Match Day Thread Sunderland AFC v Saudi State FC - FA Cup 3rd Round – Saturday 6th January 2024 - KO 12:45

T Pembele, Silva Semedo, M Burstow, A Ba, A Aouchiche, J Seelt, N Triantis, C Rigg

for those advocating a 3 5 2 formation and a longer passing style of football , who would you have added from here and for you. Keen to hear how you think it would have beaten the side they put out today

 

I think with the busy xmas period he joined the coub he hasnt had a massive amount of time on the training pitch, next few weeks will show how he intends to play

 

Also witnessed first hand their fans actually singing that they are “Saudi boys” all time low that

 

Jobe was miles off - incredibly Beale left him on the whole game.
Trippier had Clarke's number.
Ekwah and Hume struggled.
Felt sorry for Rusyn coz the ref let them drag him over about 3 times and not give a foul.

 

Agreed that takes the sportswash to another level.
Cringeworthy even for nufc fans with a brain.

 

And if Ballard catches it with his foot instead of his shin, it goes to row z and looks a pretty poor ball in (which it was to be fair, hit and hope with no direction). Thats the sum total of their creativity in 90 minutes.

Despite them looking good, Can you remember Patterson making a save of note or them hitting the woodwork? I can’t. They looked like a side full of quality. First time I’ve actually watched Bruno, and he’s a ****ing good player. Hate to say it as I detest the way he goes on, but he’s class. L

 

I nearly got into an altercation about Ba in the east stand…

two gentlemen started booing in the east stand and making comments about ba as soon as he ran on and I turned around told them right off

 

That was disgraceful and obvious too! The one facing the east stand where he literally gets shoved into touch with the ball ffs!

but it was Pawson (last reffed is against Blackburn where neither of their goals should’ve stood and we should’ve had a penalty I believe)

 

He did ok TBF to him. Was very positive.

 

Not as down as some about today. I had hoped we would get after them a bit more, but it didnt take long to see the difference in level. They were so much better, sadly.

The odd time we pressed they popped it straight through us and were onto the midfield. When we played out they were like a rash. No point going long as we have no outball and it just keeps coming back. They did their homework and targeted the full backs and we werent up to that task I am afraid. Our only real joy in possession was via Neil and Pritch. They stood off Neil I thought, a major sign of respect, and he kept playing through the first line, usually to Pritch who finds the space. But then we are crowded out of it. I honestly thought they were worried about those two, but as soon as Clarke, or Jobe, or the full backs got it they went after them. Clarke will have better days and Trippier must be one of the best 1v1 full backs in Europe.

Thought Ballard and Oniem did well. That said, the last goal is on them. ONien slides in and misses and Ballard make a dopey challenge.

Not sure when I look at the bench if I would have done much different to Beale. Maybe Rigg to try and give a spark instead of Jobe. I tend to think at 2-0 we are out of it and Newcastle would have picked us off if we were all out. Their wide men had pace we cant match.

A shame, and a bit of a rough week, but we are on the right track I believe. Maybe KLD sees the gulf between us and the top end prem today and might see the need for a bit of extra help on the pitch. Someone alongside Neil has to be a given.

 

What was everyone’s opinion on their fans? Quietest away support I’ve heard in years at the SoL. Preston’s 17 fans made more noise! Completely silent until they scored

And what tbh absolute **** was that at full time? The photo in front of the fans? Embarrassing!

 

Arse.

 

100% agree with that, was obvious they concentrated on making sure clarke didnt receive the ball with space where beating trippier meant he would have further space down the wing, they restricted our space very well, thought we should have adapted & used rusyns runs into channels a little better although when we dod he was marked tight & wrestled

 

Without doing anything flash Thought Neil played well only one of our midfield that didn’t look out of place in that company. Unfortunately a few prem clubs will be having a good look at his performance today

 

See my post 3 up and have a go

 

Good assessment marra,thought Pritchard was starting to find little pockets in the second half,but I thought Clarke was to blame for the third goal,why did he let the ball bounce!!!!

 

I think so too mate. There are a queue of clubs looking, today was a test passed for me. Hopefully now is not the time, but the summer will be very tough to hang on to him I think.

 

Aye jobe should have been replaced by one of the subs. Not saying owt else really on other substitutions other than ekwah and Hume struggled -you disagree fair enough

 

I agree....its a case of getting this right. Lets compare this to Reidys team, appreciate a different time, we battled but failed to stay up in last season at Roker, moved to SOL, struggled at first but created an unreal attacking young side, went to playoff final & lost a game of football many wont ever experience in their entire life.

We will never know, if we went up that year we may have struggled & came straight back down.....we walked the league the following year, another year in the Championship made us PL ready & we finished 7th in first two seasons

Lets get this right so were ready & enjoy competing & do complete in the PL when the time comes

 

Something to note about Suadi FC today. All this talk of injuries as an excuse for their poor form - as far as I can tell, they picked their 1st choice team today. Was that out or respect for the fixture, or us as a team? As soon as I saw that team I knew we were on a hiding to nothing. £60m Isak v £100k O'Nien (who actually played rather well)