If I were paid what these guys get paid I'd be f***ed if I was going to sleep in a tent

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The Ferret
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Sunderland fan in peace here. I'm in the minority of Mackems who would say PVA will be a big miss to us, if/when he joins your club. I think it's well documented even on this thread that defending isn't his strong point. He often does get caught out of position...

But you have to remember that ever since PVA came to us, we've been fighting relegation. None of our defenders have shined! Add to that, PVA has been encouraged by all of our managers to get forward, as he's one of the few attacking threats that we have. He is very quick, good at moving the ball forward, and is always looking to get a shot away. After Defoe, he is as likely as anyone to score for us or create a goal.

It's true that his positional awareness did improve under Big Sam mind. I'd expect him to continue for him, where he left off at the end of last season.

9mill I would say is about right if he captures the form from last season again. As a Sunderland fan I'll be sorry to see him go, but the lights are finally being turned off on our 10 years of stinking out the premier league. Our best players will leave, PVA is one of them no matter what crap our message boards spout about driving him here.

Good luck for the rest of the season (4th Feb aside).

Many thanks that is very useful. PVA would have Sclupp ahead of him down the left flank, so maybe he wouldnt be asked to bomb forward quite so much?

Don't forget that Scott Dann was relegated twice with two different teams and he's worked out just fine

Interesting article. It does raise a few questions about Van Aanholt, but two things sprang out for me.

1./ Sam might know how to get the best out of him, whereas David Moyes probably doesn't.

2./ We can't expect to have a left back who scores goals and stops goals at the same time.

I suspect that Sam will give him whatever instructions that he wants and expect him to follow them.

It is starting to seem like the Schlupp and Van Aanholt partnership will be key to the next few months. If we can find the tactics that gets the best out of both of them, and allows Van Aanholt to get forward on occasions and Schlupp on others then we could be really potent on both the left and right sides.

Of course, if Schlupp and Van Aanholt both go bombing forward at every opportunity then we may as well get used to Tuesday evening football again.

SSN 14:41, PVA deal still on, but Sunderland want 12mil!