Sunderland had an overhaul of their squad in 2023 as they offloaded a number of key players from their promotion-winning campaign.
The club were criticised for moving on some of their more experienced individuals, resulting in a very young squad struggling during the 2023-24 season.
Lynden Gooch brought an end to his eleven year spell on Wearside as he joined Stoke City last summer, having racked up 247 appearances for the Black Cats.
Danny Batth was also controversially let go despite being named their Player of the Year in their first season back in the Championship, eventually signing for Norwich City on a free transfer.
Alex Pritchard ended up staying at the club beyond the summer despite the board’s eagerness to sell him, but eventually forced through a move to Birmingham City in the January transfer window.
The trio played a key role in their return to the second tier and made up a significant part of the more experienced side of their squad, leaving only the likes of Patrick Roberts and Luke O’Nien as the few older players remaining.
Despite all going their separate ways over the past year; Gooch, Batth and Pritchard have now been photographed enjoying their summer holiday together.
Gooch took to Instagram to share a photo of the three players enjoying their break together, with the caption: “My guys”. Pritchard and Batth then shared the photo to their own profiles.
It will tug at the heartstrings for many Sunderland fans seeing them back together, with plenty unhappy that they were allowed to leave.
Gooch’s place in the starting line-up was already massively under threat due to Trai Hume’s emergence, but Roberts’ struggles this term could have seen him pushed further up the pitch.
While the American wasn’t the most talented in the squad, his hard work and leadership has really gone amiss since his exit.
Similarly, Batth seemed to be ousted out due to his age but he was never really replaced and would have arguably kept his place in the team if he was still around.
Fans were left frustrated by the way Pritchard handled his departure, but he still hasn’t been replaced and could have also helped Sunderland stay further up the table if he hadn’t left.
