Match Day Thread Sunderland AFC v Norwich City – Saturday 28th October 2023 - KO 15:00

[smithy in nl]

I don't believe it's the whole of the reason but I'd say it's part of it ...

... even some of the English speaking players seem to struggle with basic instructions about positioning, marking and kicking the ball into the net

what do you thinks the reason then mate? I personally think it’s because he’s to stubborn to change tactics! Or players for that matter we’ve got a good big squad and it never changes. Jewi should have been given more of a chance now too he’s never let us down always looks full of energy and gets us up the pitch but not a sniff.

putting rigg on before hemir or rusyn is bang out of order for me like just my opinion.

anyway let’s hope he picks the right team Saturday and gets us back on track sick of moaning about it.

 

[Smug in Boots]

what do you thinks the reason then mate? I personally think it’s because he’s to stubborn to change tactics! Or players for that matter we’ve got a good big squad and it never changes. Jewi should have been given more of a chance now too he’s never let us down always looks full of energy and gets us up the pitch but not a sniff.

putting rigg on before hemir or rusyn is bang out of order for me like just my opinion.

anyway let’s hope he picks the right team Saturday and gets us back on track sick of moaning about it.

I don't think Mowbray has pet players he always picks, don't think he's stubborn and don't think he's 'proving points' to Speakman.

He altered the team and tactics, last season, plenty of times and did well imo.

I think people are now trying to make the suspect fit the crime and look for evidence that suits it while ignoring everything else.

Rigg won't start on Saturday whereas Rusyn might so perhaps that's the reason for Tuesday, as one example.

Bennette, in my opinion, isn't going to be dropped for Clarke in the Championship, or Roberts imo.

We've just had two very awkward away games and now have a home game I'm expecting us to win ...

... if we play badly, or lose, I'll start to think more deeply about the manager and his decisions.

As things stand I'm not too worried in all honesty, especially after the way Mowbray took us to the semi-finals.

 

[LD19SAFC]

2 sides who haven’t been very good in recent weeks. A tight 1-1 draw I think with Mowbray under pressure going into the Swansea game next week…

 

[samwise_new]

cheers again RTB...

Well my posting afore the leicester game did not do any harm as it was followed by a very good performance albeit with sunday league style finishing.

along with most if not all supporters, i love to see clarke and roberts running and jinking around a defence but roberts is lately simply frustrating himself, his team mates and the supporters, clarke does get a little more success atm, i am hoping that TM has done the 'uncle tony' act and had a quiet word with them to look for a striker more often...i am all for them running at the defence i just feel they need to mix it up more and provide chances for burstow/hemir/rusyn to pounce on.

cannot see TM making many changes just yet, although i feel one or two might slip in, simply because if he changes half the team and they get walloped not only will he be under severe scrutiny it could affect these young lads confidence...i also have faith in him anyway.

so, two pre-match waffles from me, the next step is a change of lights..green worked well when we got that 15(?) unbeaten run but that failed against stoke, light blue looks good in the tower but we still lost at leicester and the old red and white was terrible, of course none of this makes any difference in the real world but it makes me happy.

 

[smithy in nl]

I don't think Mowbray has pet players he always picks, don't think he's stubborn and don't think he's 'proving points' to Speakman.

He altered the team and tactics, last season, plenty of times and did well imo.

I think people are now trying to make the suspect fit the crime and look for evidence that suits it while ignoring everything else.

Rigg won't start on Saturday whereas Rusyn might so perhaps that's the reason for Tuesday, as one example.

Bennette, in my opinion, isn't going to be dropped for Clarke in the Championship, or Roberts imo.

We've just had two very awkward away games and now have a home game I'm expecting us to win ...

... if we play badly, or lose, I'll start to think more deeply about the manager and his decisions.

As things stand I'm not too worried in all honesty, especially after the way Mowbray took us to the semi-finals.

id say roberts is a prime example of the pet players tbf,
he’s not contributed a goal or assist all season but plays almost every game. I’m just as positive as you when it comes to Sunderland and I don’t want Tony sacked “yet” but he’s not performing as good as this squad is capable of imo and he’s not doing himself any favors with his selections and subs, has he ever made a sub before 60 mins? He’s gotten it wrong plenty times but will he **** make a change before often it’s too late.

 

[Smug in Boots]

2 sides who haven’t been very good in recent weeks. A tight 1-1 draw I think with Mowbray under pressure going into the Swansea game next week…

It's not quite the same scenario tbh.

We've both lost the last two but they were at at home, we were away including once to the best team in the league.

We've had a 2-0 and a 3-0 in our last five games whereas they've only won one, at home, and recently lost 6-2 at Plymouth.

It's difficult to predict the score, before the teams are known, but we're at home and will go for the win I think we'll get.

 

[Smug in Boots]

id say roberts is a prime example of the pet players tbf,
he’s not contributed a goal or assist all season but plays almost every game. I’m just as positive as you when it comes to Sunderland and I don’t want Tony sacked “yet” but he’s not performing as good as this squad is capable of imo and he’s not doing himself any favors with his selections and subs, has he ever made a sub before 60 mins? He’s gotten it wrong plenty times but will he **** make a change before often it’s too late.

TBH I'd say it's more the team not performing as well as they should.

Neil can't get a shot close to the goal, Bellingham's header at Leicester was frankly pathetic, Ba missed a chance Mowbray would've put away, etc, etc, etc.

Losing to Stoke was ridiculous and that was down to the players ...

... very few managers put subs on before the hour tbh, changing a team that's been trained and given a game plan, doesn't usually work out too well.

 

[Sour Patch]

Norwich are playing very badly at the minute in terms of results and performances and their support seems very downbeat. Hopefully we can get back to form with a win and one of the strikers gets used correctly and get on the scoresheet. Worried about our defensive set pieces especially with Shane Duffy in their team. Going with a 2-2.

 

[Smug in Boots]

Norwich are playing very badly at the minute in terms of results and performances and their support seems very downbeat. Hopefully we can get back to form with a win and one of the strikers gets used correctly and get on the scoresheet.

Worried about our defensive set pieces especially with Shane Duffy in their team. Going with a 2-2.

Is this a season long problem, or just recent ... honest question.

 

[Nacho]

I imagine it'll be the same team that faced Leicester and the subs will be much the same. Mowbray doesn't seem one for rotation or giving outsiders a chance.

 

[Sour Patch]

Is this a season long problem, or just recent ... honest question.

Season long. From our main core of players only Ballard, Ekwah and Jobe are 6ft+ (I think) and only Ballard out of them is reliable in the air. O'Nien marking 6ft6 Vestergaard on Tuesday was not great. Norwich have some tall players and players who have good delivery.

 

[Smug in Boots]

Season long. From our main core of players only Ballard, Ekwah and Jobe are 6ft+ (I think) and only Ballard out of them is reliable in the air. O'Nien marking 6ft6 Vestergaard on Tuesday was not great. Norwich have some tall players and players who have good delivery.

Fair enough, I just can't recall any blatant set piece concedes apart from Stoke and Leicester tbh.

 

[master-simpson]

Luckily for Tony, Norwich appear to be in worse form than us.
A good performance (in part) v Leicester gives me some hope we’ll sneak a win.
But Tony, lose this one and I fear the worst.
I’m no expert but I’ll think we’ll scrape it, with a poor performance.
2-1 HAWAY (all being well of course)

Bart

 

[Sour Patch]

Fair enough, I just can't recall any blatant set piece concedes apart from Stoke and Leicester tbh.

Cardiff. QPR's goal came after we failed to deal with a long throw. Crewe.

 

[Hettonista]

I imagine it'll be the same team that faced Leicester and the subs will be much the same. Mowbray doesn't seem one for rotation or giving outsiders a chance.

Nacho, I'd be happy with the same team, enjoyed the performance from the lads and Norwich aren't Leicester albeit a good side imo. Personally wouldn't like to see a massive change after that performance and I know you haven't said either way whether you would either

 

[dansafcman]

Travelling down to the airport now. Looking forward to the game tomorrow!

Vs Leicester : problem was putting the ball in the back of the net. Even most Leicester fans say we deserved a point, and we were the best team they've played against. Denied an obvious penalty as well

Stoke: more shots, slightly more possession, and had twice the fouls commited against us.

The problem is not tactic or TM, it's finding our scoring boots again. We can do it, we've done it this season, I'm hoping they'll have them on tomorrow

Young team, inexperienced players in some positions, I think everyone at the beginning of the season expected some ups and downs. Our start up to 3 games ago got people expecting more.

Anybody who wants Tony out after a couple of adverse results is daft imo

 

[Essayyeffcee]

With playing with a striker I wonder if it's worth switching Roberts and Clarke now and again to get more service in rather than trying to take on the whole defense on their own. Another great thread again RTB, dunno what we would do without you!

 

[Nordic]

Up north for this one with junior. Weather is fecking awful, hopefully the game ain’t. I trust they have been working on shooting, getting the ball in early and defending set pieces.

Fancy a 3-1 home win, players find their scoring boots again.

 

[clockstander]

Top thread again RTB we should surely win this one, no matter what team TM picks and I expect it will be very similar to the one he sticks to no matter what , We have to get used to his tactics even if we disagree with some of them though. And this language thing is pure bunkum imo. and leads to genuine concern about his motives. Wonder what Gazza's Italian was like.

 

[Smug in Boots]

With playing with a striker I wonder if it's worth switching Roberts and Clarke now and again to get more service in rather than trying to take on the whole defense on their own. Another great thread again RTB, dunno what we would do without you!

Make the most of it mate, he's hinting about making it PPV

And, yes, I agree about playing with a striker ...

... we have to learn to trust the man in the middle and get balls into them quicker.

At the moment it's like they believe they're giving the ball away if they get balls into the box quickly.

Also, the midfield aren't sending balls, from deep, into the channels ...

... they look to the wings almost every time.

It's an easier ball but is starting to look like passing the buck, not the ball.