If we have lost out on Fabio Borini, my first reaction is to wonder at all the energy devoted to getting him back. A second reaction may come later, depending on the outcome of the QPR rumour.
But we have made two acquisitions, albeit loans, at the time of writing and Salut! Sunderland extends a warm welcome to both. From safc.com here they are:
* Defender Sebastian Coates has joined Sunderland on a season-long loan from Liverpool.
The 23-year-old Uruguay international is the Black Cats’ eighth summer signing.
Coates arrived in England in 2011 from Nacional and made 24 appearances for Liverpool, before returning to Nacional on loan last season. Internationally, the defender has been capped 15 times at senior level for his country having made his debut in the 2011 Copa America, where he won the Young Player of the Tournament award. He also featured in the recent FIFA World Cup in Brazil.
* Argentinian international Ricardo Alvarez has completed a season-long loan move to the Stadium of Light.
The 26-year-old has joined the club from Italian giants Inter Milan, for whom he has made 90 appearances, scoring 14 goals.
Alvarez is Sunderland’s ninth summer signing, joining Sebastian Coates, Jack Rodwell, Jordi Gomez, Billy Jones, Costel Pantilimon, Santiago Vergini, Patrick van Aanholt and Will Buckley.
After putting pen to paper, the attack-minded midfielder said: “I’m very happy to be here. It’s a great opportunity, a great club and I’m looking forward to playing in England and playing my part for Sunderland.”
Alvarez began his career in his homeland with Velez Sarsfield before moving to Europe to join Serie A side Inter in 2011.
He has been capped seven times by Argentina, scoring once, and was part of the national squad which reached the final of this summer’s World Cup in Brazil, appearing during the group stages.
Come here and have your say on these any any other signings made before the window closes, any late outgoings and any glaring absences.
It would be nice if one of our players was named after my labrador.
Only Pete Horan could have a dog named after Liverpool’s assistant manager.
As there’s already one Seb at the club I hope Coates is given the nickname ‘Ralph’, although the players (and the manager) are too young to remember. Another Hetton connection would be good
It’s hard to judge players who are not playing regularly….hence fingers are crossed for Fletcher to discover some form once he has had half a dozen games under his belt
Two in/ two out only. Still time to of load some to the Championship, though it’s the lack of in-comings that the concern.
Borini I think has voted with his feet as far as Sunderland were concerned, he obviously thinks we are in for another lower end of the table scrap and didn’t fancy it. If that is the case then we are better off without him as we need committed players who are up for the challenge.
No strike reinforcements is ominous and what we have will have to start to produce. However it’s not all down to them and our midfield will have to start to produce as well.
Poyet has to start playing Wickham up front and put proper wingers out wide.
All in all not the best transfer window for SAFC with smaller Clubs being able to attract players that SAFC were after. But if you look at it 16 million Arsenal reportedly paid for Wellbeck put the whole thing in to context….can we compete at these prices for someone who is currently a very average player. Even Borini’s goal scoring record is very average and that’s been around a few clubs. Both Wellbeck and Borini are still young and could come very good but who knows.
If we can’t buy, then we must produce which brings us back to the Academy question and why we do not appear to bring quality players through in anywhere near the numbers we should be.
Coverage for Brown and O’Shea. Apparently the Belgian (whose name I won’t even attempt to spell) didn’t fancy playing second fiddle to the first choice pair. So does that mean Coates does?
Mixed reviews on Alvarez, seemingly determined by where he is chosen to play. I’ve never understood the motivation of managers to play people out of position. He is reported as being a winger, but we must have enough of those as well as cover for the cover players so I see him operating more centrally. Unless of course Gus has developed a compulsion to acquire wide players as did Mrs Doubtfire with his centre half collection.
As I said earlier, unless we get a late blockbuster of a deal, it’s all left me distinctly underwhelmed.
Is a last minute surprise on the way?
WTF is all the fuss about?