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Dear Roker Report,
What a great final away day on Merseyside.
Full credit to the Everton fans and the club in remembering Bradley Lowery. The banner before kick-off was a great tribute and I’m sure Bradley would’ve been proud when looking down on it.
As for the game, what a performance!
So pleased that Wilson Isidor got a goal to wrap the points up. It’s clear that Brian Brobbey is first-choice striker, but he needs to add more goals to his game. The ability is there, as proven at Everton.
I feel when Isidor comes on,
he adds more pace and directness. With Enzo Le Fée playing more centrally, their combination of speed and skill sealed the three points.
Next up Chelsea, and still an outside chance of Europe.
‘Til the End — Haway the lads!
Mark
Ed’s Note [Phil]: Hi, Mark. Thank you for your letter.
I thought the mood that surrounded Sunday’s game was exactly as you’d expect of a fixture involving ourselves and Everton, and the enduring love for Bradley Lowery from both sets of supporters was wonderful to see.
Regarding Wilson Isidor, my view on this is very simple: he certainly has the potential and talent to become a very effective Premier League striker, and I also believe that were Sunderland to sell him in the summer, we may come to regret it further down the line.
I understand his desire to be our number one striker and his possible frustration at playing second fiddle to Brian Brobbey for much of the season, but as we’ve seen with his goals against Aston Villa and Everton, he offers something completely different at crucial stages of games and he’s also adored by the fans.
I’d love to think his future will lie on Wearside, and nobody would be happier than me if he’s a Sunderland player next season.
Dear Roker Report,
If we’re going to be true to the model, is it time to sell Trai Hume and Dan Ballard?
I know this will be controversial, but please hear me out.
Hume and Big Dan have been fantastic for the club and a massive part of our journey. However, taking all sentiment away, surely their stock will never be higher.
This could also persuade Lutsharel Geertruida to sign. We could then spend the money on two left-sided defenders and bring in a quality wide-right player (Amad).
Keep up the good work.
Michael Hammond
Ed’s Note [Phil]: Hi, Michael. Thank you for getting in touch.
I understand where you’re coming from regarding Trai Hume and Dan Ballard, but for me, it would take a pair of absolutely ridiculous offers in order to even consider a sale.
They’ve both proven themselves at this level; they’re both key figures for Sunderland and if they were to leave, we’d have to replace them with two seriously high-class players in order to ensure the squad isn’t weakened in what’s always a key area.
I’d be very surprised if either of them left the club this summer.
Dear Roker Report,
Isn’t it wonderful at this stage of a season not to be on edge regarding relegation or promotion? Such are the mixed emotions of being a Sunderland fan.
Moving on to the reason for my posting, if I’ve said the following once, I must’ve genuinely said it a hundred times in the past when it comes to players leaving our club: with the exception of Jordan Henderson, I don’t know of one player that’s left us in recent decades and moved elsewhere to success and fame.
There’s constant talk about so-called big clubs hovering over our young stars, and their heads will be turned not only by the interest but also by their agents, who simply want a wad of cash for “services given” in securing any such deal.
Look no further than two of the clubs coming back up: Ipswich and Southampton.
Both Jack Clarke and Ross Stewart are in their squads and neither of them have exactly raised eyebrows with exhilarating performances since switching clubs — even taking into account the horrendous injuries Stewart has endured. Both may well be shuttling back to the Championship after next season unless the respective clubs spend not just as much as we did, but also as wisely as we did.
Any of our youngsters angling for a move need to first have a chat with Granit Xhaka.
He’s experienced enough to tell them exactly how it is. Footballers are adored up here and is it really worth a few quid more to go and, at best, warm a bench elsewhere before sliding down into mediocrity?
Peter Milton
Ed’s Note [Phil]: Hi, Peter. Thank you for getting in touch.
This is an interesting topic and one that we’ve actually been discussing in our own Roker Report WhatsApp chats!
In Jack Clarke’s case, his sale was obviously prompted by financial circumstances and the fact that his departure for Ipswich in 2024 gave us the headroom and firepower to eventually make a successful bid for promotion.
Ross Stewart’s sale was obviously somewhat more tricky given that he was injured at the time, but long-term, I suppose you could say that it did work out for the best, even if our own struggles in front of goal during 2023/2024 were well-documented.
Personally, I hold no grudges against any Sunderland player who’s left the club for pastures new in recent times — as long as they conduct themselves professionally and don’t leave under a cloud.
We’ve been through some major ups and downs in the past decade but nowadays, we’re clearly seen as a club where a career can really take off and players will be given a platform to showcase their talent— and that change in perception is absolutely vital.
