holtend4life

I’m intrigued to see what Agnew can do with him, but if an offer came in to make our money back for him and we are in the Prem next season then I’d probably sell. You say he had to make things happen on his own (which was a good thing for last season, due to the lack of goal scorers in the team), but even then he was far too selfish for my liking. And you don’t get that amount of chances to waste/be selfish on in the top tier compared to the championship. I think a top 6 Championship team is his level. Realistically though, I expect him to be here next season. And hopefully proving me wrong.

I think it makes that part of the bet a third of the odds for that line if it isn’t too spot. I could be wrong though, but I only put down one stake for it.

I think it's around 145/1 or something like that!

Getting closer....

24 hours time maybe?

Preston have their two first choice centre backs out don't they? So negative. So, so negative. If they score first then we're toast.

I think people are underestimating how rotten the core is at Sunderland. Reminds me of Wolves a few years ago when they double dipped.

£1400 return on this. Put it on after they lost to the Celtic B team in July 5-0. It is very chilling thinking that could have been us if we hadn't been bought last summer.

Hope Doyle-Hayes gets some minutes tomorrow too.

Whelan is a cut above everyone out there at the mo

Samba headed the server I think.

Steer is a very vocal chap isn't he.

Not to go too far off topic, but the parallels of Sunderland and us the last few seasons is staggering. Thing is, it seems they're doing it all in one season: Scottish manager - tick Heavy reliance on one striker - tick No transfer money - tick Signing Joleon Lescott - tick Bottom of the table - tick Now to bring it back on topic, my housemate is a Sunderland fan and when I'm showing him the tweets the Dr is putting out, you can see that look on his face we all had last season when we were just waiting to be bought by someone. It gave me a few chills thinking about how it was this time last season. So for it to go from that to this in one season for us... it's unbelievably refreshing to have someone in charge who gives enough of a sh*t to play the transfer numbers and symbols game with us.

I have to say I'm in the pro numbers and symbols camp. I mean, when was the last time a January transfer window has been this exciting to talk/speculate/add, divide and subtract?

Yes please!

I'm guessing it must be to with the (lack) of a transfer budget coming up for January? Thats all I can think of, unless he's been caught in contact with other clubs about potentially managing them?

Arise, Sir Max Whitlock.

I think that this kind of deal is more for next seasons building, as the management and owner think we'll go up this season. The kid is 19, he's playing for a mid-lower Serie A team on a wage that I'm guessing is peanuts. So if we're talking about stepping stones, say we sign him and he plays well and we get promoted? Would he want to move back to Italy on wages less than what we could and afford to pay? But more importantly, say a Man City or Chelsea take an interest after he's played well for us this season? He's already acclimatised to the English culture, he'll be 20/21 and we'd easily make double/triple on him straight away. Or we don't sell him and proceed to world domination.

The lad looked fantastic at the back in the under-21 championship recently. But that could have been aided by having William Carvelho in front of him to be fair.

Haha, it's testament to the world we live in when we can't even put our own names on the back of a football shirt.

Astute signing if we pulled this off.

I think it's to do with the strained relationship that he has with his father, that's why he uses his middle name on his shirt. I read that somewhere, but could be wrong.

Rudy Gestede, Rudy Gestede, He plays for the Villa, And scores with his head. Simple, yet true.

Snakey Mcsnake was having his medical at a hospital in Manchester when he was spotted, was he not? Sounds like normal procedure to go to a hospital with (part of) the medicals.

Premier League : Chelsea Champs League qualifiers: Arsenal, Man City, Man United Relegation: Norwich, Leicester and Watford Championship: Middlesborough League 1: Swindon League 2: Bristol Rovers Champions League: Bayern Munich Europa League: Valencia Best signing: Cech Top Scorer: Aguero Biggest Flop: Ogbonna Bargain signing: Bamford (loan)