Ghost of Clough

Correction: hiring the wrong manager doesn't work. How long would you have given Pearson? We would have got relegated under him.

We're much better at defending and attacking set pieces 

Correction: hiring the wrong manager doesn't work. How long would you have given Pearson? We would have got relegated under him.

Ryan Nyambe should be the target in my opinion. Adds pace to the back 3, but also covers RB/RWB. He filled in at LB a few times for Wigan last season, but not someone you want as a regular at LWB.
Since Warne insists on sticking to 3/5 at the back, someone highly capable at CB is needed. Since we only have 4 players capable at CB, with one of those needed at LWB.
In terms of everyone (except Rooney) being fit, a starting back 5 of:
Nyambe   Nelson   Cashin
Ward                                           Forsyth
Backed up by:
Bradley
Wilson                                        Elder

The fewest shots on target under Rosenior was 2 (Charlton away), but don't let that stop you from making your own stats up.

The fewest shots on target under Rosenior was 2 (Charlton away), but don't let that stop you from making your own stats up.

The fewest shots on target under Rosenior was 2 (Charlton away), but don't let that stop you from making your own stats up.

The fewest shots on target under Rosenior was 2 (Charlton away), but don't let that stop you from making your own stats up.

The fewest shots on target under Rosenior was 2 (Charlton away), but don't let that stop you from making your own stats up.

The fewest shots on target under Rosenior was 2 (Charlton away), but don't let that stop you from making your own stats up.

U18s playing Wolves. 1-1 after 30 mins thanks to an equaliser from Cruz Allen.
 
JThompson
Perry   Osayande   KRobinson   Gill
Eames   McAndrew
Simons   Allen   Davidson
Wheeldon
 
Subs: Price, IGordon, Tola, Augustien, Oguntolu

U18s playing Wolves. 1-1 after 30 mins thanks to an equaliser from Cruz Allen.
 
JThompson
Perry   Osayande   KRobinson   Gill
Eames   McAndrew
Simons   Allen   Davidson
Wheeldon
 
Subs: Price, IGordon, Tola, Augustien, Oguntolu

The HMRC non-payment started around the time of the Covid lockdowns, or more importantly, the start of discussions with the fake Sheikh. Terms of those discussions set by Mel likely would have involved the buyer taking on all costs which develop starting from the initial discussion. Government rules at the time facilitated the club (Mel) from not paying HMRC, allowing Mel to not put any more money into the club. Nothing Pearce could do about that other than do his best to keep the club running without any funds from the owner. Of course he could have walked away, but how would the club be better off?

The club went bust because the source of working capital decided to stop providing it. I doubt Pearce was able to influence that decision. 

The HMRC non-payment started around the time of the Covid lockdowns, or more importantly, the start of discussions with the fake Sheikh. Terms of those discussions set by Mel likely would have involved the buyer taking on all costs which develop starting from the initial discussion. Government rules at the time facilitated the club (Mel) from not paying HMRC, allowing Mel to not put any more money into the club. Nothing Pearce could do about that other than do his best to keep the club running without any funds from the owner. Of course he could have walked away, but how would the club be better off?

Ryan Nyambe should be the target in my opinion. Adds pace to the back 3, but also covers RB/RWB. He filled in at LB a few times for Wigan last season, but not someone you want as a regular at LWB.
Since Warne insists on sticking to 3/5 at the back, someone highly capable at CB is needed. Since we only have 4 players capable at CB, with one of those needed at LWB.
In terms of everyone (except Rooney) being fit, a starting back 5 of:
Nyambe   Nelson   Cashin
Ward                                           Forsyth
Backed up by:
Bradley
Wilson                                        Elder

Ryan Nyambe should be the target in my opinion. Adds pace to the back 3, but also covers RB/RWB. He filled in at LB a few times for Wigan last season, but not someone you want as a regular at LWB.
Since Warne insists on sticking to 3/5 at the back, someone highly capable at CB is needed. Since we only have 4 players capable at CB, with one of those needed at LWB.
In terms of everyone (except Rooney) being fit, a starting back 5 of:
Nyambe   Nelson   Cashin
Ward                                           Forsyth
Backed up by:
Bradley
Wilson                                        Elder

Ryan Nyambe should be the target in my opinion. Adds pace to the back 3, but also covers RB/RWB. He filled in at LB a few times for Wigan last season, but not someone you want as a regular at LWB.
Since Warne insists on sticking to 3/5 at the back, someone highly capable at CB is needed. Since we only have 4 players capable at CB, with one of those needed at LWB.
In terms of everyone (except Rooney) being fit, a starting back 5 of:
Nyambe   Nelson   Cashin
Ward                                           Forsyth
Backed up by:
Bradley
Wilson                                        Elder

Ryan Nyambe should be the target in my opinion. Adds pace to the back 3, but also covers RB/RWB. He filled in at LB a few times for Wigan last season, but not someone you want as a regular at LWB.
Since Warne insists on sticking to 3/5 at the back, someone highly capable at CB is needed. Since we only have 4 players capable at CB, with one of those needed at LWB.
In terms of everyone (except Rooney) being fit, a starting back 5 of:
Nyambe   Nelson   Cashin
Ward                                           Forsyth
Backed up by:
Bradley
Wilson                                        Elder

This is what I'm a strong advocate of. From Warne's comments it seems they have to be L1 standard now or he won't use them at all because he doesn't "trust" them.
A comment that sticks in my mind is Lampard when discussing Bogle. We wanted to loan him out in the summer of 2018, but there were no takers as he had no first team experience to put himself in the shop window. It was a common theme after Clough's departure, with few youngsters getting that first taste of football at the right stage in their development. 
An example would be Springett. He wasn't at a suitable level for us last season, but even in 21/22 he was given 3 games in the PL, followed by a couple more games in 22/23 before we picked him up in January. Teden Mengi had his 6 minute appearance for Man Utd in the Europa League the season prior to coming to us on loan. It's a very common approach for Cat 1 clubs to take.
There's a big difference between giving a player 5 minutes at the end of the game and giving him a start. It may only be 5 minutes, but it's 5 minutes less that an aging player needs to put in, keeping him fresher for future games. I get the impression Warne doesn't recognise that. But, it's not surprising when he's never been involved with a high level academy before, with the peak of his playing and managerial career being at Rotherham.

Agree with you . Florists have dragged almost £100 million from academy players in recent years. A lot of them local lads who have been sent out on loan to League one teams as part of their education. We could “Fast track “ them into the team and get the ball rolling . Interesting if  Warne gives Brown a chance and if he can improve the player.

Didn't Sunderland have a Cat A academy in League 1 as well? I could be wrong on that but I seem to remember the Sunderland academy was good a few years ago?

Well this conversation has just taken a turn for the worse 🫤
How do we know that Stephen Pearce wasn't waking up every morning scratching his head figuring out how to deal with the latest MM mad decision?  Do we know if Pearce had any forewarning re. administration or did MM make that decision himself and surprise everyone, Pearce included?  Did David Clowes see enough in Pearce working tirelessly to save the club during the administration period?  And has Clowes, an accomplished businessman himself seen enough of Pearce during his 1yr+ time at the club to view Pearce an asset?  I have no idea tbh, but the truth as is typically the case, probably lies somewhere in the middle. 
I trust David Clowes and the people now running the club however, we're back on an even financial keel and our reputation with the EFL has improved, if they think Stephen Pearce is doing a good job, I'll trust their judgement over some internet forum noise.
Roll on Saturday, its been a long 2 weeks on here.

Wildsmith
Smith   Nelson   Cashin   Forsyth
Fornah   Hourihane
Mendez-Laing   Waghorn   Washington   Sibley

Subs: Vickers, Bradley, Elder, Embleton, Barkhuizen, John-Jules, Collins