Dan Ballard reacts immediately as Sunderland exit confirmed
Sunderland have been among the busier Premier League clubs in the winter transfer window.
It has been an excellent season for the Mackems, who have genuine hopes of securing a European place this season.
Dan Ballard has been one of their better players so far, with Freddie Ljungberg in awe of the defender’s performances.
With the winter transfer window soon coming to a close, the Black Cats have started to make haste on trimming down their squad as they look to finish as high as possible in the Premier League.
Incomings may not be finished either, with Sunderland still looking for another goalkeeper to allow Anthony Patterson to leave.
Dan Ballard reacts to Dan Neil’s Sunderland exit
Dan Ballard has spent the last three and a half seasons at Sunderland, helping guide the club back to the Premier League and now playing a key role in keeping the Black Cats up.
The defender has taken to England’s top flight quite well, with his performance against Arsenal earlier in the season a standout so far.
Ballard scored and assisted in what was an excellent point for the Mackems against the Premier League favourites.
However, while Ballard has enjoyed himself this season, one of his teammates who was also a key part of that journey has not had the same luck.
Dan Neil has now left Sunderland on loan, joining Ipswich Town. It ends a 16-year spell at his boyhood club, with his contract on Wearside ending this summer.
After his exit was confirmed, the club paid tribute to their former captain and academy graduate with a series of heartfelt social media posts.
Ballard was one of the first to react, liking one of the posts.
Additionally, teammates Robin Roefs, Noah Sadiki, Enzo Le Fee, and Trai Hume joined in on the reactions, liking a few of the posts as well.
It is certainly an emotional ending to the 24-year-old’s story at his boyhood club, and Neil has acted with true professionalism at Sunderland despite his lack of minutes this season.
Ballard must bounce back after West Ham loss
While for most of the season, Ballard has been a rock at the back, conceding three goals in the first half to West Ham was entirely avoidable.
For the opening goal, the Sunderland man seemed more focused on tussling with Taty Castellanos rather than getting up and heading the ball away.
This meant Crysencio Summerville had a free header at goal. Ballard’s performance was still quite good, but improvements in key moments could have meant a different result.
The 26-year-old will not be the only player needing to improve when Sunderland take on Burnley on Monday, 2 February. There has been a slight drop defensively over the last few weeks.
- Sunderland are averaging 1.33 goals conceded per game in last nine matches
- Sunderland averaged 1.00 goals conceded per game in opening 14 matches
Sunderland have also conceded three goals in one game in three of their last nine matches. Before that run, they had never let their opposition score more than twice this season.
Regis Le Bris will need to find that defensive resilience once more when they host Scott Parker’s side.
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