Match Day Thread Sunderland AFC v Cardiff City FC– Sunday 24th September 2023 - KO 15:00

Cheers mate.
I watched his press conference on Friday and he looked exhausted from what will have no doubt been a long week.
On to Friday and hopefully a return for Ekwah and three points.

 

Pritchard made some runs in the first half but the ball went sideways instead of into his direction. Looking back we played far too safe at times with too many sideways passes around their box without taking a shot

 

I feel abit sorry for Rigg. After scoring his first league goal he has not played a single minute for the first team.

 

Yeah I don't really feel sorry for him I'm sure he's happy enough but I am surprised he's not played again. I'm sure Mowbray was talking about how could he not play him he's too good, but he seems to be managing it.

 

Hume was poor again today. Not just the mis-placed pass for the corner, but wasteful in possession a few times. Was solid in defence in the main, but he'll come under pressure from Pembele in the coming weeks
Huggins was good, the lad has serious pace but still looks like a lad finding his way back to 1st team football
Neil was outstanding again, the kid has matured so much in the last 12 months and Clarke is playing with the swagger of a man at the top of his game

 

Yeah i know what you mean he's only 16 so im sure hes not overly suprised to not be playing but you could see how much that first goal meant to him.
Im sure he'll be desperate to get back on the pitch again and take over where he left off.

 

Had that conversation during the game. Feels like he's only going to get minutes when we are winning. I can understand that to a point - he's still so young and it's a huge ask for him to turn games for us.
Team needs freshening up for Friday and let's hope he sees some minutes against Sheff Wed

 

Hopefully Ekwah and Dack are back on Friday.
Think Roberts will come back in and I wonder if Hemir gets a start too

 

Aye he will, I wouldn't play him for sentimental reasons but it looks to me like he can do some damage and will be bang up for it as you say.

Was watching him at half time playing long balls to Triantis, he strikes it beautifully lovely technique to watch. Loads of spin on the ball and totally accurate.

 

But then so does Roberts and Clarke (who got to the byline late on and tried to cross it with the outside of his foot). Also, second half Huggins burst to the touchline and put in a great cross with his left foot. I think if he gets the chance to play a few more games then we will see the quality I think he has

 

Hopefully it’s just settling in that’s the issue but I thought today that a proper striker making the right ribs on the right places confidently and we win by 2

 

Clarke also needs to pass to Huggins when he makes a run past him out wide, I don't think he played it to him there once in the first half.

I fancy Huggins could be dangerous on the edge of the box near the byline, especially if someone, probably Rusyn, knows how to make near post runs.

 

What’s a ‘proper striker’?

 

Wrong Vaughan

 

Definitely-if Clarke doesn’t mix it up he becomes easier to play against. Even if he’d just given it to Huggins twice when he made the over lap it would have opened things up more for him later in the game. Sure Mowbray and the coaches will be saying this.

 

Clarke had a good game generally but he did blank Huggins too much. I don't know if he didn't see the overlaps or he did and rejected them but either way they need to work on it.

 

He’s came on when we are losing tho so don’t think that’s the case

 

Poor result against a bang average side. I still think we’re weak as piss. Nowhere near clinical enough.

Must admit - impressed with Huggins. He hasn’t had a bad game for SAFC.

 

I think Adil is gona be huge for us just so ****ing good quick direct passes on point shoots he’s a proper player.

 

Absolute nonsense is watching the same player make mistakes and defending him because he’s a nice lad. If some of the lads were as good as people make out on the boards we wouldn’t have dropped points in half of our games so far this season.