The ins and outs at the North East's big two
Feb 2 2010 by Mark Douglas, The Journal
There have been mixed fortunes on Tyneside and Wearside in the January transfer market. Mark Douglas assesses the month’s fraught dealings
“The current regime are gambling that we will get promoted but have made no plans for the Premier League and that does not bode well for the stability and future of our club.”
If qualified optimism is the order of the day on Tyneside, the outlook is unquestionably gloomier on Wearside.
While Steve Bruce last night awaited confirmation over Benjani’s proposed move from Manchester City, Sunderland’s other business was restricted to Matthew Kilgallon – a former Newcastle target with limited top-flight experience – and Alan Hutton, a fringe member of Tottenham’s squad. Both are solid players who unquestionably improve the Black Cats’ defensive options but being brutally honest, they are not names to set pulses racing at the Stadium of Light.
Steve Bruce and Niall Quinn had always maintained that in the wake of the substantial and impressive summer recruitment drive there would be little business conducted in January, and that ultimately proved accurate.
Deals for Maynor Figueroa, Guy Demel, Ahmed al-Muhammadi and Habib Beye all fell by the wayside, while Adam Johnsonwas swayed by the Abu Dhabi oil dollars on offer at Manchester City.
Injury problems continue to ravage a midfield that has not been strengthened and Sunderland will be praying that no misfortune is visited on Darren Bent, one constant during a winter of discontent. They can hardly turn to Kenwyne Jones, who has seen his stock plunge during a window of uncertainty. Sunderland are rightly furious with Liverpool’s underhand tactics on this one, but Bruce must accept that his pursuit of Kevin Kuranyi – which was always likely to leak out – will have done just as much to unsettle him.
Quinn is notoriously reticent to do business in January, reasoning rightly that prices are over-inflated and clubs can panic buy questionable players.
Wearsiders will see more substantial moves in the summer but in the meantime, Bruce must squeeze an improvement from the squad he has – a real test of his managerial credentials.
