positive signing should be welcomed . Next season in the Premiership is a bonus if we can get there. Not expecting much else in reality . Reckon we should go gung ho for the FA cup .
That is our only true chance of Europe and the slice of glory we fans are absolutely craving for .
It surprises me how many people call it a disasterous window, it is too early to say of it was or it wasn’t we bought a lot of potential, as I have said numerous times it was last years players and Bilic insistence on using Antonio as a wingback that were our major problems, none of the strike options have yet worked out and that was the disappointment. Zaza was as mentioned again today never keen to leave Italy, Bacca didn’t want to come and Lacazette was never an option because his chairman is as bonkers as Levy, we should have done better research and as Slav had said gone in much earlier with an offer of higher wages. As for the right back run the risk and try and sign Trippier maybe do a deal where we buy Berahino and trade him for Trippier because WBA have refused to deal with the Spuds who supposedly want him. While we are at it offer them £25m for Jannsen thats a healthy profit on a player who is at best a sub in their team but who would thrive at our club.
And I thought it was David Sullivan that did all the deals~working 24/7 and all that. When the pressures on its now TH unless I guess whoever is bought (loaned?!) is a roaring success.
Karron Brady promised a ‘world class team for a world class stadium’- now we are back in for Defoe and Johnson.Should we be surprised…
Anyone who says we don’t now need a r/b clearly didn’t watch the second half of Man U!
It’s January
Wow the windows open & its time for recriminations & badmouthing.
lol get used to it Colin its only the first week, by the third week of the window all hell will have broken loose 😉
Come on lads keep some of your powder dry its a long time four weeks of the transfer window.I would hate to see some of you suffering from moaning burnout in the last few days 😁