Bar the 1st 10-15 minutes when we passed the ball on the deck we did absolutely **** all to warrant any points!! Defensively, we looked all over the place today, no togetherness at all. Brown had a couple of moments towards the end of the 1st half when he should surely have just got rid. Elmo .... What does he actually bring to the team? All I saw was Mignolet constantly hoofing the ball in his direction, he runs, jumps, and that's about it. I'm not going to slate Colback because he's done well since gaining a starting place but today, for me, for the 1st time he looked a bit out of his depth. As for him ending up at left back, Bruce would have to answer that one! Richardson, can't really blame him, I'm sure he didn't ask to start at left back but for ****s sake Bruce, every man and his dog can see his not competent there. Buy a ****ing left back or at least a defender that can swing his left foot through the ball! From where I was sat Bardsley's tackle looked a 50/50 that he won cleanly but I could be wrong, did it look any different on the replays? At times in the 1st half when we were attacking we had possession is crossable positions but had absolutely nobody in the box, what's that about??! Sigh, same old Sunderland. Edit : final point. Cattermole ... leaps and bounds above any other Sunderland player. End of.
This long ball ****e -always- happens when we go behind, the opposition equalise/get a goal back, or our previous tactics stopped working. Ive actually decided we do have a plan B, its just that this plan consists entirely of hoofing the ball up to what must be the shortest front 2 in the league.
Mate, I seriously felt suicidal after Mingolet's 15th hoof upfield to Elmo in the space of 10 minutes. Makes you wonder what the **** they do in training.
what game were you matching mate? Pretty sure it was Newcastle with the long balls and we resorted to it later on in the game. the mignolet to elmo thing... unless you want us to play from the back like barcelona 27/7 its always going to happen. Making something out of nothing me thinks on that issue.
Long balls were going to work better with tall strikers like Shola and Obertan up front. They were never going to work with Gyan and Sess, against a tankish back four. Coloccini was superb. Even then, the goal was a set piece (Once again) So noone really paid off from long ball footy. Have to give a shout out to Gutierrez, his constant delicate runs and dribble were insanely annoying, and led to the free kick.
Watching the same match you were my friend. I'm not really bothered if Newcastle played long ball, if they did I can't remember it as 'vividly' as us. We're certainly not Barcelona, believe me I have no arguments with you there but if something isn't working, perhaps, just maybe try something a little different now and then. If you seriously don't think we played long ball today, I'm sorry you need glasses mate.
He watched the same game as me from the sound of it. No ones expecting us to play like Barcelona, but we do have some canny footballers now, who can carry the ball and make concise passes. Every time Ming got the ball he was hoofing it up field at random. (and Random didn't sign for us as far as I'm aware. ) Why is hoofball always going to happen? We are allowed to change tactics you know! <Ok>
Can anyone explain, why everytime Mig takes a kick he seems to be almost out of the box every single time.. This was pointed out to me by an Arsenal fan tonight, surely he will get caught out eventually. Anyone else notice this?
Aye it's all about opinions mate. Maybe I'd see a different side to Elmo if he had the ball at his feet from time to time. I remember when we signed him and he used to knock the ball past defenders and use his pace to beat the defender. He doesn't seem to do that currently and we just seem to use him for his 'spring' (the lad can certainly jump, no getting away from that).
