Match Day Thread Stoke City v Sunderland AFC – Saturday 21st October 2023 - KO 15:00

The storm. Really ?

 

Thats a joke of an interview. The ****ing storm?

 

I know it wasn’t a popular opinion on here but I said at the start of the season anything bar play offs is a backwards step and I think if we did finish mid table they’d give the TM the bullet.

Mid table is a bad season for us. Of course our younger players will be getting better and gaining experience but the teams that have finished above us are also getting better, there’s no way that finishing mid table is us being in a better position than we were this summer. People forget that the rest of the division doesn’t just stand still whilst our players gain experience at this level.

The only solution then would be to sell Clarke/Ballard etc and pump the money back into improving all over the pitch.

 

Very strange of him to mention that imo, we were poor today, so we're the officials and tbh so were Stoke.

 

TM mentions intensity quite a lot in that, I'd say that's one of the biggest issues, we don't seem to be looking to play at pace.

Is that how they are set up or the players? Maybe a bit of both

 

I’ve never called for a managers head as it makes no difference what I say but I’m not happy with how things are going and haven’t been for a little while. If we don’t better last years finish I think he will be gone as that’s the model, constant improvement.

 

FFS He’s blaming Storm Babet!!
Ye couldn’t make it up.
Leicester will smash us midweek. Then he’ll need a win against Norwich, otherwise the vultures will be circling.

Bart

 

I think Nacho mentioned it. You can't go from 0 strikers to 3 strikers and expect any kind of fluidity. Just shows lack of a plan to me, which is poor.

 

wow listening to that he’s blaming the players? Wtf

 

If I had the choice, it would be Clarke for me, Ballard is starting to become irreplaceable

 

I deliberately dont label Neil as a DM. I think he far more than that when he plays in that deeper role. He is the player that sets the tempo for the team, receiving from the back and linking wide players in or forwards. Out of possession he cuts of passing angles. He can tackle and win battles, but he isnt playing a defensive role in my opinion. I have said this before but it is more of a Rodri role he plays for us, and is arguably as important to how we ay as Rodri is to City. If we went for a more defensive minded midfielder I think we would lose loads of control of football matches and our possession stats would drop off. We definitely need someone who can back up / challenge Neil though. I suspect it is a priority and in all likelihood this is perhaps his last season with us as some pretty decent prem clubs are watching closely and I am not sure there is a better player in this league in that position. Could very well be the next Sunderland lad on merseyside.

 

?
All he said was one sentence on training sessions being disrupted because of the storm, 15 seconds (if that) of a 4 minute interview
An honest interview in my opinion and 8-9 players away for Internationals does not help.

 

Well that’s annoying put it right Tuesday

 

I agree mate. We know what happens when we do this. I am surprised we havent seen 3 centre backs and wing backs yet, it would be a good way to compensate for a lack of central midfield stability.

 

Cheers mate. One does try

 

Out of the starting 11, 3 of our players were away on international duty. Every team had to deal with the storm. Every team had to deal with the international break. No excuses at all for that performance today.

 

Mowbray still has a load of credit in the bank with me. I am not the owners though.

He has proven he can get the youngest squad in the league in touch of promotion and playing unreal football. He has moved this club on massively since he took over, at least in playing style and performance levels. Plenty of time left this season to be pushing at the top again. I would also suggest any loan moves in Jan, will be harder to do without Mowbray. Top clubs want coaches like him developing their young talent. I trust the club overall, but would be disappointed if we made any move in the next month or two.

 

I'd still like to see us with 3 in midfield and 3 up front.

Maybe a 3 of Neil, Ekwah and Adil with a front 3 of Clarke, Rusyn and Roberts

A sort of 4141 formation but a bit more fluid and a higher tempo

 

two weeks off and they still cannot cope don't blame keep blaming refs, right the Leicester game off now it will be a hammering, the Norwich game is huge now, we could be mid table by next week this season is getting thrown away. Why is Rigg not starting ?

 

Who would you drop Monty?