I last posted last August and since then a number of things have happened in my life but most proudly I have graduated from the University of Sunderland and since joined Blyth Spartans AFC media team on a voluntary basis. But I was so focused on finishing my Sports Journalism degree that I didn't think to post on here!
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| Sunderland celebrate Premier League safety following their 0-0 draw at Arsenal. Picture Credit: http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk |
After an extremely underwhelming season - which only saw seven league wins across the whole campaign with only four home league wins in 19 - Dick Advocaat his U-turned and stayed on Wearside for another year despite originally declining the Black Cats' contract offer after he successfully steered them to safety last term.
Along with Advocaat, four new players have arrived at the Stadium of Light this summer - Jeremain Lens, Sebastian Coates, Adam Matthews and Younes Kaboul.
It's a good start to the transfer window but more is needed to avoid battling the drop yet again in 15/16. Sunderland are now reportedly looking for a creative midfielder and a striker to add to their ranks which I believe is correct for them given the lack of attacking threat in the current side.
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| Charlie Austin's first Premier League goal of 2014/15 was against Sunderland last August. He scored 18 league goals but was unable to save QPR from relegation from the top-flight. Picture Credit: http://www.telegraph.co.uk |
But, as the title of this blog suggests, a player I'd be going all out for is QPR striker Charlie Austin. Considering their relegation from the Premier League last season, Ranger's £15m valuation of him may seem too much, which is what is supposedly putting a lot of club off signing him - including Sunderland's arch rivals Newcastle United.
To a degree, I can understand why Sunderland are being cautious of paying that much money for him given that they have invested big money in the past and it hasn't worked. Steven Fletcher and Jack Rodwell are two names which spring to mind.
But Austin single-handedly carried QPR throughout last season and scored 18 league goals for them - only Diego Costa, Harry Kane and Sergio Aguero scored more in 2014/15. David Jones from Sky Sports agrees as well, as demonstrated in an article he did for the Sunderland Echo.
Although the midfield needs to be provide more service to them, the strikers have lacked goals and as a result Sunderland have generally failed to find the net consistently.
Jermain Defoe is one of the Premier League's top scorers and I do believe he will have a part to play this season. Connor Wickham I'm willing to give leniency with as he has been played out of his main position and he is still only 22. But Danny Graham and Fletcher are two strikers that must leave this summer.
Fletcher had a good first season as he scored 11 league goals and was Sunderland's top goalscorer since moving from Wolverhampton Wanderers in 2012 but has only scored eight times in the previous two campaigns combined. In Sunderland's recent 0-0 draw at Arsenal which kept them up, he missed three excellent chances and you'd have expected him to tale at least one of them.
Graham only scored his first Sunderland goal in a 2-0 win at Everton in May and that was a lucky goal anyway. As much as he tries hard, he's simply not good enough for the top-flight.
Now onto Austin. Sunderland clearly need goals. Although £15m is a bit steep, I believe he is worth going for because I doubt he'll want to stay in the Championship and he's clearly a Premier League goalscorer. This is the type of natural finisher Sunderland need and it would be criminal if they did not even attempt to sign him.
Not only can he score, but he can assist and create chances too. He brilliantly set up Matt Phillips for QPR's first goal in a 2-1 home win over Newcastle in May and has five assists for last season.
He is the complete centre-forward and should Sunderland sign him, I wouldn't expect 18 league goals but I can see him getting double figures and overall adding much-needed Premier League quality to their forward-line.
I wouldn't be surprised if they didn't get him, but the club may already be looking at him and we just don't know much, which in itself maybe a smart thing.
