Sunderland signings are starting to roll in

I looked at the areas Sunderland needed to strengthen at the end of the season and now the new season is fast approaching, the signings are starting to roll in. Sunderland have added Jermain Lens and Younes Kaboul this week. These complement Sebastian Coates and Adam Matthews to show four full internationals as additions to our squad.

When I looked at the team, I identified the following -

Pantillimon

NEW Right Back

Van Aanholt

NEW Centre Back

NEW Centre Back

Cattermole

Larsson

Rodwell

Defoe

Giaccherini or Adam Johnson

NEW Attacking Left Midfielder

I think that we have bought in the four areas we needed new players with the team looking like this-

Pantillimon

Matthews

Van Aanholt

Coates

Kaboul

Cattermole

Larsson

Rodwell

Defoe

Giaccherini or Johnson

Lens

In terms of the new signings, I think we've spent really well. The three defenders have come at bargain prices and two of them have Premier League experience. Aside from Coates they look to have a pace that the team has lacked for years.

Any further signings need to be quality additions that will prove the first team. The spending has been modest so far by Premier League standards so there should still be money available for a big signing or two if the right players become available.

The majority of the movement now needs to be in the other direction. We need to release funds from the wage bill and I've identified the people who in think we can do without-

The Ricky Alvarez saga is far from over but from what I can see we will be forced to sign him. I think that staying away from injury he has the potential to be a good player but we can't keep on buying players that only perform every now and again. We need to find a buyer.

Steven Fletcher hasn't produced the goods for a long time. His age is against him and his scoring record is really poor for a striker. Celtic seemed to be lined up, but his wages were a problem. He might have to drop to the Championship but Fletcher's days at sunderland look to be over.

What to do with Connor Wickham? I personally think that he doesn't care about the club. He hasn't lived up to his potential and seems to be more interested in the lifestyle than buckling down and furthering his career. This time last year I was desperate for him to stay after his heroics at the end of the season. But he's not kicked on and we need to cut our losses.

The Poyet signings from Brighton, Bridcutt and Buckley are not good enough for the top flight. Neither have been awful but neither have shown enough quality to suggest that they are moving the club forward. We're looking at international class signings now and these guys have been left behind.

Likewise the De Fanti signings of Roberge and Mavrias. None of our managers have really fancied these two and they've been shipped out on loan almost since they joined the club. I'd like to see them sold, but I think another loan is more likely.

My hopes for Sunderland's team next season

Assuming that we keep the same formation that we've played for the last two seasons (4-5-1 when defending, 4-3-3 when attacking) then this is the team I'd like to see us put together for the start of next season-

Pantillimon

NEW Right Back

Van Aanholt

NEW Centre Back

NEW Centre Back

Cattermole

Larsson

Rodwell

Defoe

Giaccherini or Adam Johnson

NEW Attacking Left Midfielder

In terms of the changes, some are players I don't see as having a future with the club and others are players that I only see as back up to the first team. For instance - Billy Jones and Steven Fletcher fit into the second category, Wes Brown and Connor Whickham fit into the first.

There is still the fact that the club haven't found a manager yet, but I believe that Lee Congerton should be looking at sounding out targets and getting the obvious gaps in out squad filled. Dick Advocaat reported to Congerton, Byrne and Short that the squad needs quality first team players, and I'd look at the following solutions-

Steven Caulker from QPR as a ball-winning centre half. He's a threat from attacking corners and has more pace than O'Shea or Brown.

Sebastian Coates from Liverpool as his central defensive partner. I think we saw enough from Coates during the run in to think that he can do a respectable job for us, on the basis that the transfer fee and wage demands aren't too high.

OR

Johnny Evans who has been told he's surplus to requirements at Man Utd. He's got form for Sunderland and would complement a Caulker-type centre back well.

Leroy Fer from QPR was one of the very few bright spots in their season and I think he's a quality player with Premier League experience at two clubs (although with 2 relegations under his belt.) He could play in one of the wide roles or in central midfield and scores a few as well.

Kieran Trippier looked solid defensively and reasonable going forward for Burnley last season. If the bookies are correct and Sean Dyche becomes manager then maybe he could persuade Trippier to come to us. I think he's better than Billy Jones, although Jones did end the season well and I'd keep him in the squad.

I've made the attacking right midfielder role in my team as shared between Giaccherini and Adam Johnson as I think Johnson may miss some of the season and Giaccherini's injury record is atrocious.

Any additions to this wish list would be in a loan basis from one of the big clubs. I'd live to take Patrick Bamford from Chelsea, Danny Wellbeck from Arsenal and either Adnan Januzaj or James Wilson from Manchester United.