Though Johnsons pre-match comments were a breath of fresh air. Identified problems we've been screaming about for ages, yet Parkinson done nothing about it. Lot of work for that lad to do, and I suspect we're in for a busy Jan transfer window.
Our last 5 games in the 3rd tier of English football we've failed to beat the giants of MK Don's, Fleetwood, Doncaster, Burton Albion and Wigan Athletic picking up only 3 pts. Now I'm not one for giving it the "we're Sunderland and we should be beating them"... we are where we belong atm in time. FCUK you both SD and CM!
In his prematch interview Johnson spoke about making bold decisions and hoped the ownership would also make bold decisions. Hopefully that means January when we bin off up to 7-8 players and bring in a similar amount of a better quality. Even if needing time to settle and gel it will still be an improvement on what we have now. The current crop are not fit for purpose for a) playing the attacking football Johnson likes to play or b) getting out of this league in any way, shape or form. Even at this stage I'm writing off this season and thinking we've got two windows to get the right players in and to instill the style of football he wants to then hit the ground running and have a really good bash at it next year. If we happen to miraculously pull it around for this season then brilliant but if that does happen then this bloke would deserve the keys to the ctiy.
Indeed. A mate, arsenal fan said something to me that is so true. He said there are 3 levels of players. You get the natural winners, the top like Ibrahimovic, who doesn't need motivation, he wants to win, will inspire others to win. You get the bottom level, they aspire to get to the middle level, they try their best, they dont earn much, they are you and me. Then you get the mid level. The kind safc buy. They know they arent crap and can get a good wage. They are rich enough and know their limitations so don't push to be a top player, they milk a club. Those players and heir agents look for a Sunderland. We have been a sucker for mid level for my lifetime. Time to buy good low level motivated players, young prospects. The only journeyman associated with safc should be in the stands and on here
When you say bin off, what do you mean ? Selling them won’t be easy, do you mean paying up contracts ?
Who is the other club he was linked with that he’s mentioned a couple of times? Sounds like he picked us over a Championship club.
Loads for him to do mate. But to be honest anyone watching us play lately should be well aware Hope people give him time but this is no quick fix. Player have to step up. Bust also Parkinson and the people who appointed him need to take a lot of the blame. Can’t expect player who have had a year of kick it long stand and watch football Change overnight Even Wigan who were limited were quicker to pass and moved off the ball. Lot of work I suspect the team we saw today will not be the one we are watching in the new year I don’t think JL is now under any illusions some of his post match comments make me think he thought a lot of the players were ****e
It's sad that we used to struggle in matches because every opponent saw us as a 'cup final' match and were desperate to beat us, now we just struggle in matches because we play at the level of a bottom half league 1 side most of the time... Glad Johnson sees the issues in the side but the recruitment has to be absolutely bang on in January or its another season in League 1 for us
We'd struggle to sell anyone as there's little or no money at this level and none are good enough for the level above. This is where the bold decisions lie, pay them up to get them out and crack on or keep them and not be able to advance.
The way parky recruited meant we needed a new team if we went up. No way we would have survived with that strike force. So we need to start again....gonna take some time be patient
We are a mess. The players are a disgrace...best paid players in the division with training facilities second to none and we have the fattest, unfittest, uncommitted cnuts in the division. We need sorting out from top to bottom sadly I dont think Johnson has the abilities to do that given he has a worse win ratio than the fella we have just sacked.
It was quite clearly money fir nothing Parkinson, he knew he wasn’t wanted, he knew we had no money, he just out in 20% effort for a decent wage and pay off