100% if he played like that and scored them all, he’d be Didier Drogba! Very encouraging performance…will scare the living daylights out of Championship defenders.

He just doesn’t effect the game. Him and Pickering down that left is horrific. Both good technically and neither prepared to take a risk. With Pickering, I feel it’s manufactured as he’s expected to sit back and tuck into three cb’s when we‘re in possession. But Siggy just looks like he’s playing within himself…hugs the touchline, recieves the ball and turns back inside to make a square or backward pass. A stark contrast to the right side where Carter plays inside to JRC who plays in that DeBruyne role and has Brittain constantly bombing down the line at pace. I can see those combinations working well.

Absolutely - A cracking big man little man partnership with lots of bite!!

Ohashi is a 9. Think Paul Dickov…very very industrious. Markanday and Bucko aren’t upto it. They don’t play enough to be considered in my opinion.

Dust settled from last night, and I know it was ‘only’ Stockport, but I’m almost certain that Park and Rudy have significantly improved our no.9 situation and I’m willing to say that BOTH are better than Gally… Gueye is a physical beast, strong with his back to goal. Links play up and got himself into more goal scoring positions than SG ever has. Should’ve had at least 3 goals, missed a couple and keeper saved a couple. Set Ty up for that sitter he missed - He will terrify defenders with his physicality and be a threat. Think of an oversized Danny Graham. Proper target man. Yuki is a barrel chested work horse. Looks quite quick and buzzing around. Made loads of runs and brought other players like Ty and JRC in. Set up two chances and had a shot blocked on the goalie. He’s strong too, and won’t be pushed around. Flew into a few tackles and made and impact. Created a threat Think Paul Dickov

I think JRC, Brittain and Hedges have some but granted, we need more. I’d focus on that Dolan position in the 343…Siriki Dembele, Brannigan or Ayari would do a better job than Ty there.

He’d be gone for me mate. Has zero impact on the game…was the same in between injuries last season. JRC on the right, Dolan on the middle and Hedges on the left looked decent. Switches from a 4231 to a 343 when we attack. Brittain and Hedges are free to bomb on. Sonny and Trav sit in… Pears Carter. Hyam. Pickering Brittain Sonny Travis. Hedges JRC. Dolan Gueye Get some pace into those wide areas and this team will be a different animal. A right footer on the right and a left footer on the left with a big lad in the middle made me feel all warm and fuzzy though…like the good old days!

Pears, Carter, Hyam and Pickering - Solid, not tested. Trav, Sonny Hedges, Dolan and JRC - Solid 7/10 Gueye - Miissed a couple of chances and was unlucky with a couple of smart saves from the keeper but I liked his performance. Very strong with his back to goal, linked play well and most importantly, was in a position to miss chances…positions the previous incumbent was never in, to actually miss them. Yuki - Like him… Industrious, looks fairly quick but absolutely put himself about. He’s not lightweight at all. Neatly set a couple up and had a one blocked that was going in. Brittain my MOM - I like the combination of him and JRC on the right and how when he bombs on, JRC tucks in. Negatives - Siggy is crap. Really short of some pace in the wide areas - more evident than ever today.

I reckon… - 1x freebie, experienced keeper. - 1x fullback cover on loan - 1x young PL winger on loan - 1x Permanent winger for a fee I also think we’ll end up with a midfield replacement for Garrett or Trav and I’d like an experienced striker.

I think he’d convert really well into a cracking cb. He’s brilliant at defending the box from corner, mobile and imposing with his stature. His problem playing as a forward is that I don’t think he has any strikers instinct. In comparison to AA, BB and SS in their finest form for the club, he lacks the nous to know where he needs to be in order to effect the game. He doesn’t sniff out opportunities or ever look dangerous. He’s not a terrible finisher but I’d guess he’s had the least chances of any striker in the division per minutes played. He doesn’t have a strikers brain…it’s odd really! If you gave Sam Gallagher, Harry Leonard’s instinct, he’d be Didier Drogba! 🔥🤣

I m didn’t get the impression from Sunderland supporters that he had lost his legs. It was the opposite and most were furious, him having won POTY. Granted, the Norwich fans have levelled this at him… For me, players like Batth, McFadzean etc judged on the playing style of your team. If you’re playing a high line and leaving space in behind then they’re useless. If you’re planning on sitting in and defending your box, then Honestly, we probably have two of the very best. I expect one or both to be on the pitch anytime we’re under the cosh…which may be regularly!

I think it will be a Lcb rather than a Lb that we sign as is the current fad. Look at City with Ake and Arsenal signing Calafiori. Teams playing a Lcb at Lb so they can tuck them in and push the RB on to make a 343 when they’re in possession.

GK, Lcb/Lb, Weimann, Unleaded’s winger and another Tried and tested / marquee ST plus a couple of PL loans and I think we’ll be fine 🤞🏽

Keeper - defo I reckon this Lcb playing in Italy is legit…seems we play a 343 when in possession with Pickering tucking in and Brittain pushing on. Hyam could go, as we don’t need 6x senior cb’s for two spots. If he doesn’t then O’Riordan will prob go out on loan to league 1. I reckon one of Trav or Garrett will go, hoping for the latter and be replaced. Weimann would be good, plus the winger Unleaded mentioned. I also think we defo need another Championship proven striker. Loan the Leonard when fit.

I think it’s more to do with being in the last year of their contract rather than being high earners tbf - Hyam and Siggy defo in the danger zone. Dolan, not so much because we would get a fee for him due to his age etc.

Thanks Dad (I’ll put you back on ignore now) 💪🏽

Yep, thanks for letting me know. I hadn’t noticed…👍🏼

Why? Because R99 said so!? 🤷🏽‍♂️🤣 *FYI - I don’t think it’s true, which is why I wrote “IF”…

IF this were true, it would mean two things… 1) Hyam is going / has gone. 2) We are COOOOOKING!! 🔥🔥 So, it’s unlikely but interesting!

If it came out that Rovers and Stoke were involved in some type of money laundering scandal attached to the signings of Ennis and Gallagher I would not be surprised. Who in their right minds would pay a reported £2m+ in fees plus a combined £25k per week = 1.3m PER YEAR in wages for those two having watched them play? 🤣🤣🤣💪🏽

Kinel!! 🤣🤣🤣🤦🏽‍♂️ I actually feel sorry for this guy. I would honestly say that’s Gallagher Achilles heal. He literally is NEVER in the right place at the right time!! He never looks like he’s going to score a goal.

I’d imagine they’re just doing medicals like any other signing? 🤷🏽‍♂️

Positive that both signed on 3yrs with a further option…

That’s interesting- based on that, we would still need a GK, Lcb, No.9 (replacement for SG) and a winger, plus replacement for SS. So 5 more, right? 😅

I agree mate. I don’t think for one minute that they care about public opinion, nor do I think JE will have ‘kicked off’… They have waited to get some cash in, simple. Fees + wages of Semir, Wahlstedt and SG paying for Ohashi, Gueye, Weimann? Mcfadz?… GK, defenders, a winger or two and a striker funded once SS cash drops in? 🤞🏽