Definitely prefer a manager who does that compared to watching passively. It can make a difference however small.
Proper performance that is tonight, had a really bad feeling after we seemed to be closing our eyes while shooting first half like! Clarke was superb, ran that right back absolutely ragged. O’Nein was class again mind.
Posted during the match that 09 is better when the game is in front of him, he's athletic and can cover Batth when needed. One game doesn't make a season but think it would be foolish to throw him away with the dishwater, we need his versatility.
strange case is onien, i was one who thinks the world of the bloke but he worried me in midfield, always looking a likely red card but since moved back into defence he has been absolutely solid, hardly put a foot or head wrong..one thing i noticed tonight he was there to stop a shot and raced out to block any chance of a follow up, the man puts his body in line every time and will take the knocks and pain but he was only one of the players on the pitch tonight and every single one was solid.
I especially like how their right back couldn’t cope with Clarke so swapped sides…only for Gooch to rip him apart also and then have O’Nien sticking proper tackles in.
Anthony Patterson: 7/10 Had a very comfortable night, made a couple of saves in the first half that you would expect him to make but was mostly untroubled. Luke O’Nien: 8/10 Looks much better suited to being in a back three, read the game well all night. Danny Batth: 7/10 Had to make an important tackle early on but had very little to do as Sunderland dominated. Really should have scored from a great Pritchard free kick but his header clipped the outside of the post. Dennis Cirkin: 7/10 Solid defensively all night, although did force Batth into an important block early but could have got an assist following a great cross but Stewart could only head over. Lynden Gooch: 8/10 Had the beating of Rotherham’s defenders all night and forced them onto the back foot on their left, looks very confident at right wing-back. Corry Evans: 7/10 A quieter night for Evans but such an important player with how he reads the game and covers the defence. Dan Neil: 7/10 Another good game for Neil, worked hard when out of possession and quick to spread the ball out to Clarke and Gooch who had their fullbacks on toast. Jack Clarke: 10/10 Fantastic performance tonight, looked up for it from the first minute and was going past players for fun. Set up two goals for Stewart and then scored a great solo goal himself. Alex Pritchard: 7/10 Not as influential tonight as you would expect with the score line but still unlucky not to get an assist or two. Batth should have scored from his free kick and also laid a ball off to Stewart following a good team move but the striker fired over. Ellis Simms: 7/10 Still showing signs of bedding in but he’s making himself a handful for defenders, probably should have scored when set up by Roberts late on. Ross Stewart: 9/10 Two goals and an assist for Stewart tonight, could easily have doubled that tally. A great effort for a player who looked to be knocked out following a collision early in the first half. Substitutes Patrick Roberts: 7/10 Brought on for Pritchard and played a top class ball through to Simms late on that should have seen us score a fourth. Bailey Wright: 6/10 On late to replace the tiring Clarke as we saw the game out. Elliot Embleton: 6/10 Replaced Neil late on. Man of the Match: Jack Clarke Unbelievable display tonight from Clarke, had the beating of his man from the very start and kept it up all night. Looked supremely confident, put two goals on a plate for Stewart, almost set him up for his hat-trick, scored a great solo goal and tracked back to help in defence. Could not ask for a more complete performance.
Tony Mowbray: "This is a working-class area. I am from the North East. This is an industry town. People have dirt under their fingernails. These players need to work hard."
O’Nein also went right over to congratulate Clarke on his goal and made the effort to run over to Dan Neil when he was being subbed to do the same. Has a tremendous attitude that lad.
Superb isn’t he. Still don’t get the “put him at left back” rhetoric which has been doing the rounds when he’s been so good there
Can honestly say that not one player had a bad game tonight. Interesting for Embo at the min. On at the end for 3 minutes....
We have some really good dangerous attacking players, our wing play is unbelievable at times, both their full backs will be dizzy on that bus home ! We are without doubt a very dangerous team to play against, hopefully these new young lads will help us kick on. Full of cold so missed tonight, it’s typical!! Well done TM and the players and staff.
Still think he goes under the radar - he's been different class this season. Always seems to be in the right place at the right time, positionally I've been really impressed with the lad. I think he would be class at LB as well tbf - he will be a PL in next 2 seasons, hopefully with us
That's why I've put him forward as a deep lying DM protecting the defence, protecting is what he does but he's not bad on the ball and his passing is good. I don't think we'd concede many with him there and a solid defence behind him, and it'd let us play an attacking team. Worth noting that he gets a few yellows but reds are very rare. He's not daft.
Barring the obvious Stewart and Clarke, 09, Evans and Gooch have been sensational this season so far and have hopefully proved all the boo boys wrong
Cirkin is starting to adapt really well to that role. Not even just being a centre back but being that Sheffield United style wide centre back. He's making more marauding runs, linking up in triangles with Clarke and Pritchard or overlapping. He's providing an extra dimension to our attacking, even just by making one of the opposition cover him. Its good to know he's so comfortable at either lb or lcb.
