SAFC: Answers to your questions
Transfers continue to dominate the headlines on Wearside.
Phil Smith has been answering questions from Echo readers in his latest Q&A – on everything from Lee Johnson’s plans in the transfer market this month, to the thorny issue of season ticket refunds at the Stadium of Light…
What transfer/loan targets would you be looking at this month?
Denver Hume potentially being out for two months means my priority right now would honestly be in that position.
Sunderland have plenty of players who can fill in there but I think a naturally leftfooted and attacking option is needed.
Callum McFadzean has been steady since arriving but the fixture schedule is hectic and Hume is such an important part of Sunderland’s attacking threat.
Both Aiden McGeady and Elliot Embleton (and even Lynden Gooch) like to drift infield and that’s a real weapon if you have a full-back who can attack the space they create out wide.
It’s crucial Sunderland have that, particularly in those home games we have watched so often where they need to break down teams sitting deep, teams happy to take a point.
Steve Seddon is a player I’ve always rated when I’ve seen him play in this league, as an example of a natural leftback who can have an impact at his level. He’s 23 though, and the reality of the salary cap is that Sunderland will likely have to take a chance on an U21 player.
There’s an obvious need for another forward player, too.
Jack Diamond has brought some welcome drive, and I do think Gooch’s return is a real positive.
He’s always wanted to play in a more central area and I think he can help bring the other attacking players into the game in that ‘nine-and-ahalf role’, particularly when Sunderland look to be moving towards a style that is considerably less direct than what we’ve seen at times.
The kind of player I think they’re still probably missing is someone who can play the role Ryan Longman (a 20-year-old loanee from Brighton & Hove Albion) did when AFC Wimbledon visited the Stadium of Light not so long ago.
Longman missed a couple of really good chances to score, but was very dangerous in carrying the ball forward on the counter-attack and picking up space when Sunderland threw bodies forward.
I’ve no idea how consistent he’s been through the campaign but it struck me that night that he was the kind of player Sunderland don’t really have.
Brennan Johnson, on loan at Lincoln City from Nottingham Forest, is a similar example.
Which young players are worth a run in the first team and which players would you like to see go out on loan?
It definitely seems like a good opportunity for Anthony Patterson to go out on loan.
He’s a really talented goalkeeper but I think it’s a position where you need senior experience and once he has that under his belt, I think he’s got a really good chance of pushing for minutes at Sunderland. I don’t think there’s much value in a loan for Elliot Embleton, to be honest.
Johnson has already ruled that out and I think that’s the right approach. Embleton has six months on his deal left and both parties just need to see now if he is going to make it at Sunderland. I think he’s got the quality to do just that, but it’s time for a proper run of games so a proper, fair judgement can be made.
I think Sunderland need him, he takes risks and can open up space in central areas, which is what the team have lacked for so much of the last two seasons.
Jack Diamond is now clearly too important to go out on loan, and I’m a bit torn on Dan Neil.
He needs regular football, but in the current climate Sunderland need cover and it might not be a bad thing for him to properly bed into the squad and get an understanding of what Johnson wants.
By the sounds of it, his recent ankle injury might mean a loan is off the table, anyway.
In the U23 group, it’s a balance between keeping the group strong for their league, and getting senior football for whoever needs it.
You wonder if Sunderland will be tempted, for example, to get Mitch Curry a loan and see how he fares in senior football.
Do you know what’s happening with season ticket refunds for those who didn’t take up the screening voucher offer?
To the best of my knowledge I’m not aware of any conclusion to that. I think season tickets are going to be a really important issue for the new regime to handle, should they get EFL approval as expected.
Yes, supporters knew fine well when they signed up that they might miss a lot of games due to COVID-19, but there was a genuine expectation at that time that some fans would be in grounds from October onwards.
That this hasn’t happened is of course in no way Sunderland’s fault, but the financial contribution from season ticket holders has been absolutely huge and the club would have been in a really troubled position without it.
Fans want to help their club in any way they can, but it would be great if the new regime could come up with some really creative ways to show their appreciation for that loyalty. And it’s very obviously imperative that those who need refunds can get them processed as efficiently as possible.