Gav says…
I can’t profess to know all that much about Adingra beyond what I’ve managed to pick up from speaking to Brighton fans and watching clips over the past few days, but I do have immense faith and trust in our recruitment department and I think the fact our interest in this player is long standing should give us a lot of hope that this was a deal worth doing.
We haven’t rushed and we haven’t gambled. We’ve paid a lot of money for a player we’ve clearly done our research on, and that’s good enough for me.
Crucially, he brings us Premier League experience which, admittedly, is in short supply at present. He’s played for a top Premier League outfit in Brighton under some good managers, and also has experience of playing in other foreign leagues and European competitions.
If Adingra was a finished product, he wouldn’t be signing for Sunderland, but that’s OK — we relish the opportunity to take players that are on the cusp of cracking it and making them better footballers.
Régis Le Bris is the perfect coach for someone who needs guidance and trust on the big stage, and it’ll be that which I think will have really attracted Adingra to the club.
I’m actually more excited to see him than any of the other players that we’ve signed so far — let’s hope he’s up for the challenge!
Sunderland Unveil New Signing Simon Adingra Photo by Ian Horrocks/Sunderland AFC via Getty Images
John Wilson says…
I can only echo the sentiments of the team so far. All of these signings are very exciting, and in the context of the last decade, very ‘un-Sunderland’.
I’ve said on many occasions that I trust our backroom staff and this window more than any other has shown the hard work that’s going on behind the scenes. This plan and these players will have been in files and on spreadsheets and being watched for many weeks, so I’m really looking forward to seeing how they knit into the team.
One interesting observation that I’ve noted however, is that age old ‘opinion’ that football fans all have. We all have our favourites and we all see certain players in different lights.
On that front, I’ve listened to two or three different podcasts this week and with the exception of Habib Diarra, the others have all drawn different conclusions from the various ‘experts’.
One said Adingra was better from the left and one put him better from the right; one said Chemsdine Talbi needed patience, and the other disagreed and said “No. He’s a Premier League player”.
I could go on, but everyone has their own outlook and we won’t know whether they’ve been a good buy until we see them in a red and white shirt.
That’s why not all signings are a success.
A player can look good on paper or whilst being observed, but these players are often in strange surroundings, with new teammates, looking for somewhere to live — all factors that can all feed into being a superb purchase, or one that doesn’t quite come off.
For now, all these players are brilliant and they’ll be part of the masterplan. With a touch of luck, all the due diligence will come together and make us a competitive outfit.
Malc Dugdale says…
This signing is totally in line with our new approach to recruitment. We’re smashing signings like this every week just now, and having heard that we’ve been after this lad for a while, I’m pleased we got there in the end.
He’s a young and talented player who wasn’t getting a proper chance and who’s probably bursting to show what he can do.
He’s quick, versatile, can play on both sides if needed, and most of all for me, he provides competition for both Romaine Mundle and Patrick Roberts — who are both ‘unknowns’ at the top level — Roberts even more so.
Adingra brings pace, attacking intent and a decent amount of Premier League experience. Also, given that we got ten million for Tommy Watson, we’ve effectively signed him for about the same price.
Knowing we have all these options out wide and in the middle is great, but I’d really like to see a focus on the centre backs as our next hire, but I’m very confident we’ll do just as well there. We’re smashing it ‘cos we are officially back and f**king massive!
New Zealand v Ivory Coast - International Friendly Photo by Indrawan Kumala/NurPhoto via Getty Images
Sam Blakey says…
I’m very excited by this signing. Our business so far has been impressive and ambitious, however this is the one I’m excited about the most.
Although he couldn’t get into the starting eleven at Brighton consistently last season, a lad who’s played at a high level and in the Premier League for a few seasons now is an invaluable addition to the group.
A tricky winger who can operate on either side is a welcome addition and it’ll be interesting to see if he starts ahead of or alongside Romaine Mundle. Either way, players like those two on the break will be an amazing watch.
It’s also encouraging that like many of our other signings, Adingra seems to have turned down opportunities at established Premier League sides as well as European sides to come to Sunderland. That’s a statement to everyone and also a testament to our work behind the scenes as a club.
We’ve seen over the last few seasons that the gap is huge and we’ll have to do a hell of a lot this season to survive and break the cycle of newly promoted clubs going straight back down.
However, signings such as Adingra are steps towards bridging the gap!