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

I actually think that is quite embarrassing for them to be celebrating a third round victory like they had won the cup final. I have no problem with them clapping and applauding their fans but that was cringeworthy and some of the media reporting it like it was a game changing victory for them FFS.
I have taken a couple of days to let it all sink in and my thoughts on the game are as follows.

• I said earlier that I thought the occasion may affect our young team and to be honest I think it did (Our best players on the day were Pritchard, O'Nien and probably Ballard own goal and penalty aside)
• Tactically especially first half we looked to contain and break but Newcastle were fitter and stronger and we could not break the press.
• I got annoyed early in the match when Hume was up against Dan Burn and scampered past him early doors but we never managed to do it again.
• We only really created 2/3 chances the whole game skimmed the crossbar and keeper made a decent save if your luck is in then 1 of those goes in and puts a bit of pressure on them.
• The first goal was always going to determine the outcome as if we had managed to bloody their nose early then they may well have had a lot less confidence.
• We really created our own problems during the game and handed them 2 goals (Ekwah mistake and penalty) Ballard really not to blame for own goal as he had to get something on the cross which to be honest was a good move by them.

A lot to sum up but these are generally my thoughts on the game. Funnily enough got into a heated discussion with a fellow supporter on Sat before the game because I offered the opinion that as much as I would love to see us win I wanted to beat Ipswich more as I think that is the most important fixture for us, obviously not the biggest fixture.
My last observation was the coverage of the game from Sky and council telly was mad, you would think it was the F A Cup final as they were showing busses leaving Sid James, busses arriving at SOL players/fans getting off busses, interviewing supporters etc it was mad for a third round tie.

 

Woke up this morning and thought, 'That was the derby that never was' as if it was an Agatha Christie mystery ...

... nothing about it felt real, not even the atmosphere in the town before the game.

And I've barely thought about it since, very strange.

 

I thought it was canny in the town, not sure WTF their away support was supposed to be, surprised they wern't choreographed

 

We were worried about the ref . But credit to him , can barely remember a game where ref hasn’t been mentioned afterwards!

 

Have some mates who have tried to throw some digs but honestly I feel a bit sorry for them. None of them can get tickets anymore yet apparently they feel more connected to the club than ever before? It all seems very fake.

 

Town was OK but you used to get off the train and the atmosphere would hit you ...

... I had a good day out though.

 

I actually got pissed off having to wait so long to get served!

 

He was very unusual, seemed reluctant to book anybody

 

Still managed to book four of ours and two of them, however I thought he had a decent game, tried to let the game flow.

 

I cant remember that many bookings, and I didnt have a lot to drink

 

Coz you had good company mate

Bart

 

Before the game, my mate was putting some bets on and asked which of our players were most likely to get booked. I told him O'Nien, Hume and Ballard......and so it came to pass. He didn't share any of the winnings like, the bassa

Pritch got booked for dissent too.

 

Watched the game live over here so here’s my two penny worth. I think the last week has probably been an eye opener for KLD in a good way. It was his experience of a derby and he has witnessed the raw passion that comes it. I would be surprised in future if they got the allocation they got this time plus the carry on with the BCB. Their over the top celebrations coming out the Champions League to playing a Championship team team would have left an impression on him. Even their Saudi state board and their comments will be a big motivating factor for him in the future to get us back in the Premier League and renew the fixtures on a regular basis.
On the playing field I felt that we just played for containment. So the attitude was a bit negative. Attitude reflects leadership (MB) so that was a bit disappointing to me. As stated by one Mr Keane it was madness to play out from the back. We needed the old blood and snots approach. Thought back to the semi final against Arsenal when Horswill humped the ball over the top that lead to Halom’s goal. No pretty but very effective. No subs till 85 mins was one difficult to understand. To me yes after 60 mins we were facing an uphill battle but not to give 30 mins to someone like Rigg, Mayenda and Hemir was a big waste of an opportunity. We needed an inspiration but never really looked for one. All in all a lot for the club as a whole to ponder but if we use what’s happened over this time and learn from it maybe it was worthwhile. Onward and Upwards….HTL!!

 

At the time I thought we were well off the pace and if Jobe had been subbed at half time I wouldnt have been surprised, I think we were outclassed but we hardly laid a glove on them

 

pleased that weekend is over, I'm sure it was a great distraction for the mags fans from their nightmare run in the PL, but i'm sure they'll be put back in their box very shortly by man city etc. meanwhile we can get on with the job of finishing in a playoff position. onwards and upwards.

 

Uncles a mag but lives in Australia asked me the same.. said O’nien and Hume. He put them on with Bruno and Joelinton (went off early)

One thing I’ve read quite a bit of is their fans saying how small our team is after seeing a lot of comments from our fans about how we’ll kick certain players off the park. I’ve said for a while it’s a worry of mine how much we lack physicality mind the premier league is full of teams who have quality players but their squads all look massive compared to ours.

 

I think, when you pay £40-60m for a player you are getting the full package - physical, technical and mental. The likes of Joelinton or Botman are man mountains, but also technically very good. When you pay £100k for a big player he's likely not as good technically or mentally (and vice versa).
I don't want to blow smoke up their arses, but 1-11 they were better than us. They absolutely suffocated us, but when their front 5 cost over £200m then it's to be expected.

 

Definitely, but something our players should be working on otherwise we’ll get tortured in the PL. If you can’t compete technically then you expect to be able to make games a physical battle and if you can’t do that either then it’s game over. Age probably has a lot to do with it mind.

 

Ha ha I have seen the videos of the town at 07:45 in the morning and the queues at Port of Call and Gatsby's, I was in Ttonic and it was bouncing and the atmosphere was very good

 

Aye, everywhere was absolutely heaving!