Poyet sympathises after ‘Terrible’ Watson news at Sunderland – Exclusive
Tommy Watson’s move to Brighton caused plenty of controversy among those of a Sunderland persuasion.
Sunderland are 90 minutes away from claiming a spot in the Premier League for the first time since 2016, though they will have to overcome Sheffield United in the final at Wembley to achieve it.
It has been a successful campaign at the Stadium of Light, and much of that is down to their youth-oriented approach.
However, as successful as it has been, the exposure to such bright young talents has caught the eye of several European teams, with Watson’s pending exit a prime example.
Brighton announcement came at the wrong time for Sunderland
Everyone knows it by now, but Watson is set to join Brighton at the end of the current campaign after the two sides agreed on a fee after the winter transfer window.
However, that right there is the issue that sparked the most concern; the timing of it, and Gus Poyet understands why Sunderland fans were fuming.
Speaking to Mackem News, courtesy of BetBrain, Poyet said: “I think when the information comes out at the wrong time, it never helps.
“So that’s something that you learn with experience. I don’t know who advised him or how the information came out, but it was not great timing.
| Sunderland | Games | Goals | Assists |
| Watson | 20 | 2 | 0 |
“The timing was terrible. Then the reaction, I think it’s more because of the timing of it than because the player is leaving. Because we knew that he had a chance to leave even last year.
“So it’s something that can happen. When he’s coming from a team from Brighton, which is very specific in the recruitment system, very specific, there has to be a reason behind it.
“They probably follow the player for a long time, and they know specifically what he’s going to do, and that’s why they’re going to get him.“
Sunderland must stand firm ahead of summer window
Watson wasn’t the only one of interest in the winter, and he won’t be the only one to depart from Wearside in the summer, but Sunderland need to be careful with the decisions they make.
While some exits are inevitable, keeping the core of your squad will be crucial, regardless of which division you are in.
If you can’t keep them, the Black Cats need to ensure that they are getting the best deal possible to put themselves in a position where they can replace them at a profit.