Maybe the WaGs of;
Tainio
Malbranque
Chimbonda
Healy
Cisse
Diouf
And now possibly Ferdinand,

have realised that London is passe?

Sunderland's squad these days must be one of the biggest in the history of top-flight football.

38 first-team players and another five out on loan, apparently.

Keane has now spent £25 million on three Tottenham squad players, a striker with four Premiership goals to his name, and Anton Ferdinand. Mother of god.

When we win the champions league the fees quoted in the tabloids will be well well well worth it.
I cant believe how many wsc'rs are regurgitating the press's exagerrated transfer fee claims. The "add Ons" involved when based on trophies etc are virtually worthless when applied to a club like Sunderland.....ffs weve won one trophy in 70 years.

In that case, why would the selling clubs put those clauses in the contracts?

One obvious answer is window-dressing - it looks like they've done a better deal than they actually have.

I see Keane's had another pop at Ferguson today, telling the press that Brian Clough was the best manager he ever played for "without a shadow of a doubt".

It's a curious comment to make -- Clough was a managerial genius but he was a sad shadow of his former self by the time Keane was playing for Forest. Indeed, I think Forest were relegated in Keane's final season there.

Sounds like Roy still nurses a grudge about being sacked by Man United.

Keane lost a lot of respect for Ferguson in teh last few years of his time at Manchester United. The argument that led to Keane 'being sacked' flared up when Ferguson suggested Keane had brought the club in to disrepute. Keane, rightly, pointed out that if anyone had brough the club in to disrepute it was Ferguson, what with "his mates and that fucking horse".

he was asked the question in the context of a huge brian clough celebration they were having tonight though.

I WANT TO BELIEVE.

In other Sunderland news, Michael Chopra has checked into rehab to fight his gambling addiction.

The story doesn't actually mention alcoholism, does it? I would reckon that's a fair guess though the report I read euphemistically referred to "relationship issues" while also easing his gambling addiction.

Sorry, I got a text earlier from a Sunderland fan which mentioned drinking. It's not. It's gambling.