I noticed this on the highlights. Just look at Clarke’s face. That’s not the face of a lad unhappy he’s having fun playing football with his mates Needs to seriously think about getting a new agent
Trying not to get carried away after that result but my optimism is through the roof. I think the challenge this season is trying to keep the squad happy and settled and making sure everyone gets a chance and minutes on the pitch. Hopefully a good FA cup run to give the fringe players an opportunity to impress. I think squad rotation will be so important this season. Yes by all means give the new lads time to settle but having the opportunity to rest players but being confident to know that their replacement will come in and do the business will be so important. Hopefully squad rotation will also help keep injuries to a minimum this season as well. Onwards and upwards! Can’t wait for the next game!!
Posted by Syd. Off twitter Patterson - Academy Hume - £200k Ballard - £2M O'Nien - ? Cirkin - £1M Neil - Academy Ekwah - Free Ba - £1M Dack - Free Clarke - £750k Jobe -£1.5M Total - £6.5M Today's starting XI for just over half a Ross Stewart. Incredible business by
For the time the lads been here I’d like to think he would sign a pro contract so we get a bit return on the lad needs his mother to have a word in his ear,he looked over the moon after scoring the team celebration was a show of togetherness even the bench were on there feet COME ON
Yep. Clarke has always shown tremendous character. Look back at the play off semi and final. He dragged us into that semi game in the second half. He was fantastic, running constantly with the ball and causing mayhem. Then he makes the winner. MoM. Then, he doesn't make the side for the final! Many or most loanees would get the gull sulk on, but he just came on as a sub, did his thing, got us up the pitch, nearly scored and was a full participant. It was a great sign of character. He's never looked back. If we can't get up we'll most likely lose him, but it will take a big offer, and it looks like it will be when it suits us. IF we can't get up!
Tell you what as well, the results yesterday have mainly covered the slow start. A win at QPR is more than plausible, even if they look a bit better than folk thought.
Haven’t read through this for a few pages so not sure if already mentioned but we’ve jumped up to 6th favs for the league after yesterdays result. Iirc we were about 13th, below the likes of Boro, Coventry, WBA etc.
Just getting around to watching the game now. As much as they could’ve got a penalty, the Southampton player initiated the contact and had no interest in the ball. Ba went down too easily, as did their player, yet Ba got a yellow *tiny little push by manning). Clarke makes the most of a foul on the edge of their box, and Goodman (I think) says no foul, pretty similar to the Penalty he saud was a stonewall!
Wonder if all at the club fully realise what a result like this does for the community of Sunderland and beyond. Winning on a weekend changes the mood in our house and always has, I'm sure that's replicated throughout the area. Results like this, somewhat against the odds if you believe all the Sky hype really are special.
One worry about yesterday was the amount of headers they won in our box, non of which were on target. Once Ballard is bypassed we don't seem to defend these incidents very well. Just an observation.
Definitely. Normally go to into Sunderland for a few before/after the games and I couldn’t yesterday so no idea what it was like but we did for the Rotherham game and it was dead afterwards. Hope we can get that feel good factor back and have the city bouncing after, there’s nothing better than leaving after a win when it’s glorious weather and getting on the drink with a load of your own. I think the sheepfolds development will probably be the place to be after the game in a few years.
Funnily enough our 2 Cb’s were given the lowest 2 ratings for us yesterday. Don’t think they done a lot wrong if I’m honest mind, there was a few sketchy moments from corners but they had nothing to do most of the afternoon because our midfield played so well.