One of my fav bits of the game was the decision to get Ballard and Triantis on. No messing about, reactive to the game, big call that RLB got right. Burnley pumped balls into the box and I felt calmer knowing that we had Ballard alese triantis Jobe L09 Hume and cirkin fighting for every ball. i think the international break will be really interesting as teams will have plenty of time and videos from the season to see how we setup and how they can negate us. Will be interesting to see what they try and how we evolve/adapt. Curious if we’ll ever see two forwards on the pitch at the same time.
I've just watched the full 90 minutes and paid particular attention to Hume. His intelligence sometimes goes unnoticed but he immediately covers O'Nien if he pushes forward, hangs back if Cirkin overlaps and supports Roberts at every opportunity. He kept leaving O'Nien and Alese to cover while he pushed up and, quite often, moved inside as RLB has obviously instructed him to do. He spent almost as much time in Burnley's half as he did ours ... ... what an absolute steal, he's clearly still developing and learning on the job. He's well on his way to being an old fashioned full back legend like Joe Bolton, Kaye, Dick Malone.
I said that, on the day ... ... no attempt at appearing to be a tactical genius, just bring two defenders on and crowd out their big lads. Football basics ... it doesn't always have to be laptops, tactics boards and 'innovation'.
Completely agree Smug, I read some posts earlier where people were digging his performance out but I don't see that. I see a vital cog in the wheel and without his graft, other areas wouldn't function as they do
I'm pleased the stats that, Robertson posted, back up what I believed ... ... it's easy to get the wrong impression in the heat of the moment. If Hume was unavailable for Portsmouth I think it would diminish the team quite a bit tbh.
I thought they played like we did under mobray near the end! Loads of passing but not hurting anyone and really never hurt us all game was never a doubt we'd get the win imo.
The players have defintely taken to playing like RLB wants them to by the looks of it https://www.sunderlandecho.com/spor...X-txKlrXut3Dsru6gQ_aem_8eoYki1DryZ1hj7fVmtw-Q
I genuinely think he's the first coach we've had in quite a while who has effectively been able to implement a pressing approach that isn't headless chicken. Everything seems completely thought through. Not just what he says but how we play. Every action has a meaning.
Like I've said previously, I've never seen us look so solid when defending in a long time and its not just the back 4 - its the whole team.
It's one of those cases of 'It's so simple, why did no one think of this before'. We're so good at a 'general press' and a targeted press that teams are passing back to the keeper every few minutes. I've seen something happening that I haven't figured out yet and may be imagining it. I thought Patterson and Hume, in particular, were distributing the ball poorly and knocking it long for throws ins to the opposition. I'm now wondering if it's actually a 'rugby union style' kick into touch near the corner flag. It would make a lot of sense, in some situations, as we immediately try to pen the opposition in the corner ... ... I'll need to watch a few more games before I decide, perhaps they're just slicing it
I never actually thought of that! I thought to myself on Saturday that Patterson needs some more kicking the ball lessons!
Just having a coffee break and watching the Burnley match while I do my emails ... ... perhaps I'm overthinking it but why not, it's impossible to cut out and saves all that messing about playing football.
Going to be a pretty tough balancing act this week bringing in the players we need and getting those we don’t out the door all whilst (hopefully) retaining the excellent team spirit that’s there at the minute.
I'm less worried about the 'outgoings' to be honest. None of the players are stinking the place out as the likes of Danny Graham, Grigg and Rodwell did imo. Who knows who'll find a starting place, by accident, and do well.
Aye, I meant players leaving who unbalance the equilibrium (is that the right word?) of the group rather than failing to get out any bad eggs of which, I agree, there are none. Mind this group has already lost a lot of very popular and big characters and the team spirit has remained (even during the second half of last season there wasn’t really any big discontent).
