Can You Keep It Up and January Window?

[Al-aLondon-Foxile]

I think we've some really good players, but overall I think we're a team, playing all out for each other. Too many disruptions to that could be negative. I think one or two careful additions could be good, but I'd be cautious in the January market. We've got good players who don't get much of a loom in, so I think we're OK, especially if we hold onto what we've got, and they stay fit.

[MackemHope]

My question to you is do Sunderland supporters still regard Leicester as a "sh#t little tin pot club that belongs in the championship"? I cant take you seriously until you answer and even then it would depend on your answer.

I don't think there's anything in my post, or in my previous posts on this forum that would make you think that. Take that chip off your shoulder. I'd say there are lots of Sunderland fans, myself included, who want to see Leicester continue this run until the end of the season and stop the idea that the title race will only be between Man City, Chelsea, Arsenal, Man United every year. Hence my original post. I'd really like to see you spend big in January, I'm not convinced you do have the depth in your squad to compete with the four teams above for a whole season, but really hope that I am wrong, which a lot of your fellow supporters above seem to think that I am.

[EnglishOxide]

Don't take it personally. For a while there was a lot of posts on one of your forums, readytogo? Having a pop at us for pretty much every week with no reason other than jealousy. That's why a lot of of posters on here have generalised regarding Sunderland fans. Im all for a laugh but its just internet mongery from both sides

[MackemHope]

Don't take it personally. For a while there was a lot of posts on one of your forums, readytogo? Having a pop at us for pretty much every week with no reason other than jealousy. That's why a lot of of posters on here have generalised regarding Sunderland fans. Im all for a laugh but its just internet mongery from both sides

Ha - ok yeah that makes more sense, RTG is unfortunately full of idiots, most of whom never go to Sunderland games! Yes there's mongery from all quarters unfortunately

[HighPeakFox]

We do have a good squad. However, just imagine Kante and Vardy break a leg in training this week and then ask yourself how we might fare in the next few games. Can we really cope with that?

[RobHawk]

I know its a different league, but the last few weeks have reminded me of the championship winning season, start ok but with a few points dropped, build the confidence and then slowly turn the screw and build into a bigger and better team every week. 

 

The thing that struck me on Saturday was how much we have improved - We are still getting better right now! The majority of this team have done this before, theres nothing to say we can't keep it going! Ranieri's first top flight championship - what a dream that would be!

[Grewks]

It isn't a case of arrogance believing we have strength in depth.....but on saturday we had a bench with more international caps that any other side in the premier league.

 

 

 

Underestimate us if you like, everybody else has this season.

 

 

As for the 'household names' debate, i'd much rather have the unknowns such as kante (Highest interceptor and tackler in European football last year, and this thus far), than the more 'well known' larsson (Yoyo player with brum), fletcher (true 'one season wonder') and rodwell (mercenary) etc.

[Bluetintedspecs]

Remember that team Mackem and Phillips was immense especially!

Personally I'm loving how we're lauded and written off in equal measures,by so called experts.

The reality is we're there on merit and playing fast flowing, exciting football and long may it continue.

Confidence and belief from players and fans are sky high whilst remaining grounded so we genuinely are taking a game at a time *yawn I personally believe if we get a decent return from our difficult upcoming fixtures we will see some further investment. Not massive just maybe a couple of right players and fit for team and squad ethos. Anything European place would in truth be a massive achievement, the pinnacle as we stand is in our hands

[4everfox]

I don't think there's anything in my post, or in my previous posts on this forum that would make you think that. Take that chip off your shoulder. I'd say there are lots of Sunderland fans, myself included, who want to see Leicester continue this run until the end of the season and stop the idea that the title race will only be between Man City, Chelsea, Arsenal, Man United every year. Hence my original post. I'd really like to see you spend big in January, I'm not convinced you do have the depth in your squad to compete with the four teams above for a whole season, but really hope that I am wrong, which a lot of your fellow supporters above seem to think that I am.

Fair enough, I wasn't having a go I'm just wary that's all. I agree with what you are saying even though we don't have many injuries and that's not down to luck either. Our sports science team here is second to none, we've got Matty James coming back from injury soon so that will be like a new signing. He has been our only long term injury we have had in recent memory, other then that we just have the odd niggle here and there that keeps a player out for a week or two. We have got the likes of Kramaric, Inler, Benalouane, Wasilewski, Dyer and King who hardly get any playing time so this strength in depth argument is a bit of a myth I reckon. I do however believe we should sign some top drawer talent whilst we have got the pulling power to do so. I'd like us to sign at least one player with none leaving in January. As many posters have already said we need a top class number 10 (loving the Embolo shout) any other potential weakness within the squad can wait until the summer for me. Good luck for the season, no way are Sunderland going down with Big Sam as manager.

[MackemHope]

Fair enough, I wasn't having a go I'm just wary that's all. I agree with what you are saying even though we don't have many injuries and that's not down to luck either. Our sports science team here is second to none, we've got Matty James coming back from injury soon so that will be like a new signing. He has been our only long term injury we have had in recent memory, other then that we just have the odd niggle here and there that keeps a player out for a week or two. We have got the likes of Kramaric, Inler, Benalouane, Wasilewski, Dyer and King who hardly get any playing time so this strength in depth argument is a bit of a myth I reckon. I do however believe we should sign some top drawer talent whilst we have got the pulling power to do so. I'd like us to sign at least one player with none leaving in January. As many posters have already said we need a top class number 10 (loving the Embolo shout) any other potential weakness within the squad can wait until the summer for me. Good luck for the season, no way are Sunderland going down with Big Sam as manager.

This is a really valid point, one I hadn't really thought about. The pulling power for Leicester in January if you are at the top of the tree still, is going to be massive. Top players from Europe getting offered the option of moving to the side at the top of the premier league would surely be seriously more inclined to come to Leicester than say, if you had offered those same players that money in January 2015. It's a real opportunity to strengthen with players who ordinarily wouldn't consider moving to England unless it was to Manchester/top London club.

 

Hope you're right with Big Sam - football won't be pretty, but it hasn't been for the last 4/5 seasons anyway! It'll be close all season I think, there's a lot of dross at the bottom of this league, and Bournmouth and Newcastle results this weekend threw a spanner into the works!

[Great Boos Up]

Nearly two pages and not one nob gag! Where's Mike Oxlong when you need him.

[americanfox]

Wonder if Simone Zaza is worth a shout to bring in on loan.

[Fox Ulike]

Congratulations on yet another phenomenal result guys. Extremely impressive, and if there ever was a season to be having such a good run, it's this one, with pretty much none of the top clubs showing any great consistency. Mahrez and Vardy are pretty much ripping the whole league up, although the guy who really impresses me is Kante who seems to break up play without getting too much of a mention.

 

Anyway, I wanted your thoughts on Ranieri's statement that he isn't looking to bring anybody in during the January transfer window. You've got some really tough games coming up now in December, but it's not beyond possible that come into the new year you will still be top, I'd fancy you to beat Chelsea and you could definitely take points from the Everton and Man City game. I ask the question, as a LONG time ago, either 1999 or 2000, Sunderland were top of the league at Christmas. We were flying with speed all over the pitch, and had a great up front partnership with Phillips and Quinn........In January that year, top of the league, Peter Reid did not spend, stating he was happy with his squad and depth. Retrospectively, that was a huge mistake. Within a few months, we got injuries to key players, and other teams after a while began to work out how to play against us, and we eventually finished 7th. I always look back on that period as we had a golden opportunity to kick on that season and finish who know's where, maybe top/2nd. I'm convinced we would have with the acquisition of maybe 3/4 very solid players who could be the difference when your star man is out.

 

 

 

No they weren't!! According to Statto.com, Sunderland's highest position in that season was 2nd, after 10 games.

 

http://www.statto.com/football/teams/sunderland/1999-2000

 

 

We are actually top, and we're not even having to make it up..