The Mighty Conquerer Has Fallen!
http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2013/09/22/article-0-182507F200000578-747_634x429.jpg
They say Rome was not built in a day but the man who masterminded the fantastic 3-0 victory away from home at the Sports direct arena against arch enemies Newcastle United and also a phenomenal 1-0 win at the Stadium of Light against a bogey side in Everton who 18 months prior had derailed Martin O'Neill on his quest of Fa Cup glory with a 3-0 embarrassing infront of a 48,000 sold out capacity, with Newcastle and Everton ousted and vital points at home against Stoke and Southampton, results which maintained Sunderland's Premier League status, Paulo Di Canio has been ousted on the eve of the new season, following a dressing room brawl in which Lee Cattermole transformed himself from the hardman on the pitch to a thug in the dressing room, with rumours of him actually leaving Di Canio unconcious and naked in the shower area following a 3rd fitness in the same day, this prompted club owner Ellis Short into action, following a tough decision whether to back his Roman like conquoer or to back the playing staff, unfortunately for Di Canio it was the latter he side with.
William Hill currently have Gustavo Poyet listed as favourite at 2-1, while Paddy Power offering an interesting 16-1 on Fan's Favourite Super Kev" Kevin Phillips taking up his first role in management. With a summer of drastic change seeing 14 players arrive at the Academy of Light, stability is needed as a matter of urgency while maintaining the support of the locals, July 2013 is set to be one of the most important months in memory for those at the Stadium of light.
Sky Sports scout is to take a look at the deals Di Canio and new Director of Football Roberto Di Fanti have just concluded.
First in we had 19 year old English forward (turned out to be Sunderlands only English signing in this window) Duncan Watmore on a free from skillrex premier side Altrincham Fc, Watmore is likely to be leading the line alongside Mikael Mandoron in the developmental squad in the hope of emulating Mandron and taking the place on the bench the Mandoron warmed towards the end of last season.
Next through the door was 26 year old French centre half Valentin Roberge on a free from Cs Maritmo in the top tier of Portugese football, Valentin is a player who likes to play the ball out from the back rather then lump it aimlessley towards the frontman.
Also joining to bolster the backline to compete with Valentin Roberge is 26 year old French centre back Modibo Diakite also on a free from Seria A team SS Lazio, coming from a team of Lazio's pedigree, big things are expected of Modibo, who himself will be hoping to use his presence and become a leading premier league centre halfs.
Next was another devlopment squad signing in 19 year old Swedish forward David Moberg-Karlsson, this was the first signing in which the club had to pay a transfer fee, a fee of £1.54million was paid to Swedish Premier Division team IFK Gotenborg, upon arrival at the club David, tweeted via his personal twitter account @DavidITK "Tobias Hysen has told me many good thing about Sunderland #HowayTheLads" a move greeted in good fashion with the Sunderland fans as Tobias Hysen was a firm fan favourite during his year long spell during the Roy Keane era in the promotion winning side from the 2004/2005 season.
Next player is was a man who is being brought in looking to replace the much trouble Lee Cattermole, Arriving fresh from a very strong Europa League campain with Fc Basle of the Swiss Premier League, in came Cape Verde midfielder Cabral on a free transfer.
Following the departure of last seasons North East Player of the Year Simon Mignolet, Sunderland needed to bring in another goalkeeper to challenge Kieron Westwood for that coverted number 1 jersey, Di Fanti himself took it in his role to negotiate and complete the transfer of Arsenal reserve goalkeeper Vito Mannone, a move which had left Di Canio slightley dissapointed as he looked to find a new number 1, not another clubs 3rd choice goalkeeper, friction between the board and Di Canio continued on from this point, this friction would set Di Canio on his way for his empire to fall.
Next in following days and days of tweets by his personal assistant @JeremyPoole in came 23 year old American Centre Forward Jozy Altidore for a reported fee of 8.8million pound from Dutch Eredivisie side AZ Alkmaar, following a previous spell at Hull City as a teenager during there relegation season, Altidore was looking for redemption and to take the league by storm this season.
Next in was another signing broken to us by the player himself via twitter @Elhadjbaaby "Vry appy to b signin 4 Sunderland" young 20 year old Frenchmen El Hadji Ba signed on a free transfer from Le Havre, again a signing most likely for the developmental squad.
This next signing is arguably Sunderland's Marquee signing, arriving for 6.6million euros from the old lady Juventus, Emanuele Giaccherini joined the team following successfully winning the seria A title two consequetive seasons, this player is likely to be the key player for Sunderland should they pull themselves out of the precarious position they have found themselves in.
Following "Casinogate" involving former player of the season Phil Bardsley and Di Canio telling the player that over his dead body will he ver play for Sunderland again, a right back was needed, in on a season long loan came Czech Replubic right back Ondrej Celutska from Turkish SUper Lig side Trabzonspor.
Another very hot prospect was next to come through the seeming revolving door at the Stadium of Light, following a summer long chase and numerous postponements through injury, 19 year old greek winger Chavros Mavrias signed for 2.6 million pounds from Panathinaikos, This player could be one for the development squad but due to his potential, I wouldnt be to suprised to see him in the first team squad very soon.
Following losing out on the signature of English central midfielder Tom Huddlestone to Hull, Sunderland were again forced to turn there hand to the loan market, and cemented the signing of a passing presence they were lacking in the middle of the park with the signing of Swansea central midfielder Ki Sung-Yong. With fellow Korean Ji Dong-Won already at the club, the clubs presence in Korea has grown rapidly with many replica shirts with Ki & Ji being sold in the country.
Di Canio's final bit of business was to seal the deal for two italians in the same day, former Liverpool left Andrea Dossenna and current Liverpool player Fabio Borini both arrived at the club for loan spells to the end of the season.
With 14 arrivals at the club with surely more to follow following who ever the new manager may be, there was also a lot of outgoings going through that revolving door, generating almost 20million in funds for with the sales of Ahmed Elmohammady, Simon Mignolet, James McClean and Stephane Sessegnon and getting the likes of Titus Bramble, Mathew Kilgallon of the wage bill. There is plenty of room for the new manager to manouvere around the market, you have to feel though any more additions would further unbalance the squad.
Stay with us here at Sky Sports where we will bring the breaking news of Sunderland's next appointment as soon as we have it!
