Dan Ballard

Central Defender - Sunderland
20 Oct 2026
Tuesday
Process
Overview Personal Contract News 1 Transfers Relations Events 54 Awards Matches History

Events

54

  1. Clashed with Trai Hume over training standards

    Minor
    Cause
    The disagreement started because they judged training effort very differently. It played out on the training ground in front of the rest of the squad.
    Outlook
    Likely to settle unless repeated within the next few weeks.

  2. Left out of the matchday squad

    Moderate
    Cause
    The current formation has no natural role for him.
    Outlook
    Likely to settle unless repeated within the next few weeks.

  3. Personality clash with Craig Dawson

    Minor
    Cause
    Their personalities have rubbed against each other for a while now. It played out behind the dressing-room door, away from the cameras.
    Outlook
    Repeated incidents may damage dressing-room status.

  4. Personality clash with Omar Alderete

    Minor
    Cause
    Their personalities have rubbed against each other for a while now. It played out behind the dressing-room door, away from the cameras.
    Outlook
    Repeated incidents may damage dressing-room status.

  5. Promised more playing time by the manager

    Serious
    Cause
    The discussion focused on playing time.

  6. Praised privately for his recent performance

    Serious
    Cause
    The discussion focused on his recent performance level.

  7. Reassured by a calm full-time message

    Minor
    Cause
    The team had won, and the manager wanted to reinforce the standards. He does not always respond well to pressure, which softened the lift.
    Outlook
    Trend is improving — relationship should keep strengthening.

  8. Squad praised for bouncing back

  9. Built a stronger partnership with Habib Diarra

    Minor
    Cause
    A strong training-ground partnership is behind this. Previous friction meant this was not treated as a one-off.
    Outlook
    Trend is improving — relationship should keep strengthening.

  10. Clashed with Trai Hume over training standards

    Minor
    Cause
    The disagreement started because they judged training effort very differently. It played out on the training ground in front of the rest of the squad.
    Outlook
    Likely to settle unless repeated within the next few weeks.

  11. Personality clash with Robin Roefs

    Minor
    Cause
    Their personalities have rubbed against each other for a while now. It played out behind the dressing-room door, away from the cameras.
    Outlook
    Repeated incidents may damage dressing-room status.

  12. Left out of the matchday squad

    Moderate
    Cause
    The current formation has no natural role for him.
    Outlook
    Repeated incidents may damage dressing-room status.

  13. Worried by competition from a new signing João Denoni

    Moderate
    Cause
    He was already short on minutes before the signing arrived.
    Outlook
    Contract request risk increased.

  14. Stayed on the bench all match

    Minor
    Cause
    The current formation has no natural role for him.
    Outlook
    Repeated incidents may damage dressing-room status.

  15. Personality clash with Habib Diarra

    Minor
    Cause
    Their personalities have rubbed against each other for a while now. It played out behind the dressing-room door, away from the cameras.
    Outlook
    Repeated incidents may damage dressing-room status.

  16. Personality clash with Melker Ellborg

    Minor
    Cause
    Their personalities have rubbed against each other for a while now. It played out behind the dressing-room door, away from the cameras.
    Outlook
    Repeated incidents may damage dressing-room status.

  17. Promised more playing time by the manager

    Serious
    Cause
    The discussion focused on playing time.

  18. Praised by manager

    Moderate
    Cause
    The discussion focused on playing time.

  19. Promised playing time by manager

  20. Praised privately for his recent performance

    Serious
    Cause
    The discussion focused on his recent performance level.

  21. Left out of the matchday squad

    Moderate
    Cause
    The current formation has no natural role for him.
    Outlook
    Repeated incidents may damage dressing-room status.

  22. Personality clash with Chemsdine Talbi

    Minor
    Cause
    Their personalities have rubbed against each other for a while now. It played out behind the dressing-room door, away from the cameras.
    Outlook
    Repeated incidents may damage dressing-room status.

  23. Built a stronger partnership with Trai Hume

    Minor
    Cause
    A strong training-ground partnership is behind this. Previous friction meant this was not treated as a one-off.
    Outlook
    Trend is improving — relationship should keep strengthening.

  24. Praised by manager

    Moderate
    Cause
    The discussion focused on playing time.

  25. Promised playing time by manager

  26. Manager trust is eroding

    Moderate
    Cause
    The discussion focused on his recent performance level. Staff had already warned him about this in the last few weeks.
    Outlook
    Manager intervention may be required if it persists.

  27. Asked the manager for a private conversation

    Minor
    Cause
    His relationship with the manager has soured. His relationship with the manager is steady but tense.
    Outlook
    Manager intervention may be required if it persists.

  28. Clashed with Trai Hume over training standards

    Minor
    Cause
    The disagreement started because they judged training effort very differently. It played out on the training ground in front of the rest of the squad.
    Outlook
    Likely to settle unless repeated within the next few weeks.

  29. Left out of the matchday squad

    Moderate
    Cause
    The current formation has no natural role for him.
    Outlook
    Repeated incidents may damage dressing-room status.

  30. Praised by the manager

    Major
    Cause
    The discussion covered general matters.

  31. Difficult conversation with the manager

    Moderate
    Cause
    The discussion covered general matters.

  32. Personality clash with Lewis Campbell

    Minor
    Cause
    Their personalities have rubbed against each other for a while now. It played out behind the dressing-room door, away from the cameras.
    Outlook
    Likely to settle unless repeated within the next few weeks.

  33. Personality clash with Lutsharel Geertruida

    Minor
    Cause
    Their personalities have rubbed against each other for a while now. It played out behind the dressing-room door, away from the cameras.
    Outlook
    Likely to settle unless repeated within the next few weeks.

  34. Left out of the matchday squad

    Moderate
    Cause
    The current formation has no natural role for him.
    Outlook
    Repeated incidents may damage dressing-room status.

  35. Frustrated by his tactical role

    Serious
    Cause
    A change in shape has shifted what is being asked of him.
    Outlook
    Manager intervention may be required if it persists.

  36. Left out of the matchday squad

    Moderate
    Cause
    The current formation has no natural role for him.
    Outlook
    Likely to settle unless repeated within the next few weeks.

  37. Personality clash with Craig Dawson

    Minor
    Cause
    Their personalities have rubbed against each other for a while now. It played out behind the dressing-room door, away from the cameras.
    Outlook
    Likely to settle unless repeated within the next few weeks.

  38. Personality clash with Omar Alderete

    Minor
    Cause
    Their personalities have rubbed against each other for a while now. It played out behind the dressing-room door, away from the cameras.
    Outlook
    Likely to settle unless repeated within the next few weeks.

  39. Clashed with Trai Hume over training standards

    Minor
    Cause
    The disagreement started because they judged training effort very differently. It played out on the training ground in front of the rest of the squad.
    Outlook
    Likely to settle unless repeated within the next few weeks.

  40. Left out of the matchday squad

    Moderate
    Cause
    The current formation has no natural role for him.
    Outlook
    Likely to settle unless repeated within the next few weeks.

  41. Personality clash with Chris Rigg

    Minor
    Cause
    Their personalities have rubbed against each other for a while now. It played out behind the dressing-room door, away from the cameras.
    Outlook
    Likely to settle unless repeated within the next few weeks.

  42. Worried by competition from a new signing Lucas Souza

    Moderate
    Cause
    The signing was bought with a similar squad-status tier in mind. He was already short on minutes before the signing arrived.
    Outlook
    Contract request risk increased.

  43. Personality clash with Robin Roefs

    Minor
    Cause
    Their personalities have rubbed against each other for a while now. It played out behind the dressing-room door, away from the cameras.
    Outlook
    Likely to settle unless repeated within the next few weeks.

  44. Personality clash with Abdoullah Ba

    Minor
    Cause
    Their personalities have rubbed against each other for a while now. It played out behind the dressing-room door, away from the cameras.
    Outlook
    Likely to settle unless repeated within the next few weeks.

  45. Worried by competition from a new signing Fernando

    Moderate
    Cause
    He was already short on minutes before the signing arrived.
    Outlook
    Contract request risk increased.

  46. Signed a new contract

    Moderate
    Cause
    He committed to the project on terms both sides could live with.

  47. Personality clash with Habib Diarra

    Minor
    Cause
    Their personalities have rubbed against each other for a while now. It played out behind the dressing-room door, away from the cameras.
    Outlook
    Likely to settle unless repeated within the next few weeks.

  48. Personality clash with Melker Ellborg

    Minor
    Cause
    Their personalities have rubbed against each other for a while now. It played out behind the dressing-room door, away from the cameras.
    Outlook
    Likely to settle unless repeated within the next few weeks.

  49. Contract extension signed

    Decision
    Movement
    4y · $3.2M/y

  50. Contract renewal offered

    Decision
    Movement
    4y · $3.2M/y

  51. Clashed with Trai Hume over training standards

    Minor
    Cause
    The disagreement started because they judged training effort very differently. It played out on the training ground in front of the rest of the squad.
    Outlook
    Likely to settle unless repeated within the next few weeks.

  52. Personality clash with Chemsdine Talbi

    Minor
    Cause
    Their personalities have rubbed against each other for a while now. It played out behind the dressing-room door, away from the cameras.
    Outlook
    Likely to settle unless repeated within the next few weeks.

  53. Unsettled by the squad wage hierarchy

    Moderate
    Cause
    The squad's wage hierarchy is the underlying issue. The gap to the squad's top earners has become a daily reminder.
    Outlook
    Contract request risk increased.

  54. Worried by competition from a new signing Craig Dawson

    Moderate
    Cause
    He was already short on minutes before the signing arrived.
    Outlook
    Contract request risk increased.