Finally we have players with true passion...

“We have to cleanse this club. This is the moment for a reset”

“And if we can set high goals and achieve them ... cult heroes emerge when a team comes back from its lowest ebb.”

“Hopefully we can turn the trend and get it back on winning ways.

Jon McLaughlin.....

ke O'Nien says it is a 'huge honour' to join Sunderland after becoming the club's tenth summer signing.The tenacious midfielder has signed a two-year deal after the Black Cats agreed a fee with Wycombe Wanderers last week.

O'Nien will boost Jack Ross's midfield options after missing out on George Evans earlier in the window.

23-year-old O'Nien arrives with a rising reputation after playing a key part in Wycombe's promotion from League Two last season.

He said: "It’s a huge honour because it’s such a big club.

“The last few days have been pretty manic for me and it’s all happened so fast, but I’m delighted to be here, and I can’t thank the club enough for giving me the opportunity.

“The direction of the club is only going to be up, and I’m going to do everything I can to help get the club to back where it belongs.”.....


erome Sinclair didn’t hesitate in dropping down two divisions to join Sunderland with the striker determined to help win promotion back to the Championship.The 21-year-old has joined on a season-long loan from Premier League Watford, who have an option to recall him in January as part of the deal.

For Sinclair, the chance to play regularly and for a club the size of Sunderland was too good an opportunity to turn down......


Jack Baldwin has pledged to give his all for Sunderland and believes the squad has what it takes to achieve promotion at the first time of asking.The 25-year-old has signed a two-year deal on Wearside after Sunderland spent £200,000 to bring him from League One rivals Peterborough United.

The former Hartlepool United defender and Posh captain has spoken passionately about Sunderland and admits it was a 'no-brainer' to move to the Stadium of Light.



Its an absoulute breath of fresh air seeing our Prima donas on huge salaries who think their doing us a favour by putting on our shirt replaced with players that genuinely want to be here and who are proud to put on the Red and white shirt.

 

I'm not surprised mate. This is what happens when you buy hungry, generally younger, players from lower placed clubs instead of mercenaries from abroad and the UK who ultimately consider Sunderland a step down but a nice quick buck.

So excited for the season.

 

These buys have to our template for the future.
If we are successful this season and gain promotion then the age and type of player we've brought in would suggest too me we could handle the Championship with what we've got and add one of two just to lift the squad.
Getting back to the Premiership has been done by the Bournemouth's Brightons etc who have gone up and stuck with their playing staff for a season or so proving you don't need to look abroad as we've done in the past.

Slowly slowly catchee monkey comes to mind if this squad meet our expectations and for sure this is going to be a really interesting season.
Can't wait to get started.

 

This is what happens when you get away from the Premier League (and the fight to get into the PL), which has sucked the soul out of football and taken it away from its roots as the game of the working class.

We are now in a league where it isn't all about the gravy train and TV. We are back to real football and I'm torn between wanting to see us win this league at the first time of asking and the desire to get back to a club with a real connection between the fans and the players, where the players aren't living completely different lifestyles to those who come through the turnstiles and pay their wages.

 

Things are looking good, the team are up for it, a good start will light up the Stadium, and the atmosphere of gloom will be a distant memory. I don't want to see any of the old mercenaries anywhere near Sunderland again, never mind the team. Onwards and upwards with the new brooms.

 

I'd like to think that the ethos that Donald and his mates are trying to instill in the club means that we won't go back to the days of mercenaries and chancers coming here in the hope that they get picked up by a 'bigger' club.

He's already said that we'll have to sell to move forward and eventually we'll hopefully have to pay premier league wages, but all he's said so far suggests that we definitely won't be doing things the Ellis Short way.

 

It all depends on the time scale, and just what is meant by moving forward.