Ultimately we are all fantastic armchair managers as anything we say before a game either matches the managers idea or we never see what would have happened. And in the post match discussion we have the benefit of hindsight plus the same applies - if we had only done this. We’ve all seen the pundits who make a great living but are are hopeless when it comes to the real deal ( Alan Shearer and Mark Lawrenson by the most hilarious examples ). If TM isn’t playing someone then they’re probably not ready. Players are drilled how to move and act as a team which takes time to learn, even without language barriers. TM has some slack and we should be a stronger, better unit in second half of season after the summer’s recruitment. I’m aware enough to know that I know Jack **** on football tactics and stick to enjoying the game. I just don’t get tearing into TM after two bad results, both to differing extents involving some bad refereeing. If he doesn’t perform after Christmas then he’ll be gone in the summer and we’ll bring in a different coach when we are ready to do so. I don’t expect anything hasty or knee jerk from Sunderland these days. Don’t judge the new lads on early games when bedding in, judge them when the manager says they are ready and uses them. Until then it’s a new country, different league at a different intensity, slightly different tactics and role to play in a different language. So far the recruitment has been spot on, no reason this latest group shouldn’t be as well.
Let’s get rid of KLD and Speakman while we are on with it. Some of this **** getting posted is beyond belief. We stuff Leicester midweek TM manager of the month. I would hate to be in a bunker with some of these posters. One sign of trouble and they’re gone. No trouble and they have your back. Unbelievable Jeff. Remember Stoke last season at Sunderland. Wonder what happened after that?
John Eustace disagrees. haha. Nair, up until the Boro game it was all team Tone, now some people are calling for his head after 2 games. Madness.
Mowbray cannot get manager of the month that will be Carrick and beating Leicester does not mean we are on the up, Soton 5-0 and i thought wow unbeatable then Cardiff and the Boro, then yesterday. losing to Norwich would be the end of his reign i reckon, 4 home defeats out of 7 is unthinkable, not playing Rigg etc. looks like mid table by the time we play them
In the top six. 12 games into the season. Our manager has one game to save his job. ****ing hell. I despair.
It's the same old **** after every defeat. I see the podcast boys going on about o9 not being a centre back etc etc and why we aren't playing a centre back at centre back. Its completely bullshit. He's been playing there for 3 seasons now but still isn't a defender in their wisdom? Clowns
Thats football in a nutshell , it can be argued both ways, you cant tell from watching one game how well or otherwise a player might perform on the day, none of us can including TM. He is doing well however he makes some strange selections at times, and last two games have been poor , as have the referees but we are still in a play-off position and that is way above my expectations. We have lost two close games on the trot mostly to one or two incorrect decisions by the officials more than anything else plus some axe sharpening by sly and untrustworthy opponents, and to be fair, Stoke had a game plan and stuck to it. I will gladly stick to what we have and not wish for change until the season has run its course and we can leave it to Speakman and Co to go from there. We don't want the Short years back at any cost. But that wont stop me getting wound up on here its what forums are all about . OaU with TM.
This or any other board is a tiny and unrepresentative percentage of our support. People like to vent after a win or loss. Fair enough to me, that's what these places are for, but most people just don't use them. Very few would seriously want TM out. Teams lose games, and that's all thats happened. Of the last two, one to a red card, another to missed chances. Almost all the losses we've suffered are down to missed chances, a lack of a natural finisher. We are scoring goals, but need those goals to be on top of what a goalscoring centre forward would get, for us to be top end of the table. It is almost unheard of for a team to be in the top two or three without that, even if those goals might be between two players, on at different times. That's all we lack mind, but, unless Rusyn turns out to be that man, we lack it. That isn't on TM, and any other coach would have the same issue.
If we are still in the top six or close enough ,that will be fine by me, as I think we will get stronger as the season progresses given a fair rub of the green.
It's obvious that TM will again tinker with the starting eleven, he has to imo. My team would be a 4-3-3. The same back four, but with both fullbacks playing in their right positions. In the centre, Pritch, Jobe and Ekwah. I would also like to see Rusyn start up top between Clarke and Roberts. Or if no striker, why not give quick footed Aouchiche a chance up top?
I think the league is much stronger this year, so sixth again would represent a significant improvement despite staying in the same spot.
It would. And it will probably need a few more points than we managed last season. Goals will decide it.
Agree with this. We're a work in progress and most of us know that our form through the season will hit some highs and some lows. The striker situation is difficult in that it's a position where,in spite of the fact we have 4 in the squad,none have experience in this league at the moment,and will need time on the training ground before they're anywhere near ready. To go with that,we've had some bad luck with injuries and suspension,which,thankfully now looks to be improving a bit....with Cirkin,Aji and Pembele to still come in...not forgetting Evans.. On the plus side, Huggins,Ballard,Neil,Ba,Ekwah,Clarke have all improved since last year....O'Nien and Hume are solid performers in the main....Jobe and Adil are quality additions to the squad I hope most of us don't set our sights too high....let's not get too far ahead of ourselves. It's been a decent start,we're in the mix...3 points off 3rd and 3 points off 15th. We're showing lots of exciting promise....but this is a tough Division. My hope is mainly for the home matches. Don't expect us to roll everybody over,scale down our expectations,another season in this league is not a disaster and will not do us any harm in the long run. We aren't yet ready to walk this league. Indeed,think of it as we're underdogs....young lads not quite ready,but soon will be....cheer them to the rafters even if it's going against us.Stay till the end. We've come a fair way in a short time.....patience is a virtue lads and lasses.
Not to mention better finishing and more luck? We had 4 or 5 chances we didn't even work the keeper with, hit the post (on another day that goes in, like stokes only shot in the second half did). We were awful, but we were still miles better than them. Not beating someone doesn’t always tell the story.
A,lso wonder, had this bloke come on, if he’d have done as well with us as he has with Nice? “better the devil you know” and “grass not always greener”.
