Have Sunderland stolen a march on Newcastle?
While Newcastle made a bright start to the transfer window, signing a handful of players early on, since then they’ve come to something of a grinding halt and Alan Pardew has been unable to pick up any more players. On the other hand, our neighbours Sunderland have been signing players left, right and centre and have pretty much secured a whole new team. So, by managing to strengthen all over the pitch, have Sunderland stolen a march on Newcastle in the transfer market?
Sunderland have made nine summer signings thus far, including Wes Brown, John O’Shea, David Vaughan, Craig Gardner, Sebastian Larsson and Connor Wickham. The latter, Wickham, is arguably the most exciting of their purchases, but it will be a big ask for him to step up right away. The rest of those players will undoubtedly strengthen their squad, and manager Steve Bruce has used his Manchester United connections to pick up a pair of solid defenders.
You could argue that Sunderland have done exactly what Newcastle haven’t – use the money gained from players sold to re-invest in the squad. In a similar situation to the Magpies, the Black Cats sold one of their brightest prospects, Jordan Henderson, for a substantial fee to Liverpool. They have plugged that gap to some extent with Vaughan, Gardner and Larsson and will be hoping one of them will step up to the plate.
However, Sunderland have found that it’s not easy to replace your best players. After selling Darren Bent to Aston Villa in January, they had a torrid second half to the season, losing a number of games on the trot. By selling arguably their best midfielder this summer, it will significantly weaken them again, and none of the players mentioned above strike fear into you as an opposition, although they are all decent Premier League players.
As a Newcastle fan I’m not overly worried by the work that Sunderland have done in the transfer window. While I’m slightly envious of the number of players they’ve bought, it seems to be a case of quantity over quality – no disrespect to any of their new signings. However, I’m sure Pardew wishes he had the money that Bruce has had to spend, as getting funds at St James’ Park seems to be like getting blood out of a stone.
We’ll just have to wait and see how each team’s transfer activity compares, but we won’t have to wait long – bring on the Tyne-Wear Derby at the Stadium of Light on August 20th!
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July 23rd, 2011
love to see tyhere wage bill lmao
July 24th, 2011
Great point, must be HUGE
July 23rd, 2011
Safc may have been busy in the window but they had to be bcos of the loan players going back and players released etc.
I think only 2 of the new faces would improve Nufc,s first team SQUAD.
O,Shea would be a defo,and Whickham is an exciting prospect but even he is,nt a cert to be a success.
IMO the most infloential part of any team is in midfield,and i think Nufc have by far the stronger of the two.
July 24th, 2011
Wayne…..Nolan scarpered a few weeks back mate! The midfield is as strong as an anorexic’s waistline.
July 23rd, 2011
Sunderland MAY have bought some security with the Man u pensioners and cashins from relegated teams
IF they survive next season will be interesting .
must be the oldest average team in EPL now.
I would love to sign there BIGGEST asset.
THERE owner.
Must Be GREAT to have a owner that cares
Not A Club raping FCB
July 23rd, 2011
nor ya dipstick, tha wur the youngest lst seezun man, dee ya reaserch ya tart
July 23rd, 2011
ew maytes reet, a nar yaz a all garn rewnd n bein tarts sayin tis n that but chill ya beef wel see ho is bettr next seezun. but most sundorlund fans a reet wen tha say a seezun is 38 gaymz insted of 2
July 23rd, 2011
Ur English is as bad as ur new signings ha ha..
July 24th, 2011
Is this a Newcastle page? Seems like a load of inbread Geordies worrying about sunderland before the season starts. You could win us twice next year but if we finish higher I’ll be happy. Your midfield stronger? Hmmmmm 2 French unknowns and still no number 9. Please get over yourselves and get out of the past. I enjoy the north east derby so hope you stay up but don’t think your too good to go back down. I’m sure lovenkrandst or whatever will keep you safe
July 24th, 2011
Not ‘worrying’, just looking at your transfer activity – which is pretty vast
July 24th, 2011
Yes better than yours, we sold someone who scored 3 goals all season and replaced with gardener (10 goals) Larson (8 goals) no brainer for me like oh and Larson was free. I think our transfers have been very good as we have addressed areas of weakness from last year. You got rid of Nolan and that for me was a big mistake he made u tick…
July 24th, 2011
Stolen the march? this is a non-contest!! Where is their £35 million? Pardew has no backbone and wont tell the mag fans the truth: “Its all gone on keeping the current disgruntled players at the club and to buy a few trinket foreigners that sound fancy to keeps the fans quiet”. He talks the talk but fails to walk the walk, as per his West Ham days….no charisma, no emotion, full of “lets touch base,positivity this,positivity that”….never says how it really is. Its obvious Cashley is gearing up for the club sell-off to minimise his losses, after all he is a ruthless businessman, oh and a Spurs fan.
As for us? well I think this is Bruce’s make or break season, fail to finish in top 8 then off he will go to another mid/lower end table club.
July 24th, 2011
A march very much stolen. If O’shea and brown stay fit the season will be blinding. Its never boring at the toon though….
November 4th, 2011
ho hum, such an interesting read these comments…
just like the pundits, but crucially not our scouting network / manager, no clue about who we have bought has been demonstrated.
love it!