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

How have the defence looked solid? They’ve had barely any defending to do most games yet keep on conceding.

I’ve made my opinion on O’nien at CB known all of last season and so far this, I’m not just pointing the finger now I’m not that fickle If people still think he’s a good defender after watching the Blackburn game then they’re never going to think any different no matter how bad he plays.

 

Ill be of the minority here probably because i was really impressed with Ba and alot of fans had said otherwise but i was disappointed with Pritch.
His overall play was ok, but his final pass was shyte

 

Whatever the result, it's finally enjoyable to watch the lads again instead of dreading having the weekend ruined. Non of us can affect the team choice, so let's sit back and enjoy the ride to the prem

 

Well Mowbray, who spent his career as a defender, rates him along with every other manager he's had ...

... you don't but you appear to be in a minority.

You also said Ba would improve with a run in the side, but he was ineffective against Cardiff despite Clarke being double marked.

If you think O'Nien is such a liability what do you think should happen.

 

The higher ups above Mowbray must rate him as well, they have all their detailed data analysis stuff and clearly they're happy with his performance. After all we let Batth go and now O'Nien's the only senior CB at the club, and captain to boot.

If he was some kind of accident prone buffoon he'd have been shown the door long ago. It's ludicrous really.

 

Must’ve been dreaming about people raving about Ba’s performances since being in the team..? Also said Hume had been massively overrated, look how that’s going people are on his case already after claiming he’d be in the PL within a few seasons

I think we should just play a proper CB at CB.. Square pegs, round holes and all that. Do Liverpool play a CM at CB? Arsenal? City?

 

Watch the first 4 minutes of this and explain his defending?

 

You said he'd improve with a run in the side ...

... he's had a run and was ineffective in the Cardiff game.

That was my point.

So, who should replace O'Nien when he's dropped and what system would we use at the back?

 

As I've said to you before the whole team was at sea in the early part of that game and I don't judge individuals when that happens, certainly not harshly.

Also as I've said before I judge players on seasons not specific moments in one game.

 

If you based players on specifics you'd drop Ba for the tackle he was carded for, not much different to Colback's ...

... personally I'd play Aouchiche on Friday, he'll be a better player long term and probably already is.

 

So we’re just ignoring him blatantly improving in the other 3-4 games because he had one game where he was average like the rest of the team? Clarke was ****e anarl or is he exempt from criticism again?

One of the CB’s that we’ve spent money on..? What’s the point is signing them if we aren’t going to play them over a CM. Triantis is good on the ball, quicker and taller than O’nien, better in the air.. everything you want your CB to be surely?

We’re basically neglecting one of the most important positions in the team because he plays some decent balls out to the wingers occasionally. Sorry like but that’s what you have your midfield should be doing. First and foremost your CB’s need to be able to defend.

It’s not a crisis by any means, we’re more than good enough across the field to be top 6 this season but he’ll continue to cost us points. If we had a proper CB and DM in this team we’d be solid.

 

The first chance - look at how many midfielders go beyond the ball and whem we lose it we are massively vulnerable to the ball over the top because a good defensive line closes the gap between them and the midfield. ONien makes the recovery run and once in the box can only delay, not try to pinch it. He is off balance when the lad turns inside because of just finishing his sprint. It is good play by Blackburn. Imagine if ONien hadnt made that recivery run, it would have been 1 on 1, ONien put the pressure on.

Chance 2 - good movement from the forward to go front then back. ONien buys it. A mistake. Look then at his reaction when he sees what is happening. First reaction to get back in and try and block.

Goal. He is covering 2 positions with Ballard off. The whole team is out of shape. It is a mess.

Our first goal. Started by him winning the ball in the tackle.

I find it odd people still think he is a midfielder. Must have played over 50 games as a centre back and another 50 plus as a full back. He is a defender for me and has been for a couple of seasons at least.

 

Aye I'd play Adil as well, I do rate Ba as a prospect and a decent player already but Adil looks ahead of him in development.

 

Having just watched our 2 young centre backs tonight, I'd say they both aren't ready to be starting for the first team yet.

 

Mate I’m sorry but it’s absolutely mental that you watch that and take from it that “at least he tried to get back.” As opposed to what? Walking off the pitch? He only starts a yard behind him and would a better defender allow a striker to be goal-side of him in that situation playing a high line when he knows he hasn’t got the legs to keep up?

And the other 2 chances he loses his man. Both times it’s the only Blackburn player in the box. Where’s he going? Positional awareness that you can’t just suddenly develop, it’s something you learn and get better with over time.

As I’ve said if people can’t accept he’s at fault in that game then they never will so it’s a pointless discussion.

 

I think Roberts will come back in personally for Ba. Ba has been good since coming in but definitely dropped his level on Sunday. Booking wont have helped him. He is better at Roberts on the defensive side of the game though and can see him being favoured in games when we may have less of the ball.

Adil has shown the talent he has. Be interesting to see if he gets a start or not. Might depend if Dack is fit, or Ekwah. Oddly I wonder if the fact Jobe came off Sunday was because the club think neither of them two will be fit Friday and they need him to go again. He was playing really well I thought.

Personally I still want to see more of Rigg. More so than Adil to be honest at this stage. He seems a player with all the talent, and so far has brought end product as well.

 

I’d like to see him in the 10 role with Neil and Ekwah deeper. I want to see Rusyn anarl. But I also want Rigg to get minutes. How do we get them all in

Discussion aside about O’nien it’s an exciting time for us and even though I sound like a miserable c**t (because I am most of the time) I’m itching to see more of the new lads.

 

You are misrepresenting my post. I never said at least he tried to get back. I analysed the team shape that caused the high line and said he made the recovery run. I never said he shouldnt have tried. I think I could pick out others in the team at fault for that goal too - losing possession how we did is a mistake. I also said he made a mistake later in my post, but you seem to imply I dont accept he is ever at fault. Every single player in the team will be at fault for things in games this season. Strikers will miss sitters, midfielders will lose the ball and the opposition will score. Defenders will miss tackles and lose headers. Keepers will miss a save. It is about how you do in the round, not in isolation, otherwise no player would ever play more than a couple of games before being dropped. I think his overall contribution to our performances, whilst playing as a defender, are postive.

 

But this is my point mate.. we’re playing with a high line and we dominate games so we need our defenders to be switched on and able to play against that quick counter attack. Ballard isn’t fast by any means but he’s the defender we’re building around so we have to accommodate for that surely? If you’re going to play 4 at the back and primarily on the halfway line then one of the CB’s should be quick to deal with those simple balls over the top

 

Probably will be Roberts for Ba yeah, I don't think it'll be long before we see Adil starting though, maybe in the middle rather than out wide. He looked to have a natural understanding with Roberts so let's play both.

Agreed about Rigg I think he should be getting more minutes even just as a sub. I think we were discussing the other day that he'd do well alongside Neil while Ekwah is out.