Obviously happy with the way we turn things around but unsure why we look sluggish at first. It seems a common trait so can't really be blamed on new systems or personnel.
Do teams get tired against us and we capitalise later on? Recently we have had times in the first 30 minutes where the passing has been way off, but unlike me watching they never panic or get passed by it and always end up turning it around!
Mowbray said they'd only had two sessions working on the tactics for QPR ... ... and that the players had to work their way into it when the game started. I expect that happens most games especially with rotation.
Squad rotation with a squad of young players who are just getting used to playing with each other and adjusting to different systems depending on the opposition. This was highlighted by Tony post match the QPR game. You could see as the game went on that the players started to become more comfortable with each other and the system, and ended up with us totally dominant at the end of 90 minutes.
We are usually overmatched physically, which is most conspicuous at the beginning of proceedings. However, as the match wears on, the advantages of youth and our typical skill advantage allow us to grow into the match.
It's an interesting one. Previous Sunderland teams, if we started slowly you might as well have gone home, but this team grows into games.
Don't they say it's not how you start but how you finish. In fairness to the team we haven't been chasing games 2 or 3 behind so is our slow start really hurting us? Perhaps the easing in is responsible for us getting so many late goals recently, as we seem half a yard quicker than the opposition in the final 20 minutes.
And add to that, the attacking strength on our bench, and we have yet to see much of Lihadji or Ekwah who both look the real deal to me. I will predict now that if we don't go up this season we will next, as long as we keep the owner and management team in place.
Teams will also do their homework especially when coming to the SOL, look at the Reading game. Time wasting, cheating, fouling and getting everyone behind the ball will sometimes be frustrating for our lads. Thankfully we have the players and the manager to grind them down and usually get the result.
I remember adding to a thread on here when Stewart was first injured, and before we got Simms early in the season. I noticed that our play was adapted to not need a target man, and instead, we walked the ball into the box, to great affect. I have naver ever seen a Sunderland outfit with so much skill. Our 'two footed' dribbling skills seems to be dripping from all over our squad, and from all positions. We are watching skills like I grew up with in the 70's.... The likes of - Tony Curry, Rodney Marsh, George Best, Duncan McKenzie, Stan Bowles....et al ! These young kids must be loving this football. Imagine a group of kids wishing to show their skills in front of a huge crowd, week in, week out. And, doing so...VERY WELL. They must be absolutely loving life at the moment....
I remember when we were signing young players. with potential, who stepped out onto the SOL pitch and visibly clucked. That's the difference with the current crop, they're bloody fearless. And players like Roberts are clearly feeding off the crowd ... ... he's prowling around like a black panther.
Aye mate....these kids will want to stay and perform, if allowed to. Imagine the banter in the dressing room just befor kick-off... We have something really special here. The KLD project, the KLD model, the KLD effect.... A new carpet ride?
QPR were like we were 2 years ago. Come out the blocks like a train, all fart and no **** then eventually the better teams takes over. Coming out the blocks like a rocket shows your hand pretty much straight away. Opo manager identifies what needs changing from his team and the rest is normally history. But the way we start, sit back,let the opo think they have us then boom 1 nowt Sunderland. Its clever imo.
Yep....and other teams, and including Sky Football, they know we are attractive to watch. They know our potential.
