Bottom feeders: wounded Wanderers v sinking Sunderland 20/2/18 8pm

[Harry Genshaw]

Watching a duffer like Lee Cattermole strolling around the park with all the time in the world picking out passes like Beckenbauer, should tell us something ain't right

He's better than anyone we've got, I'd have him in our side in a heartbeat.

Our midfield is definitively our weak area. It has been for a long time and continually goes unaddressed. Sounds like Karacan had a good game last night though and if he finds some form he'll add something extra in there.

Is he balls! He's gash. Complete and utter gash. Someone who shouts and points a lot to cover up his playing inadequacies. My worry is we made him look reasonable last night because of the time we allowed him on the ball.

Parkys worked miracles in difficult circumstances but we could have seriously used a central midfielder with the cash we've spent on Buckley, Noone, Wilbraham, Charsley & Flanagan who have had less than half a dozen starts combined

[BWFC_Insane]

Watching a duffer like Lee Cattermole strolling around the park with all the time in the world picking out passes like Beckenbauer, should tell us something ain't right

He's better than anyone we've got, I'd have him in our side in a heartbeat.

Our midfield is definitively our weak area. It has been for a long time and continually goes unaddressed. Sounds like Karacan had a good game last night though and if he finds some form he'll add something extra in there.

Is he balls! He's gash. Complete and utter gash. Someone who shouts and points a lot to cover up his playing inadequacies. My worry is we made him look reasonable last night because of the time we allowed him on the ball.

Parkys worked miracles in difficult circumstances but we could have seriously used a central midfielder with the cash we've spent on Buckley, Noone, Wilbraham, Charsley & Flanagan who have had less than half a dozen starts combined

Respectfully disagree. He's no world beater. But better than anyone we've got. He's played a lot of premiership football. Doesn't make you good like, but suggests he's a class above our lot.

Anyhow, sounds like we might be adding a midfield player into a mix...a good one at that, if somewhat injury prone.

[Harry Genshaw]

Really? Who's that then? I saw we were linked with a former Sunderland centre half - Kirkhoff (?) not seen anything about a midfielder

[Prufrock]

Think that's who he means. Sam converted him into a destroyer type.

[BWFC_Insane]

Really? Who's that then? I saw we were linked with a former Sunderland centre half - Kirkhoff (?) not seen anything about a midfielder

He can play centre back or midfield. Allardyce played him in midfield for Sunderland - which is where I'm sure he'd play for us. If fit, he's exactly the sort of commanding midfield presence we need. IF fit. Its a big if, given his history.

https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/sport/f ... f-10828348

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

10 minutes of highlights here. You have to sign into iFollow, but only at the free-subscription level that gives you access to a certain amount of content. Worth it, if perhaps not for this...

https://www.bwfc.co.uk/news/2018/februa ... underland/

Or there's a two-minute YouTube cut:

[BWFC_Insane]

Think that's who he means. Sam converted him into a destroyer type.

Him and Henry in midfield would certainly be interesting. Can't see many getting through that easily.

Dogs of war ahoy!

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

Kirchhoff's interesting. 6ft 5in. Still only 27. Signed by Bayern at 23 after doing well for Mainz, but his career's stalled since – loaned out to Schalke, dropped to Bayern's reserves, then 18 months at Sunderland, Sam-signed in January 2016.

Debut at centre-back was the most calamitous since Woodgate's for Madrid, but he found his role at the back of midfield after Sam pulled the old Warhurst/Campo/Hierro trick.

Managed 14 consecutive appearances to help them stay up, but then lost most of 2016/17 to various injuries: hamstring for five weeks, back for three weeks, hamstring for two months, back for a fortnight, torn cartilage out for six months – and that's the end of his contract and Sunderland's top-flight spell.

Since then (last summer), nowt. He was linked with Hannover when they had an injury crisis in October, but nowt came of it. Nixon says the big fella had a trial, impressed Parky, watched the game last night and might get a contract for the rest of the season.

He's Premier-class if fit and on form, so it's that "if" that gives us an in. Wouldn't surprise me if canny Ken works out a contract which is low basic but topped up with appearance bonuses, so we're not saddled.

He'd also add a generous amount of height for set-pieces at either end, and could naturally slip back as an extra centre-back when game management demands – something Parky seems to like in a defensive midfielder (see also Derik this season and Thorpe last).

[Prufrock]

I reckon 13 0-0s would do it...

[bw@bw]

Kirchhoff's interesting. 6ft 5in. Still only 27. Signed by Bayern at 23 after doing well for Mainz, but his career's stalled since – loaned out to Schalke, dropped to Bayern's reserves, then 18 months at Sunderland, Sam-signed in January 2016.

Debut at centre-back was the most calamitous since Woodgate's for Madrid, but he found his role at the back of midfield after Sam pulled the old Warhurst/Campo/Hierro trick.

Managed 14 consecutive appearances to help them stay up, but then lost most of 2016/17 to various injuries: hamstring for five weeks, back for three weeks, hamstring for two months, back for a fortnight, torn cartilage out for six months – and that's the end of his contract and Sunderland's top-flight spell.

Since then (last summer), nowt. He was linked with Hannover when they had an injury crisis in October, but nowt came of it. Nixon says the big fella had a trial, impressed Parky, watched the game last night and might get a contract for the rest of the season.

He's Premier-class if fit and on form, so it's that "if" that gives us an in. Wouldn't surprise me if canny Ken works out a contract which is low basic but topped up with appearance bonuses, so we're not saddled.

He'd also add a generous amount of height for set-pieces at either end, and could naturally slip back as an extra centre-back when game management demands – something Parky seems to like in a defensive midfielder (see also Derik this season and Thorpe last).

IIRC he was a big part of Sam's miraculous salvation of Sunderland. As DSB said he did very well in the Campo role.
I did not know about his injury history, but if he can come on a pay as you play deal he could be a real asset.

[Little Green Man]

Kirchhoff's interesting. 6ft 5in. Still only 27. Signed by Bayern at 23 after doing well for Mainz, but his career's stalled since – loaned out to Schalke, dropped to Bayern's reserves, then 18 months at Sunderland, Sam-signed in January 2016.

IIRC he was a big part of Sam's miraculous salvation of Sunderland. As DSB said he did very well in the Campo role.
I did not know about his injury history, but if he can come on a pay as you play deal he could be a real asset.

I see Kirchhoff has started for the U23s tonight and is not listed as A Trialist.

[bristol_Wanderer3]

The consesus among Sunderland fans seems to be; Premiership level player but very injury prone.

Of course, a lot of high profile players at Sunderland seem to become very erm injury prone when up there. If we sign him lets hope he falls into that category. We never signed a Henry cover in the TW so this would at least be that, if not someone who can play in there alongside Henry and pass the ball better than anyone we have now.

https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/sport/f ... d-14321418

[Little Green Man]

Kirchhoff's interesting. 6ft 5in. Still only 27. Signed by Bayern at 23 after doing well for Mainz, but his career's stalled since – loaned out to Schalke, dropped to Bayern's reserves, then 18 months at Sunderland, Sam-signed in January 2016.

IIRC he was a big part of Sam's miraculous salvation of Sunderland. As DSB said he did very well in the Campo role.
I did not know about his injury history, but if he can come on a pay as you play deal he could be a real asset.

I see Kirchhoff has started for the U23s tonight and is not listed as A Trialist.

This post was brought to you by the numbers 2 and 5.

Kirchhof played for an hour. The U23s eventually won 1-0 with the winner coming from AN Other-Trialist (Nigerian international Chinedu Obasi). That win extends their lead at the top of their league to 3 points.

[TANGODANCER]

Really top stuff from Bolton News, our local media flag flyer. . Under the Wanderers heading they announce the result as Bolton 0- Sunderland 0. Well done lads....

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

Spot the timing of ALF's header.

Screen Shot 2018-02-22 at 12.39.29.png (20.73 KiB) Viewed 7085 times

[Prufrock]

Expected goals is my Kryptonite. That and your % chance of each team staying up from the other week. Pseudo-scientific worthless rubbish, football's equivalent of the "science" graphic in a toothpaste advert.

But yeah, ALF should've scored .

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

Expected goals is my Kryptonite. That and your % chance of each team staying up from the other week. Pseudo-scientific worthless rubbish, football's equivalent of the "science" graphic in a toothpaste advert.

But yeah, ALF should've scored .

Aye, I remain to be wholly convinced by either, but I find the concept worthy of consideration if taken with a salt-pinch.

I'm aware this lack of monochrome certitude makes me unsuitable for the internet, but frankly I care not.

[Lost Leopard Spot]

On

Expected goals is my Kryptonite. That and your % chance of each team staying up from the other week. Pseudo-scientific worthless rubbish, football's equivalent of the "science" graphic in a toothpaste advert.

But yeah, ALF should've scored .

Aye, I remain to be wholly convinced by either, but I find the concept worthy of consideration if taken with a salt-pinch.

I'm aware this lack of monochrome certitude makes me unsuitable for the internet, but frankly I care not.

At least your lack of monochrome certitude is backed up by dodgy statistics, whereas the monochrome certitude of some we could name is wholly dependent on voices only they can hear.

[TANGODANCER]

Love this "monochrome certitude" bit. Sounds like a Laurel and Hardy film script.