A quick welcome to the Czech defender Ondrej Celustka, who arrives as Paolo Di Canio’s 10th summer signing – on a season-long loan. We cried out for at least one proper full-back, given that Danny Rose seems to be out of reach, and now we have one.
I loved this comment by Ian Porter at the Blackcats e-mail loop:
“If you didn’t know he was (primarily) a full back, after watching the video clip on http://worldsoccertalk.com/2013/08/12/sunderland-complete-signing-of-trabzonspors-czech-defender-ondrej-celustka/ you’d think he was a winger or striker !! Reminds me of Bardo at his best at left back!!”
Safc.com says Celutska is 24, primarily a right-back and joins us from the Turkish side Trabzonspor, having begun his career in his own country with FC Tescoma Zlin.
“He joined Slavia Prague in 2009, making 41 league appearances and scoring three goals,” says the official club site. “Following a short spell on loan at Palermo, Celustka linked up with Trabzonspor, making 55 league appearances for the Turkish Super Lig club. Internationally, the defender has 18 U21 caps to his name for the Czech Republic and featured for his country in the U21 European Championships in 2011.”
It will be interesting to see whether PDC regards his arrival as the solution to our full-back problem, or half a solution.
It will also be interesting to see whether the transfer deadline without worrying news of Stephane Sessegnon. After all the reassuring noises of late, not least from the man himself, I gather there was further speculation at the weekend that he may be on his way out.
Put indelicately, Monsieur Salut hopes that proves to be bollocks.
But The Journal, surely not just making mischief as a Newcastle-based newspaper, says it “understands Sessegnon has been told he can leave the club and while he has insisted throughout the summer that he is happy on Wearside, a fresh set of links with a move to Qatar emerged over the weekend”.
From the same source was the suggestion that, perhaps in the context of Sess leaving, PDC would have a chance of bringing in Fabio Quagliarella, a striker who has a one-goal-in-three record from his 67 appearances for Juventus, on loan. The head coach is also said to be maintaining his pursuit of the Spurs midfielder Tom Huddlestone among the further recruits he wants to sign before the deadline.
Can anyone shed further light on this?
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He’s supposed to have a “good engine” and loves to play overlapping fullback. I think he’ll be good for Johnson.
Mind you, is he going straight into the Fluham game? Probably not, unless PDC drills him in the next few days.
I’d be tempted to play Diakite there but if I were Martin Jol, I’d be targetting that area as a weakness next Saturday whatever happens. And I don’t like the idea of Damien Duff being out there. He can be quite useful on his day.
Good thing is that Brown and OShea know Berbatov inside out.
I am still disappointed about Peruzzi to be honest. Anyone who can keep Neymar quiet for the price we were getting him for is worth waiting for his injury to heal up.
A couple of days ago I heard the Liverpool’s move for Cissokho had fallen through. Here’s hoping we can add him.
Only other body we need now is a playmaking MF.
With Gardner unable to play Cuellar or O’Shea would seem possibles for the role if Celutska isn’t ready.
O’Shea never looks that safe there to me, but having a fit Wes Brown is a bonus which makes it an option.