GreenGiant

Hate the way they do that as though the NE clubs have no right to buy decent players. They were absolutely convinced he was off to either Spurs or Liverpool and I'm guessing can't for the life of them understand why he'd go to Sunderland. In many respects it's comparable to when we signed Owen and the journos couldn't get their heads round why he'd choose us over Liverpool. Massive statement of intent from the Mackems and one you have to commend. Understandable why they're chuffed to bits - lets face it we would have been. I just don't like the touted inevitability around the reselling of these signings. On our side, you've got players like Cabaye and Ben Arfa talked about as massive profit makers. Now, the mackems make a good ambitious signing in Whickham and the same is said of them. That sort of mindset is never going to get the NE back as a top footballing region. Of course, I don't mind when Sunderland flog their best players To be fair i'm not sure whether it is even a media bias or anything like that. NUFC and SAFC wont be threatining the top 4/5 for a long time and if players from either of our clubs realise a potential that would see them capable of playing for one of the top 4/5 teams then its likely that they're going to be sold. I think the same can be said for all other teams outside the so called elite, including mainstays such as Everton. I'd possibly even put Spurs in that category as well, look at the Modric situation, Chelsea make a bid, Spurs turn it down, player allegedly wants to leave. Its just where we are in todays food chain I'm afraid. Oh, believe me, it's Mr Mike Ashley and his house of Bargains that has turned NUFC this way. If Quinn is an ambitious owner (and tbf, I reckon he is) you'll be beating off all suitors with a shitty stick if Whickham becomes a success. Players like him coming good will take you to the next level. Unfortunately for NUFC, we've either sold those players (Carroll) or will sell those players soon enough (Tiote, Ben Arfa, Enrique). This is going down a dark corridor with talk of ambition and money on this board so I'll leave it there. Whickham's a good signing after Larsson and Westwood being rather underwhelming IMO. Wouldnt disagree about the Mike Ashley thing mate although if he was a respectable figure you may even argue that his policy is quite a sensible one in terms of shifting high earners, buying low / selling high etc as this would be financially beneficial for NUFC, but you just get the feeling that its more for his own personal gain, either way its a risky model. I think Quinn is an ambitious chairman and Short an ambitious owner but I dont think anyone will disagree that clubs are resigned to losing players if they express a desire to leave, no matter how big that shitty stick is. You could probably count on one hand the number of players that have been forced to stay at a club in these situations. I was going to cite Fabregas as an example but i dont think he's ever came out and publicly said he wants to leave the arse?

Hate the way they do that as though the NE clubs have no right to buy decent players. They were absolutely convinced he was off to either Spurs or Liverpool and I'm guessing can't for the life of them understand why he'd go to Sunderland. In many respects it's comparable to when we signed Owen and the journos couldn't get their heads round why he'd choose us over Liverpool. Massive statement of intent from the Mackems and one you have to commend. Understandable why they're chuffed to bits - lets face it we would have been. I just don't like the touted inevitability around the reselling of these signings. On our side, you've got players like Cabaye and Ben Arfa talked about as massive profit makers. Now, the mackems make a good ambitious signing in Whickham and the same is said of them. That sort of mindset is never going to get the NE back as a top footballing region. Of course, I don't mind when Sunderland flog their best players To be fair i'm not sure whether it is even a media bias or anything like that. NUFC and SAFC wont be threatining the top 4/5 for a long time and if players from either of our clubs realise a potential that would see them capable of playing for one of the top 4/5 teams then its likely that they're going to be sold. I think the same can be said for all other teams outside the so called elite, including mainstays such as Everton. I'd possibly even put Spurs in that category as well, look at the Modric situation, Chelsea make a bid, Spurs turn it down, player allegedly wants to leave. Its just where we are in todays food chain I'm afraid.

Agree with this. When Henderson first came onto the scene we all recognised that we had a good player with potential on our hands, but I think Bruce has played a blinder by talking him up to the extent that people have a perception that he's better than he is, ultimately culminating in a bid of however many millions it was being accepted and Henderson sold. The danger is that people see a player only a handful of times and if they play above their consistent level in those games then they get a false impression, I think Shola Ameobi is a clinical and consistent goal scorer for example Is Henderson a good player? Yes he is but he's a long way off being worth the reported sum that Liverpool paid. The Premier League has had a problem for years in that clubs value their English players above their respective market worth, this will only escalate in future with the home grown player rule. Going off topic slightly but it probably also has an effect on the development of our national team, our players are perhaps priced out of playing abroad and gaining experience of different styles of football, maybe we're too one dimensional.