Do you want to have your say on something Sunderland-related? Drop us an email and we’ll include your thoughts in the next edition of Fan Letters! You can reach us on: RokerReport@Yahoo.co.uk
Dear Roker Report,
I note with interest that some fans on here and other social media say the club should have done more re: Dan Neil’s situation. I won’t say who could be to blame, or even if anyone is at fault, as I know very little.
However, I get the impression that fans think a club waves a contract at a player and after a bit of negotiation, they will sign it. They don’t seem to think that the player may want to leave.
It was revealed before the start of last season Dan was offered a contract but wasn’t signing
until the manager situation had been sorted, which isn’t an issue. RLB was appointed and we had a good start but no contract was signed.
Dan was made on-field captain, which I said to my mates that I wouldn’t have done it until he had signed the contract but maybe the powers-that-be were hoping this would persuade him to sign.
After the play-off final, I thought the writing was on the wall for him as he was substituted in the game, which is rare for a captain when not injured. However, a few months later, I saw him interviewed after the match and he said his calves were seizing up.
Some think there was a conspiracy because Trai was played in midfield v West Ham, instead of Dan. However, it could be as simple as that Dan didn’t want to play because if he got injured then potentially his season was over, due to the window being near to closing and potentially getting very little game time should he return from that injury before the end of the season but still our player, had he stayed. The club may also have thought, don’t play him because if he gets injured we are left with a player who will get little game time and potentially keeping his wages on the books.
In the end, it may all have been agreeable and no hidden agendas on either side. I wish him all the best.
Peter Welsh
Ed’s Note [Gav]: I agree with most of that Peter – I think the whole situation with Dan Neil is pretty easily explained. There’s no bad blood as far as I can tell, and he just seems eager to get out there and play, and be rewarded with a contract that he feels he deserves. There’s nowt wrong with that — the truth really is that even if he had signed a new deal, he wouldn’t be anywhere near our side because the standard of player has increased significantly. That’s no slight on Dan or the club — as Régis keeps saying, we are on a journey and unfortunately not everyone can stay with us for the ride. He’ll still have a great career and I hope he smashes it at Ipswich.
Dear Roker Report,
People seem to be forgetting that Chemsdine Talbi was signed as a right midfielder and played there at the start of the season. I know people want new toys, but I’d like to see Talbi play out there in the second half of the season to see if he can really push Traore. What do you think?
Ian Hughes
Ed’s Note [Gav]: I wouldn’t rule it out Ian, but I think the bigger point here is that we already have lots of wide players, and some of them we spent a lot of money on in the summer. The club won’t just abandon them this early — they all need time, patience, and opportunities. I want to see us recruit another quality wide-player, but only if it’s a deal that makes sense. The links to Tyrique George are understandable as Chelsea owe us a favour… let’s see how things go on that front.
