WADDLE PRE DERBY
- CHRIS THOMPSON
- Mar 20
- 2 min read
Former Sunderland and Newcastle player Chris Waddle, who played more games for the Mags but supported SAFC as a boy, has spoken about Sunderland's season and singled out Dan Ballard for his immense contribution. Speaking to BetVictor, the former England winger also gave his prediction ahead of Sunday's massive clash...
HELL OF A SEASON, SLOWING DOWN NOW
"Sunderland brought in many players and caught everybody cold with their results and confidence. But the last two, three, four weeks, they've found it tough, losing to Port Vale, which you would never have predicted. Maybe this squad is now coming into the final stretch. I think they've done enough to stay up, don't get me wrong, and they've had a hell of a season, but I think they are now starting to feel the pace."
BIG DAN BALLARD
Black Cats don't need to sell Dan Ballard - but they might consider doing so as it's their model. Ballard has come up from the Championship, and they almost have a new team entirely and he's fitted in. The manager's obviously given him an opportunity like he did with the rest of them. He's big, he's aggressive, he's quite strong, very strong, sturdy. He reads the game pretty well. He's okay on the ball. Listen, if his team's looking at him at the minute, Sunderland don't need to sell. But they probably will, because that's the way their format's gone now."
IF THE PRICE IS RIGHT...
"I think they've gone down that road of Bournemouth and Brentford who produce players and find players and sell them for ridiculous money. So, I think they've gone into that category. So, I think if the offers are big enough for any of these players who've had a good season, let's be honest, a great season, then they will consider the price is right. There's no doubt about that. But I've not heard anybody after him."
ATTRACTING INTEREST
"But he's one of the pluses, as are the other players who people have been watching and thought, 'Never heard of him, who's he?' and watched him and thought, 'Why would I go play here?' So there'll be a lot of people, scouts around the big clubs, not just in England, who will be marking and ticking and thinking, 'Do we test the water with a bid?' Because I do believe they would sell. That's the format they're going down. It looks like they're going to have another year in the Premier League, which is good.
SELL TO BUY
"They might have to add to that squad, but if it means selling somebody for massive profit, I'm sure they'll consider that, definitely. But if he stays and can repeat the season he's had this year, then the big boys or clubs a lot higher will be testing the water by putting in bids."
DERBY PREDICTIONS...
"Eddie Howe will have to change his team, I'm sure, with the travelling and the amount of effort they're going to have to put in against Barcelona. Sunderland have a free week. There won't be a lot of goals in it, I've got to say. But I'm going to go 2-1 to Newcastle."
