PARKY’S CONTRACT CALLS UNDER MICROSCOPE
Phil Parkinson has announced his retained list ahead of the 2020/21 season - with five players allowed to move on to pastures new.
But did Sunderland make the right call, or will there be any decisions that they come to regret?
Our Sunderland AFC writers Richard Mennear (RM) and Mark Donnelly (MD) have given their take on Park in son’ s big calls: JOEL LYNCH
RM: No surprise to see Lynch among the names released by Sunderland.
His spell at the Stadium of Light was mixed and Phil Parkinson will probably feel there will be better options out there given the high number of players set to be free agents this summer.
Sunderland are currently light on CB options with Lynch, Jack Baldwin and Alim Ozturk all released, clearly an area Parkinson wants to strengthen and have different options.
Personally, I would have retainedOz turk as I think he has rarely let the team down when he did get a chance.
MD: This decision came as little surprise.
Lynch never seemed to fully settle on Wear side and while his performances were steady, they were far from spectacular. His exit is perhaps a sign that Parkinson believes there are better options available this summer - and hopefully we will see a marked improvement to the Black Cats’ back line. ALIM OZTURK RM: Sad to see Ozturk go. He did divide opinions at times but rarely did he let the side down when he was given an opportunity. It always felt like Ozturk was the first defender to be dropped despite how he was playing so I think he will feel frustrated overall at his Stadium of Light spell.
Given Sunderland released Baldwin and Lynch I felt Ozturk could have been offered a new one-year. If Tom Flanagan does commit and Bailey Wright returns then Sunderland will still need another centre-back on top of that.
MD: He split opinion among Sunderland supporters, but I was always a fan of Ozturk. While questions would be asked about his ability to step-up to the Championship should Sunderland gain promotion, he was a reliable enough option in League One and could have provided some much-needed cover next season.
Parkinson has frequently hailed Tom Flanagan’s versatility, though, so it was perhaps inevitable it would be the Northern Irish international given the nod over Ozturk when it came to dishing out new deals. JACK BALDWIN
RM: It was clear from last September that Baldwin’s spell on Wearside was coming to an end.
He had fallen down the pecking order with Jordan Willis, Flanagan, Lynch, Oz turk and then Wright all ahead of him.
No surprise to see his name on the released list, I wish him well for the future though, a good pro and character and one of many that gave their all when they did play.
MD: Similarly to Lynch, Baldwin’s departure was one many had seen coming.
Shipped out on loan to Sal ford, the centre back had fallen well down the pecking order - with Parkinson’s decision not to recall him in January, despite defensive resources being stretched, perhaps indicating that the writing was already on the wall.
He will no doubt bean assetto another club in the third tier, and it’ s a real shame things didn’ t workout for Baldwin on Wearside. ETHAN ROBSON
RM: A real shame to see Robson depart, I don’t feel like he was ever given a proper chance at Sunderland.
On the odd occasion he was given a chance, you could see his quality. At League One level I think he would certainly have done a job. A local lad who wanted to play for the club but was never really given the chances to do so.
A real shame and again I’d wish him well, I’m sure there will be plenty of Football League interest in him.
MD: Robson’s future was one I could have seen going either way.
With so much uncertainty in the transfer market at present, keeping hold of an academy product who could have provided a strong option in the third tier might not have been a bad bit of business.
He showed flashes of brilliance in the games he did play for the Black Cats, while his loan spells at Dundee and Grimsby underlined his pedigree.
Injuries, though, proved his downfall. They came at crucial moments and stunted his progression.
Now for Robson, regular first-team football is imperative. Would that have come at Sunderland? Most likely not. DUNCAN WATMORE
RM: The writing had probably been on the wall for some time with it always seemingly unlikely W at more would be offered new terms.
To come back from two serious knee injuries shows his strength of character but the time had probably come for both parties to move on.
I’ m sure there will be interest in Watmore at Championship and upper League One level. Sunderland can now look to reinvest his wages into strengthening the squad and there is a huge rebuild needed at the Stadium of Light this summer.
MD: I know they say you can’t afford to get too sentimental in football, but I was genuinely saddened to see Watmore depart.
In an era where we’ve seen any number of players show disregard for Sunderland, simply coming to pick up a pay-cheque, W at more was the antithesis of them all.
He cared about the club that gave him his first chance in the professional game, and gave plenty back to a city that welcomed him with open arms.
The injuries were unfortunate, but hopefully it’s all the good Watmore did that will be remembered.
I’m sure plenty of supporterswill join me in wishing him the best for the future.