We'll not sign any replacement. The sale is purely to service debt otherwise we'd not be selling him. We almost have the players to suggest we'll play a

3-5-2

 

keeper

 

Hart/Considine - McNamara - Diamond/Byrne

 

DeVisscher - Nicholson - Seve - Clark - Smith

 

Lovell - Miller

 

subs - Foster, Mackie etc..

 

But signing DeVisscher makes me think JC will go with 4-4-2 as he's been raving about him -

 

Keeper

 

Hart - Diamond/Considine - McNamara - Foster

 

DeVisscher - Seve - Nicholson - Smith

 

Miller - Lovell

 

Subs Byrne, Clark etc

 

This is the year Considine or Diamond have to establish themselves as strong central defenders, especially Diamond. I assume with having Jackie we don't need to drop Seve to the back as he's needed in the middle of the park.

I think that Hart might move into the middle and JC will play McNamara, Hart, Diamond, Foster at the back.  The one thing with Anderson going is we now need a really solid keeper who can take charge of his area.  Hopefully Andersons leaving will free up the funds to get somone good in like Neil Alexander.

 

 

Also we still have Touzani, Mair, Byrne and Considine so there are options.

Looks like its nearly completed: -

 

Anderson joins Black Cats

 

Jun 27 2007

 

by James Hunter, Evening Chronicle

 

 

Russell Anderson

 

SUNDERLAND boss Roy Keane was set to make his second summer signing today when Scotland international defender Russell Anderson completeds a £1m move to Wearside.

 

Aberdeen skipper Anderson flew back early from a summer holiday in the USA when he heard Keane was interested in him.

 

The centre-back was on Wearside yesterday for talks and a medical and was set to sign today..

 

Anderson’s agent Blair Morgan confirmed: “Russell has been given permission to talk to Sunderland.

 

 

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“We are here for those meetings and we will see how it all progresses.â€

 

Middlesbrough, Everton and Fulham were also interested in bringing Anderson south but the 28-year-old has plumped for Sunderland.

 

Anderson had one more year remaining on his Pittodrie contract but Aberdeen’s £13m debt was a major obstacle to negotiating an extension.

 

He celebrated a decade at the Granite City club last year and his loyalty was rewarded with a testimonial game against Everton.

 

Anderson, who has won nine caps since making his international debut in 2002, is also believed to feel a move to England would improve his chances of becoming a Scotland regular.

 

Last season, he was nominated for the Scottish PFA Players' Player of the Year Award and was also named in the Scottish PFA Team of the Year.

 

Anderson is Keane’s second summer buy, with the Sunderland boss having already spent £3m to bring Reading full-back Greg Halford to the Stadium of Light.

 

Meanwhile, Darren Ward is determined to hang on to Sunderland’s goalkeeping jersey next season.

 

The Black Cats have been linked with moves for Bolton shotstopper Jussi Jaaskelainen and Hearts' Craig Gordon over the summer.

 

Welsh international Ward, however, says he will not give up his place without a fight.

 

He said: “To use the manager’s expression, we have to embrace it as a challenge and rise to the occasion.

 

“If the manager decides to make new signings, and that is his job, then it is a case of getting your head down and trying to maintain the position of playing regularly.

 

“These are exciting times at Sunderland and any new faces will all be for the good of the club.

 

“We all want to improve and be as successful as we possibly can.

 

“The manager wants to explore what is available and it is his job to do that, so it can only benefit us.â€

 

Meanwhile, Reading are to give striker Leroy Lita a new deal in a bid to stave off interest from Sunderland.

 

The England under-21 internatioanl striker, rated at around £7m by the Royals, is believed to have been offered a four-year contract.

 

Fellow striker David Nugent is expected to joint the Black Cats from Preston next week.

I reckon we're well enough equipped to play 3-5-2, but our boys don't have the ability to play 3-5-2 comfortably. Still reckon we'll be playing a 4-3-1-2, with Smith in a free role in the middle just behind the strikers, as JC suggested.

 

Keeper

 

Hart/Considine - McNamara - Diamond - Byrne

 

DeVisscher - Nicholson - Seve

 

Smith

 

Lovell/Miller - Mackie

I reckon we're well enough equipped to play 3-5-2, but our boys don't have the ability to play 3-5-2 comfortably. Still reckon we'll be playing a 4-3-1-2, with Smith in a free role in the middle just behind the strikers, as JC suggested.

 

Keeper

 

Hart/Considine - McNamara - Diamond - Byrne

 

DeVisscher - Nicholson - Seve

 

Smith

 

Lovell/Miller - Mackie

 

Byrne instead of Ricardo Fosterinho?

Byrne should only be a bench player at best