The Cats deals that did & didn't happen under the microscope
Sunderland’s busy summer window ended with four confirmed deals on deadline day.
Thorben Hoffmann and Leon Dajaku arrived on season-long loan deals, while Jack Diamond and Will Grigg joined Harrogate Town and Rotherham United on similar arrangements.
Phil Smith has taken questions on the deals that did and didn’t happen, as well as assessing where the squad now stands. You can read his responses below…
How committed will Aiden O’Brien be if his move to Doncaster Rovers fell through?
I’ m sure it will be something that is addressed pretty quickly behind the scenes.
O’Brien said after his hattrick at Blackpool that he had held discussions with Lee Johnson around his game time, and so the prospect of a potential move would undoubtedly have come up.
Johnson rates O’Brien, but the shift in style this season and the introduction of that extra playmaker in the number ten role has obviously had an impact.Sunderland were looking for potential additions of their own as Will G rig gm a de his exit to Rotherham, and soi twill be a case of getting back to work and re assessing the situation when January comes around.
I don’t think there will be any real issues with O’Brien moving forward.
He’s a very down-to-earth guy, a professional and someone who has clearly given 100% even when a bit frustrated in the early stages of this season.
His versatility and physicalitywill bean asset over the next few months and he’ll know that the best thing for him as he enters the final year of his contract is to keep making an impact whenever the opportunity presents itself.
Where does Anthony Patterson fit in now another keeper has signed?
When it became clear that Sunderland were looking for another goal keeper in the final weeks of the window, it was put to Johnson that a loan move for Patterson would surely then be the way forward.
He said it could, but rejected the implied suggestion that the
young goalkeeper was therefore second choice.
Since then Lee Bur ge’ sin jury has pushed him into action and he’s done well.
Long term, they have a lot of belief in Patterson and that he can fit into the new philosophy.
But Thor ben H off mann has more senior experience and has also come through a system where this way of playing is ingrained.
There’s the option to sort out a National League loan for Patterson, but I think there’ s an argument for him staying with the senior group so he can get even more comfortable and confident.
There’ s going to be plenty of cup games over the next couple of months, too. Having strong back up is also useful just in
case it takes Hoffman a little while to settle and adapt.
How many of the loans are with the option to buy at the end of the season?
To the best of my knowledge only the Thorben Hoffmann and Leon Dajaku deals have options to purchase included in the loan deals.
However, I think in all casesthe club have tried to recruit players who they believe have the possibility of having a longer-term future at the club.
At 23, Nathan Broadhead needs regular football and it’s not hard to see how a good year on Wearside could lead to another arrangement of some sorts.
And while Callum Doyle very obviously looks to have a very bright future at Manchester
City, it’s still early days in his development there and you’d think a good year would mean Sunderland would be at the front of the queue for any future loans.
Similar with Fred erik Alv es, though we have not seen a great deal of him yet.
Did we need cover for Luke O’Nien and why didn’t we add another full back?
I think the loan rules must have had an impact with the latter. You can only name five in any matchday squad and Sunderland clearly prioritised the deals for Hoffmann and Dajaku.
I think Carl Winchester’s form was a big factor, and there remains a chance that Denver Hume will agree a new deal to bolster those ranks.
If he did, then you have four full-back options, with the potential to also drop Winchesterinto mid field as well. He was excellent there against Blackpool.
Johnson does like to run a leaner squad as he believes it’s better for spirit and cohesion, and players like Winchester and Huggins fit the bill perfectly. I do agree that the squad is maybe one light, and that could be addressed in January.
One bad injury at full back or in midfield right now would leave you nervous, for sure.
On a scale of 1 to 10 how happy are you with this window and how do you see the recent signings from Germany being used?
I would give it an eight. Were Denver Hume to sign a new deal, I’d go to a nine.
It’s been really refreshing to see spaces carved out for the club’ s best academy talent, and players being recruited to fulfil clear and specific roles.
It was a sluggish start but you’d have to say the club have delivered on their pledge to move into a very new era.
The only reservation is the very obvious fact that a lot of these players are inexperienced at both senior and League One level.
They’ ve been great to watch so far and I think that will continue, but it’s a tough league.
As for the new arrivals, I think Hoffmann will go pretty much straight into the side.
Dajaku sounds like a very direct winger, so should slot naturally onto either flank.