Kone for me, he looks back to his best, but it was a team effort, and they looked a well drilled unit playing with purpose, maintain this standard and we could well see the greatest escape yet.
I’ve gone for Ovieido because of his debut in a game that was fuelled by comments in the media of a past Manager and player. He could of quite easily capitulated but he was focused and strong and Zaha had to move over to the left to get any freedom. I would also like to include Kone and N’Dong for another two outstanding performances.
Honourable mentions all over but my vote goes to Oviedo. Apart from shutting Zaha out completely what made it even more impressive for me is that he`s come into the team, at a crucial time, in a massive game, in a hugely important position and played like that with a bunch of virtual strangers. Tremendous debut.
Everyone said he had a great game. I watched Motd last night and in the few minutes shown Zaha left him for dead left side of the box for a clear goal opportunity. Probably an unfair perspective of the wholeading game though. We had a few get out of jail free cards played yesterday and that was one of them.
I thought the commentator said Oviedo. It's the only reason I mentioned it. I'm not disputing that the lad had a hell of a game otherwise.
Especially pre-game opinion about signing a Moyes old boy who was not good enough for Everton. (Couldn't resist that).
To be fair I think pretty much everyone said that they expected Oviedo to be a decent signing. It makes us so much stronger having someone as capable as he is. I liked PVA but I was never comfortable with the knowledge that LB was a glaring weakness in the team. Given a choice of a LB who can't defend but gets a few goals or one who can defend and gets forward to support the attack I'll pick the latter every time.
I made the point a fair few times this season that literally any leftback will be an improvement on Van Aanholt, the lad has his qualities but defending is probably right at the bottom of the list. He's nowhere near good enough for this league, defensively and imo has been a huge part of the reason you were losing so many games. Let Palace deal with that ****, their other LB Soare who is out injured is quite possibly the only other FB in the league worse than PVA.
Kone for me because the biggest threat I believe was going to be Benteke. Sunderland this season just haven't handled the big lads up front against them. Had Benteke in his back pocket....
Exactly my point, except there was those who were not happy about Moyes signing one of his old boys. TBH. with PvA gone I thought Khazri would become more useful on the left.
My mate who supports Chesterfield once assured me that Wayne Allison who played up front for them in about 2000/2001 officially had the biggest knob in the football league.
