Fan Letters: "Maximum value for minimal outlay should be the aim at any club!

10/07/2024 12:00 AM

RR reader Dan Ejstrup-Andersenhas his say on Sunderland's transfer policy and how it'll hopefully serve us in the years to come. Got something to say? Email us: RokerReport@yahoo.co.uk

Dear Roker Report,

You should read the last part of chapter fifteen of the interesting new book, Rough Diamond, by Paul Montgomery. That particular section of the book is about Sunderland.

Apparently, Kyril Louis-Dreyfus approached Montgomery around the summer of 2021 to inquire about 'M's' availability as a scout. M stopped the negotiating process when he discovered Dreyfus' heavy emphasis on youth and that Dreyfus wants his club to be a 'vehicle for buying and selling players'.

M also asked for a message to be passed on to Dreyfus:

For what he wants to do and how he wants to operate it, he has bought the wrong club.

The fan base is too big and too passionate for them to accept being a perennial buying and selling club.

Having a team full of youth isn't going to get the club back into the Premier League.

All this is according to Montgomery of course, and the book only tells his side of the story.

Personally, I think that Montgomery is right in what he implies (my interpretation): That the fans are the best and the worst part of most clubs.

We're the lifeblood of the club and too often, we're also the weakest link. We often have unreasonable expectations and are too focused on short term results. We press the club to spend beyond their means and we lack a sound strategy.

Any club should be a selling club; a wheeler dealer club. Even Manchester City and Newcastle United have to buy at fair prices and pay sensible wages if they don't want to get into trouble with FFP- just look at them.

For the club's sake, I hope the fans will prove Montgomery wrong.

I hope that we'll back Dreyfus, Kristjaan Speakman and the rest, as long as they do just half as good a job as they've done so far. They're not perfect, but they're much better than most in their position.

Trying to extract maximum long-term value from a limited budget should be the main focus at any sensible club, and the current club hierarchy seem very skilled when it comes to this.

Dan Ejstrup-Andersen

Ed's Note [Phil]: Fundamentally, I don't think there'll ever be a true consensus as to what the 'right' approach for a club such as Sunderland should be. There are plenty of fans who are in favour of our current structure and others who feel that spending big is the best way to achieve our aim of being a Premier League club once again.

The current approach has its pluses and as we've sometimes seen, minuses, but given that we've had such a superb start to the 2024/2025 season, and that many of the players we've signed in recent years are shining under Régis Le Bris, we're in the position of having very little to feel unhappy about, which has often been a rarity at our club.

Let's hope it continues, and it'll be interesting to see how we approach the January transfer window if we're within snapping distance of the Championship's top two. There's a chance for us to achieve success this season, and I hope we take advantage of it!

Dear Roker Report,

It's Harvest Festival in Britain this weekend — a time for feasting and reflection as the long nights draw in.

It's kind of like Thanksgiving, but without the relocation package deal. It's originally a pagan festival from back in the days when we gave thanks to the land we stood on for the bounties of the summer, and crossed our fingers in hope that it would see us through the winter.

As Lads fans, we were certainly blessed with a bountiful summer this year, and with the grain stores near to overflowing as we inch closer to the season's quarter mile marker, we've got a lot to thank Sunderland for.

With the help of his coaching staff, Régis Le Bris quickly identified his fifteen or so preferred players and he's been able to use these same players week in and week out, with like-for-like replacements on hand to step in when needed.

Romaine Mundle for Jack Clarke has been pretty much seamless so far, as was Aji Alese for Dan Ballard and then Chris Mepham for Alese, for example.

The relatively sedate scheduling of matches thus far has also allowed Le Bris to persist with these core players and as a result, they're probably gelling quicker than expected. All this and more means we have a great platform to attack the next stage from.

Like our Pagan ancestors, we also have our fingers crossed that the grain stores hold enough to see us through whatever the coming winter throws at us, at least until January, when we'll surely be looking at competitive backup for our two warrior fullbacks during the restock?

That said, Le Bris looks curiously unconcerned whenever he's questioned on the subject, so is that 'C'est la vie', or does he perhaps have something up his sleeve we haven't foreseen?

He has two weeks to work with our fringe players and it's the perfect time to see about fully integrating them into what's already a strong-looking starting eleven and matchday squad.

This integration will be invaluable as we approach the crazy season, and our ability to negotiate this period will doubtless define our season as a whole.

Get this next stage right and I can see no earthly reason why we shouldn't be dancing around poles with bells on our feet come next May.

Hey nonny nonny!

Phil Clayton

Ed's Note [Philr references to Pagans and harvest time reminded me the classic hymn 'Lord of the Harvest, Lord of the Field', which I have very fond memories of singing as a kid, and 'The Wicker Man', which is one of my favourite movies, so kudos for weaving them into a football-related letter!

On Sunderland's current crop (I'll see myself out) of exciting young players, they're doing superbly well under Régis Le Bris and the attitude and application they've shown so far has been exceptional.

Regarding our squad depth, I think we're looking pretty good, all told.

The likes of Aaron Connolly and Salis Abdul Samed will hopefully be able to start making their cases for selection after the international break, and we've also got the likes of Aji Alese and Eliezer Mayenda to come back into the fold as well, so Le Bris will certainly have some tough decisions to make further down the line.

A lack of depth at full back is a concern, and I hope that Dennis Cirkin stays fit enough to enjoy a sustained run of games, because when he's on form, he's the best in his position in the league, in my opinion.

As we all know, strength in depth is key during such a marathon season, and we're really not a million miles away from having an impressive amount.

Dear Roker Report,

We've just played our third game in seven days, using the exactly the same eleven players, and seven of them played every minute. Perhaps that's why we couldn't maintain our opening intensity for even half the game against Leeds?

Not every player can perform at their best for ninety-plus minutes, three times a week, particularly younger ones who are still growing.

I hope Régis Le Bris can quickly learn how to rotate his squad as we face another eight weeks when three games are played. How we cope with them will define our season.

Why, with a squad of twenty five, did we have to start with the same eleven? Are the rest not good enough? Does Le Bris not trust them to perform ?

Injuries, suspensions and form will eventually force changes, so why not make rotation a normal part of team selection and game management?

Five substitutes are also available to spread the workload, so we should maximise them.

Peter Tyrrell

Ed's Note [Phil]: I absolutely do think that we looked slightly fatigued against Leeds United and perhaps that was why we attempted to contain them after going 1-0 up, as opposed to kicking on and really taking the game to them.

That can happen, and I think it was probably a good lesson for Régis Le Bris and his coaching staff.

Personally, I'd like to see our wider squad utilised to a greater degree, and perhaps we'll start to see this when we resume after the international break. The players selected during the past week have done very well, but as you rightly say, we don't want to burn them out as they'll all have roles to play during the season.

Not a major gripe, but certainly something to be aware of.

Dear Roker Report,

Was the reason for the Sunderland goal a ricochet off a Leeds defender which put spin on the ball? When the ball bounced, it was this spin which thankfully confused the Leeds goalkeeper, with no blame attached to the pitch.

Anyone who's played or watched cricket will know that when a batsmen playing a shot doesn't hit the ball in the middle of the bat but the outer edge, he's effectively slicing the ball, which when it lands will go right.

Anyone who plays or watches regularly can easily anticipate the way the cricket ball will move on landing, and a cricket ball is smaller, harder and shiny, and is receptive to spin.

One gripe: I can't remember the last Sunderland manager who, when we're defending corners or dangerous free kicks, has left at least one Sunderland player in the opposition half.

That would keep at least two or three defenders back, reduce the crowding in our box and make it easier for Anthony Patterson to come and collect, as well as having someone to aim for in a potentially dangerous situation.

Someone like Patrick Roberts, whose control and first touch is ideal, as was Jack Clarke.

Roberts, by his size, contributes nothing in defence at set pieces.

Ray Laidler

Ed's Note [Phil]: To be honest, I think we'll still be debating exactly how Illan Meslier failed to collect the ball as it bounced towards him, and whether the pitch played a role, for the next twenty years or more.

It was an utterly inexplicable moment and quite possibly- no, definitely- the maddest goal I've ever seen scored at the Stadium of Light.

Regarding our strategy when defending corners, it would be good to see us use a speedy player as an outlet, because it can be a very effective way to launch an attack if the opposition have pushed right up the pitch in the hope of taking advantage of an attacking set play.

Dear Roker Report,

I for one leave my seat early as I have a leg problem.

I leave five minutes before full time or I would never get down the forty steps to use the toilet and catch my bus. For an 8:00pm kick off, I get home at midnight.

Some of us do have to leave early, and 8:00pm is a nuisance, but we still go to support the Lads most of the time we buy our tickets.

Ian Dent

Ed's Note [Phil]: As I wrote in my piece from Sunday, I think it's extremely important to consider the circumstances of our fellow fans before criticising them for leaving the stadium before full time.

If travel arrangements, mobility issues and such are paramount, that's absolutely fair and as I'll say in response to any letter about this issue, everyone has the right to choose whether they stay until the end or leave slightly earlier.

Night games are often a pain in the backside at the best of times, so it's vital to respect everyone's reasoning.

Dear Roker Report,

After following Sunderland AFC for over fifty years, fans leaving early has always been an issue.

Whereas this can be frustrating for other fans including myself in the past, the one area I have learnt in the past thirty seven years, as a retired RMHN, is how the individuals deal with their own mental health.

So apart from the obvious like having to leave for public transport and needing to get our future young Sunderland fans home for school in the morning, particularly during midweek games, the main reason in my ex-professional opinion is anxiety. Let's face it: Sunderland AFC has a bundle of experience on sharing that to their fans.

We all deal with this serious issue in different ways. Just a gentle reminder to our amazing fans.

Podge Cooper

Dear Roker Report,

Last season, I stuck up for Jobe when a lot of people were slating him.

This surprised me, as you can see his quality and he's been our player of the season so far.

However, to me, Jobe is better the deeper he plays as I said last season, and it's no coincidence that he's playing a lot better in a deeper role.

I really think he needs to be playing in front of the back four, as he has all the qualities for that role. I'd also like to see Dan Neil pushed further upfield as he plays better when pushing forward.

I think that's where they'll both be most successful, but it would be interesting to hear what others think.

Paul Eden

Ed's Note [Phil]: Personally, I'm absolutely delighted to see how much Jobe has progressed this season. I was one of his staunchest defenders last season, when his form was often somewhat up and down, and he was subjected to a lot of very harsh criticism.

Under Régis Le Bris, he's added an extra twenty percent to his game, and his ability to receive the ball with an opponent at his back, turn and make space, before driving forward or picking a pass, is now top quality.

Regarding Dan Neil, I do think he would benefit from being pushed ten yards further forward, as that would play more to his strengths and allow him to influence games to a greater degree.

I'm confident that Le Bris will find a way to solve this particular puzzle, and I hope Jobe continues to develop his game, because he's a very, very talented player.