Sunderland manager Dick Advocaat has been speaking to the press today for the first time since the transfer window closed. The Dutchman spoke of his transfer dealings this summer and how he feels his current squad has shaped up, whilst also looking ahead to this weekend’s clash with Tottenham Hotspur. Below are some quotes from today in Advocaat’s pre-match conference.
“The most important thing is that we now have a squad that can compete with each other,” said the Dutchman. “Everybody has to show during the games that he wants to play and that is the advantage compared to last season; we brought in some other players and they can do the job as well.
“It is not only about Lens, Defoe or Borini. The players we have brought in all have certain qualities and that is why they’re here, so it is important everybody understands what they have to do and what they are a part of.”
He continued: “Borini is a player the fans like and he is a hard-working player.
“People like that here and it is the same a little bit with Danny Graham – when he is in the team and he works hard the crowd get behind him.
“DeAndre can’t play on Sunday. He is a very promising player and for those kind of players it is better that they can play, so we will see now who can be the best.”
Advocaat went on to say about how his new signings have fit in, he said today: “With the people we brought in, we’ve got more competition in the squad and that was what we needed.
“But we still have to find out the right balance of the squad.
“Of all the players we bought, only Lens was a regular. None of the rest were playing.
“They need more time to get their right fitness – from Toivonen, to Yann, to Borini, to Kaboul, to DeAndre.
“Physical-wise, they are not yet at the level that you have to be at in this league.
“That is our biggest concern. We have to work on that.
“But you can only get that if you play, not when you train.
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