Sunderland had stormed to promotion in 1998-99, amassing 105 factors and blowing away all comers. It had been a season constructed on a strong defence – with younger keeper , having fun with a debut season in English soccer, protected effectively by Chris Makin, Paul Butler, Andy Melville and Michael Grey – in addition to a blistering assault; Kevin Phillips and Niall Quinn served effectively by Nicky Summerbee and Allan Johnston, with Daniele Dichio and Michael Bridges greater than succesful understudies.
The midfield was typically prompted by skipper Kevin Ball, Lee Clark and Alex Rae, and as a unit the staff had carried out exceptionally effectively.
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Whereas the staff held unbelievable potential – underlined by Grey and Phillips receiving England caps within the week’s previous today – there was a definite lack of top-flight expertise, Niall Quinn and Lee Clark being two of the handful to have performed frequently within the larger echelons of English soccer for multiple season
With Clark, Bridges and Johnston on their method out of the membership, and Melville already departed on a free, Reid wanted each high quality reinforcements in addition to some Premiership know-how, and on today in 1999 he landed somebody who firmly ticked each bins.
Steve Bould was a family identify in English soccer. The centre again had been a key participant in ’s League Championship groups of 1989, 1991 and 1998, in addition to successful the European Cup Winners Cup in 1994. He’d spent 11 years at Highnury, taking part in 274 league video games after becoming a member of from Stoke Metropolis, and had gained a few England caps, too.
In his later years on the Gunners, the now 36-year-old had performed a back-up function however had simply signed a brand new deal on the membership. Nevertheless, that didn’t deter Reid, who knew Bould could be tempted by the chance to play extra frequently.
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Arsenal initially wished £1m for the defender, who Arsene Wenger held in extremely excessive esteem, however Sunderland ultimately agreed upon a £500,000 deal to ship the defender north – and on today in 1999, the deal was introduced as being agreed, with the formalities set to be accomplished after the weekend.
Bould’s agent Steve Kutner advised the Sunderland Echo:
Steve is determined to affix Peter Reid at Sunderland. He has signed a two-year contract at Arsenal within the final couple of weeks, which tells you ways extremely Arsene Wenger thinks of him, however he feels he has lots nonetheless to supply and desires first-team soccer.
Different golf equipment had approached us, however as quickly as Sunderland got here in Steve wished to be nowhere else.
After leaving Arsenal you’ll want to go to a giant membership with good assist and, most significantly, ambition, and Sunderland was the right alternative for Steve.
He has relationship with Peter Reid and appears ahead to serving to to cement Sunderland’s presence within the Premiership.
Steve’s away for a brief break for the time being, however he’ll be in Sunderland on Tuesday to finish the formalities and can go on the pre-season tour on Thursday.
By becoming a member of Sunderland, Bould sacrificed a testimonial at Arsenal, one thing which little doubt was taken into consideration when negotiating his deal at Sunderland, and he went on to play a key function within the staff’s barnstorming begin to the brand new season which noticed us sit third at Christmas.
Soccer – FA Carling Premiership – Sunderland v Tottenham Hotspur
An harm in the course of the second half of the marketing campaign curtailed his season, and the next 12 months he managed only one sub look earlier than having to name it a day.
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In complete, the defender made simply 21 begins for the membership in all competitions; nonetheless carried out so extremely and performed such a key function in these video games that Reid would absolutely look again on it as cash effectively spent. Bould was introduced in to supply expertise and management, and he did that in spades – the actual fact Wenger introduced him again to Arsenal as a part of his administration staff underlines his credentials in that regard.
In addition to Bould, one other skilled identify that, in line with experiences, was all however sure to reach on the Stadium of Mild was skipper Dennis Sensible, with the 32-year-old apparently ready till after his testimonial on the finish of July to finish the deal. That, after all, didn’t materialise, and whereas Sensible was on the sphere for our opening Premiership sport, it was within the blue of Chelsea.
Different names strongly linked have been Montpellier midfielder Xavier Gravelaine and Lens’ Alex Nyarko, as Sunderland seemed to strengthen an already closely proficient staff, whereas one other of Reid’s targets – Ajax’s Sunday Oliseh, was reported to have signed for .