Who's been Sunderland's best value signing made under 'the model'?
09/06/2024 01:00 AM
As the dust settles on another summer window, we asked our writers to choose their best pound-for-pound signing overseen by Kristjaan Speakman and company
Ian Bendelow says…
It's got to be Trai Hume. Dependable, solid and slides into the tackle like he's at a water park in Tenerife.
The thing about Trai is that first of all, he was cheap as chips.
Secondly, he's the type of player that's both high profile and conversely, he goes somewhat under the radar. You know he's there, but where the real nuts and bolts of being a defender is concerned, he does it with the minimum of fuss.
He's completely unfazed by everything and reacts in the same way to any on-pitch occurrence.
Whether he's scored a goal or had one of the Stadium of Light's resident gulls crap in his shoulder mid-match, he would react to either by pulling a face like Marlon Brando in 'The Godfather'.
The fact he's now captaining his country at the age of twenty two is testament to his remarkable development, his maturity, and his consummate professionalism.
Paddy Hayes says…
Jobe.
Undoubtedly the obvious choice, but he is for a reason, and bringing him in from Birmingham last summer for a relatively modest fee was a masterstroke from Kyril Louis-Dreyfus, Kristjaan Speakman, and the recruitment team.
For me, Chris Rigg aside, Jobe's ceiling is the highest in our current squad. At just eighteen, he has all the physical prowess of a seasoned box-to-box midfielder with several hundred games under his belt.
The maturation process we've witnessed in little over a season has been massively underrated in some quarters.
He experienced somewhat of a baptism of fire last season, often playing out of position and was overplayed by a string of head coaches. That said, despite the turbulence behind the scenes as well as his tender years, he still ended the campaign as our top scorer.
Under Régis Le Bris, he's been nothing short of outstanding in the centre of the park. Technically gifted, with an eye for goal and a combative nature that gives us extra bite in midfield, he's only going to get better.
As a player brought in with huge sell-on potential, the fact that Premier League clubs are already sniffing around is hugely encouraging.
When we do decide to eventually cash our chips, Jobe's ability, name, and age will all contribute to the inevitably high fee we'll command for him, and I'm confident it'll be one that dwarfs Jack Clarke's.
Tom Albrighton says…
'The model', as it's affectionately known, hasn't been solely about signing cheap players to spin for profit. At times it's been about creating pathways for our own and harnessing their talents, so therefore I'll throw Dan Neil into the mix.
Neil was around the team prior to the model kicking in, but it's been under the watchful eye of Kristian Speakman and company that he's developed into arguably one of the best midfielders in the division.
As natural a talent as it comes, Neil is rarely flustered and his presence is always keenly felt by the Lads and opposition alike. His development over the years has been a joy to watch and his continual rise couldn't have been crowned more aptly than one of our own running out as captain.
Sometimes it isn't about bringing in players but about realising what you have.
The model focuses on both and that's why for me, bringing on Neil and developing someone with the club coursing through their veins and turning them into a natural born leader is something you can't buy in, cheaply or otherwise.
