My Maccam mate sent me an e-mail as I left work saying that Sunderland are chasing King and Stewart for 8.25 million, did anyone else see this? Personally I doubt it's true .. but you can never tell!!!
Personally I think it's pathetic how even though Marlon signed a new contract just the other week we're still hearing these crappy rumours.
We've got to have something to spend the money on... can we replace those two with better players for that amount (or slightly more) ? Maybe... but I reckon that Marlon alone is in the $10 Million class... he did not have a bad scoring record last season considering how few goals we were scoring anyway. For a team that provides more service, he'd be in the 15 to 20 goal a season class. As for Stewart... he reminds me of Bazeley sometimes in the way he drifts off down the wing leaving a gaping hole behind him. But then, he does a good job up there (until/unless the ball gets crossed behind him and he has to play catchup to the opposing winger). Me, I like the Gibbo style of defender who gets a bloody nose in the rarified air on the far side of the halfway line, but who can pretty much stifle any attempted wing play by the opposition. Having said all this, in the absence of a Gibbs (or Rostron) on that side, Stewart is a class above most of the rest of the Championship. Powell is getting to be too old and Parkes is still too young, so I'd want Stewart replaced BEFORE we let him go. Frankly, what we really need is a midfield that can win the ball in the air, win it on the ground and distribute it forward to the wings fast and accurately. Bang-Bang and Williamson are growing into those skills but they are niether of them there yet. The best midfield that I have seen us play was Hyde and Johnson. Johno won practically every ball and Hyde distributed it into danger. For a two man midfield, they were the bees knees (well, for a season or so).
True, but remember Ash was sold not that long after signing a new contract. I reckon it's just paper talk, they need info for fans to discuss. At this time of year rumours are worthless until the deal is done!!!
Or maybe Marlon said " I wanna go gaffer!" and Aidy countered with "OK... but do me a favour and sign this extention first..." knowing it would add ££'s to the deal?? How did I get so cynical at my tender age?
