Sunderland to make derisory bid for Bridders

[Zebedee]

£5M and not a penny less.

 

[Brighton Breezy]

If we got £3million I would be more than happy if the club gave Oscar £1million or so and used the rest to reduce our estimated losses and make sure ticket prices didn't have to be increased for next season.

It might sound boring but it is the reality of a club in our position.

 

[Albumen]

The other thing about Bridcutt apart from him bottling challenges is that he gave the ball away more on Saturday than I have ever seen in one match. He played numerous longer passes forward that rarely got to their target. His game is all about short sideways passing, I don't think he's got the ability to hit 30/40-yard balls or to move the ball at pace, which seem to be features of Oscar's game. Gus' style allowed him all the time he wanted to be on the ball and dictate the slow build-up, but even if he was fully committed I don't really see him fitting in anywhere near as well with Oscar's approach as he just isn't suited to it.

Do you expect him to be 100% within 2-3 games after a long term injury? My guess he's 70% the player he was at the moment, and I'm putting that down to the injury, not the usual cliche'd "playing in the shop window" rollox.

As for Sunderland, who's to say he actually wants to play for Gus again? And why is he top of Sunderland's wishlist while they're keeping clean sheets? Answer - he's not, they're desperate for strikers and I just can't see it happening.

 

[Bold Seagull]

What are Sunderland supposed to do, bid high!?

 

[Brighton Breezy]

Signing Bridcutt would allow Ki to player further forward where he can be more creative.

 

[mejonaNO12 aka riskit]

The thing is, for all the players Gus could target to bring, Liam is the safest by FAR.

Of all the positions you can bring in with minimal effort, a specialist defensive holding midfielder is the one.

I realise people will jump on this next bit and somehow believe i'm slagging off bridcutt or downplaying his role, because I'm not. But a defensive midifleder is the easiest to slot in.

Liam's remit for his job is actually very simple. He's VERY good at it...but it's simple. This is also shown in Gus's comments about him playing for Real Madrid. What he means is he can just slot into any midfield and keep it ticking over effortlessly.

If Gus was to bring in a striker from us the pressure is there to score goals. A winger is expected to beat a man and get in crosses. Liam's job would be to almost become unnoticed. If he goes to Sunderland and no one mentions him a match report then that means he's done his job quite well. Keep the game ticking over, pass the ball to your more creative players. Tidy up loose play.

Leon Britton is a fantastic example of this. He was not a world beater but he knows his job. No one expects him to score but he does a job and well. It was only when his passing rate started eclipsing Xavi and Iniesta that people spoke about him.

These are all the reasons why I do not want to lose Bridcutt....but at the same time I don't think he is a player we can end up (receiving) a ridiculous fee for. Not because he isn't a good player, but because clubs won't pay out high fees for a defensive midfielder from our league. Zaha, Ince(provisionally), Oxlade Chamberlain, Walcott, Bale are all players who moved for big fees because they were exciting game-changers in the championship. Bridders is not (again, not a criticism)

I'm not doing him a disservice or downplaying his role, I'm just saying he is a really safe bet for Gus to take but will not earn us mega mega bucks. Especially when he's 24 and not an 18 year old talent bursting onto the scene...like Will Hughes.

 

[MICK PATCHAM]

Ince is not and will not EVER be the same calibre as Bridcutt !! people are dreaming if they think otherwise

 

[mejonaNO12 aka riskit]

Ince is not and will not EVER be the same calibre as Bridcutt !! people are dreaming if they think otherwise

You are joking right? Ince is arguably the best player in this division*

*In my opinion, of course.

 

[Bold Seagull]

Ince is not and will not EVER be the same calibre as Bridcutt !! people are dreaming if they think otherwise

I'm a definite dreamer then!!

 

[Icy Gull]

Time will tell but I don't think Bridcutt will make a big impact in the Premier League, he will often get mullered by the bigger and stronger midfielders as he is small and not that quick. There is a massive step up from Championship football ( where he has been immense) to the Premier League.

Red thumb me into oblivion

 

[HAILSHAM SEAGULL]

The big question is, will a defensive midfield player keep you in the Premier League, when you are botom at Christmas. They need to score goals.

 

[Stat Brother]

Ince is not and will not EVER be the same calibre as Bridcutt !! people are dreaming if they think otherwise

The real kick in the knackers over this, is what the pairing Ince and Bridcutt could have been.

Even in the short space of time this season it's plain to see they would be a formidable presence.
They could easily, almost single handedly force The Albion into the Premier League, but we'll never got to see the potential.

 

[trueblue]

I reckon at £2.5m we'd be interested in taking the money, thanks to the emergence of Ince. Especially if the money could then be available to strengthen our centre-forward options (and maybe a CB for the future).

 

[goldstone]

We should take £4m, but not with any of it linked to them staying up.

 

[Goldstone Rapper]

Why don't we sell Buckley instead?

 

[Triggaaar]

Personally, I say anything above £3m and we've done some decent business there for a player we picked up on a free.

When deciding the price we'd accept for him, it's not relevant that he was free to us. Selling him for less than he's worth would be very stupid. He's worth a good chunk of money, and he's worth even more to us, because replacing him is not easy (Ince is doing well, but Bridcutt has been our best player for a few years) and will set us back. We are trying to get promoted remember.

Let's face it £2 million is taking the piss.

Exactly.

But it's a starting point. Tony will say piss off, Liam will agitate for a move and we'll settle on about 3 mill.

Our club should point out to Bridcutt that if Gus really wanted him, he wouldn't be making such a derisory offer. It's like they don't intend him to be part of Sunderland's plans, more of a backup. Bridcutt should be insulted.

 

[Seagull over Canaryland]

If he is going I can't see the benefit of dragging it out.

Better to get it done early and give Oscar some funds to bring in players he might want.

Making Poyet wait would be cutting off our nose to spite our face.

This makes a lot of sense. I want Liam to stay but ultimately everyone has their price and if we can get £4m or £5m it would be difficult to turn that down. So get the deal done and give Oscar and David Burke time to get in who they really want.

I hope no one behind the scenes (such as a certain former manager) is mischievously grooming Liam and his head has already been turned? In which case Sunderland can p**s off.

 

[sparkie]

Why don't we sell Buckley instead?

Because we are not picking a player to sell to raise cash.

We are talking about another team maybe placing a bid for a specific player.

 

[Muzzy]

Why don't we sell Buckley instead?

Supply and demand will dictate that happening. Who would want him for 2m + at the moment?

 

[Seagull over Canaryland]

Why don't we sell Buckley instead?

Buckley isn't on top form because of repeated injuries, lack of regular match practice and even then he is asked to play within different formations that aren't to his strengths. I have some sympathy for him.

But if Buckley goes, KLL is similarly injury prone and then inconsistent when fit so we still need a wide player who gives us real penetration. Conway only really his reasonable form in his last couple of games. Ok he looked dangerous but not sure he is the answer. Ideally I'd prefer to see a fit and on form Buckley get a decent run in his favourite position.