I was worried as soon as my son showed me the team as we were stood behind the goal, with Pritchard starting in midfield. Then when the game started I couldn't understand why we had Amad on the RW and Roberts floating. It also seemed Pritchard was restricted in his pressing because of this, so the total shape seemed wrong. I think this was a contributing factor in the defenders struggling to pass the ball out through the midfield as there didn't seem to be the normal option. Roberts is a winger and should not be played anywhere else. Around the 65 minute mark the 3 French lads were warming up so I hoped at least 2 would be coming on but they all then sat down with the other 3 coming out to warm up. Personally, I would have had Ekwah on from the start and at the very least just after halftime. Also, I would have paired Lihadji with Gelhardt instead of replacing him. Been a fantastic season nevertheless and will have been a great learning curve for everyone and hopefully the recruitment team get the summer right.
how can it be a good season ? first Neil walks out why ? the owners tell him who he can and cannot sign ? then we make the top 6 in January and don't sign a couple of strikers and they are out there, if we were 10-15 points adrift of the play offs i would say o k wait till the summer but we were there but blew that chance, are they penny pinching if so how the hell will we get promoted, get Keane back ? and he played Stewert at Fulham in the cup and should not have and cost us, how many times has this loan striker going back in Jan happened as well, a corner shop (Millwall, Luton, Bournemouth etc) taking on ASDA in my view should not be happening, till we finish 6th in the premier league or win a cup i won't be happy, they need to get the fingers out these owners. and that defence/home form i don't want to talk about that.
You should find another hobby, as you will be unhappy for a long time! Has anyone seen that movie Split? Was it Monty? The change in his posts when we win is ridiculous.
Not enough people bit on his previous post so this is another attempt. Great that we've got this injection of humour
Great posts sir. In our position giving up on the play offs is unbelievable. We go All the way to the end of the season. So what if we are in them with a limited squad. We cross each bridge when we get there. My script would be beating Boro in the final and Gelhardt to score the winner in extra time. Both the club and him have taken so much sh*t it’s amazing on what’s happened this season. Bring on West Brom!!if we don’t get the result there then we go again the following game. Never, never, never give up!! HTL!!!
Exactly, we're not the only team to pull off strange performances ... ... great at Norwich, poor last night. Plenty of shocks still ahead.
Comes down to who can hold their nerve now, Blackburn will bottle it again for me, millwall have shown cracks, Norwich inconsistent as are Watford it’s still anyone’s pessimist in me still thinks we need 7points minimum to sneak in mind
There are loads of 'six-pointers' where one or both teams can drop/gain points ... .... even if we're as bad as some are saying flukes, penalties and referees can all have a dramatic effect. They have all season tbf. Huddersfield were dead, buried and their ashes had been scattered but a few games and they're revived.
That’s true and not to use the ‘typical Sunderland’ phrase but it would be very like us to show up with a patched up squad again and win on Sunday similar to Norwich away
QPR are shockingly bad and were two nil down at West Brom after 15 minutes ... ... but scored two goals, one a total fluke, and had one cleared off the line during injury time. West Brom have just lost their striker and we all know what that means None of us know what will happen otherwise we'd be piling it on at the bookies.
Mowbray has done well but the selection in midfield was really baffling. Agree on the subs too. Really ****.
I'd agree if I didn't think this is an area where we are ok. If Ekwah and Ba were fit they both would have played there comfortably and done a job imo. Only position where we have been left short even without injuries is striker, everywhere else we have been unlucky with injuries.
He was poor with Ba if I remember, I like Neil , but think he needs a defensive type alongside him in a 2, he has far too much to do with the current alternatives favoured by Tony, Michut is the closest to an answer, but if he is unavailsble Ba, Ekwah, Amad, Pritch and Roberts especially, are miles away from being suitable partners . Instead of moving forwards back I would think bringing a defender forward would be a better option and give Dan a chance to exploit what we saw in him earlier on, ie a very fine all rounder.
I agree with what you say Clocky, about moving a defender forward, like Gooch, O9 or Hume if Michut is out. The problem has been that because of persistent injuries or suspensions we are struggling to put a back four out, so would have nobody left. Anderson is probably more untested than Ekwah, so I wouldn't like to rely on him to play 90 minutes just yet.
Good question...who do we think we should release at end of season. I appreciate this season isn't done quite yet but...
True last night was a real test of our resources, due in part to Cirkin's silly suspension , Anderson is probably the best shout at present to release any 1 of the 3 you mention, Zak Johnson is another possible contender, but above all else how we miss the unfortunate Bailey-Wright at present , he was as much as anyone responsible for our dramatic run at the end to last season and could have been again this time around if not for the luck that seems to dog us. Even so all is not lost OaU.
