Will Sunderland sign another striker - #onthewhistle - video Dailymotion

Phil Smith discusses as part of his weekly Q&A with Sunderland fans

Transcript

00:00He says, do we still need a more experienced striker?

00:03It was said a few seasons ago, we don't necessarily play with number nine,

00:05but many feel we still need a proven goal score at the top level.

00:10Problem is, are there any available?

00:12I mean, Labrie's talked a little bit about this in his post-match press conference yesterday.

00:17Him making really clear that he backed Mayan during Isidore at this level,

00:20and that's why Sunderland have signed, you know, Mark Guilherme rather than a really kind of established striker, if you like.

00:25Like, I've said it before, like, I think Sunderland have a massive talent in Eliza Meander,

00:31and I think the whole project kind of stands on when you get talents like that,

00:34giving them opportunities and backing them when other clubs might not, to go up a level and thrive at it.

00:40It is a risk, but it's also a risk to bring someone in for a big fee and big transfer wages

00:45who might not necessarily fit your style of play.

00:47There's no guarantees, and I think we've seen that in the past.

00:50I think that if a huge opportunity came at Sunderland to sign, you know,

00:54a top-level striker for a good fee, I think they would take it.

00:58I think we've seen that some of them are prepared to be ruthless like that

01:00and capitalise when the opportunity comes up.

01:02But I don't get, I genuinely don't get the impression it's something they're pursuing.

01:05I think they've got a lot of faith in Guilherme, really hard for us to make a judgement on that at the moment

01:09because we've not seen him play, but I think they really back him to make an impact.

01:12And they really back Mayan during his start, and to be honest,

01:15I have absolutely no issue with that.

01:17I think Mayan is brilliant.

01:17I think we saw what Isidore can bring either from the start or particularly as an impact player yesterday,

01:23the way, you know, his pace and his finishing ability.

01:26Okay, the goalkeeper should have saved his shot, but that was still a really nice piece of work

01:29to fashion that chance and find the far corner.

01:32So I'm genuinely, and it's easy to say this after a 3-0 win where they've both scored,

01:36I get that, but I'm genuinely relaxed about that situation.

01:39I think you have to back Mayan.

01:40I think Sunderland's got one of the best young strikers in Europe,

01:42and I think they have to just absolutely back him, and I love the support that Wilson Isidore gives him.

01:50Yeah, so for me, I'm relatively relaxed about that situation.

01:54I wouldn't rule it out.

01:55I think if an option, as I said, a brilliant option was there,

01:58I think Sunderland would probably go and try and take it,

02:00but I don't think it's something I pursue, and I kind of understand that.

02:04So there we go.