Love that. It's like the weird savant kid playing chess with all the old veterans in tweed and cable knit jumpers in the park.
Sunderland: Starting XI: Patterson, Pembélé, O'Nien, Alese, Cirkin, Matete, Embleton, Bennette, Clarke, Jobe, Rusyn. Subs: Chibueze, Ekwah, Lavery, Crompton, Bell, Bainbridge, Kelly, Mitchell, Watson, Ogunsuyi, H. Jones, Middlemas, Walsh, J. Jones. Brilliant to see Alese in at centre half, he could be a beast of a player there
I don’t like Jobe in midfield. Everytime he plays there he slows our attacks and transitions down. Much better with Aouchiche in for him
O'Nien looks all over the place here. Matete can't receive the ball on the half turn in midfield either. Not seeing the same fluidity as earlier.
It's against better opposition to be fair significantly better. You can see that they are blokes and more competitive. Shields used a load of their international academy lads.
You see a massive difference when Neil isnt there, he just makes us tick - matete is best if he can just go press