Funny how Dodds only gets a mention when we get beat. Cut out the Ogs a and daft penalties and we'll do ok, other teams are only beating us when we give them a hand.OaU
Its a shame that one of our players ( and one of our best players) is getting the s hit thrown at him for his tackle yesterday. The kid is our captain and yes he made a mistake but does he really deserve this. He is great player, yes he cocked up yesterday, but he's young, he will learn. Last week we didn't play well as a team and won, this week we didn't play brilliant...maybe a little better than last week...but lost. We are second in the league with 2 home games coming up. Instead of picking on one player, how about we get behind the entire squad and give this young exciting team all the backing they need.
All 8s don’t have that attacking quality though, you see a fair amount of them who are just workhorses and disrupt in the midfield. That’s where I see Neil’s best position as tbh putting himself about in the middle without the responsibility of having to come deep for the ball and play out under pressure. I see a lot mentioned of O’nien playing out from the back as the reason he’s in the team - he wouldn’t have to if we had a good 6 in there. Rodri, Rice, Kroos etc the best in the business all play between the CB’s at times to pick up the ball deep and play through the press. It really is THE integral midfield role. In front of goal, barring that quality chip last season, he’s not great nor is he in front of the back four. I think the problem we’ve now got is that it looks like we have players who can play the 8 and offer both the work rate Neil does but also the attacking threat while carrying the ball forward that he’s missing.
I think part of the reason why Neil is suffering is that we’re playing without the ball more this season. Also the last couple we’ve been a lot deeper, which hurts him again. I don’t know how much this is the whole plan and how much this is just the plan for now. Personally I’d like us to find more control in games. I don’t think we can challenge at the top end of the table for a whole season with only one string to the bow. Would expect RLB will think the same though. Indeed he’s mentioned control in recent weeks when we’ve given up more of it. Games where we see more of the ball will see Neil in a better light imo.
Plenty vouch for him being a massive lads fan. If he is as negative in real life as he is one here I don't know why he bothers! As soon as we conceded that was it season over! We equalised and were in top after that, and pushing for the win. Without a silly penalty we would ha e got a point at least and been top! He would have been quiet then. But been on at 5 in morning slagging players this morning cause it didn't go our way!
After watching the highlights just now and being able to properly analyse that first goal (by thinking I’m a sky sports pundit pausing the to every frame ) they scored it’s shocking from our point defensively. They had a good angle of when the ball came in from behind the winger. So many players stood ball watching. Cirkin initially follows Bayo into the box and then decides to stay in the LCB position and tells O’nien to cover the left side, he inadvertently ends up marking Bayo when Cirkin drifts off him. Massive mix up from those two. Roberts just strolling nowhere near Chakvedazte who’s waiting for a cut back, Neil is an absolute no mans land between Hume and Roberts marking nobody nor helping Hume. Mundle half arsed walking back into the box and probably the only player who is aware of Ebosele at the back post in acres of space.
I blame the ref… he gave them a penalty which was an obvious dive….. In fron Dan Neil! Mind, I ve seen very few say anything about his “poor season” before yesterday. I think he’s been ok mostly with 2 utterly stupid moments.
I can’t comprehend the abuse I’m seeing for Dan on social media mind. He hasn’t started season well, and probably will benefit from sitting a couple games, but for him to be savaged like he is is a really poor show. You win with unity, not ****ing insults. Call out his poor run constructively by all accounts.
People love to go OTT after a defeat. Unfortunately for Neil it’s another big mistake to add to the list. A couple of games out might do him good but until Samed and Aleksic are up to speed and Browne is back, it’s not going to happen.
Big thanks to @Smug in Boots for sorting the ticket for yesterday and good to see @Whittylad Seems like a few on here had the usual meltdown after a defeat. A lovely sunny day in Watford and a great turn out from the travelling fans. It was certainly a game of two halves, as we sat back and allowed them the freedom to play in their wide men for most of the first half, they dominated possession and caused us a few problems before they eventually took the lead. Having said that we also had our moments, Wilson Isidor with a near post flick early on, then had a few chances after they scored with Rigg, Cirkin, Isidor and Roberts going close. I thought we played really well in the second half and could easily have won the game. I can't remember Watford creating anything in the second half apart from the obvious mistake by Neil. It has great to see Isidor score his first Sunderland goal, and hopefully it's the first of many more. He certainly enjoyed the celebration. Positives: We are still second despite the loss. If we play like we did in that second half we should win the next few games Watson caused a few problems in his cameo role at the end - apart from his first touch. Good to see Patto getting on the end of our last corner, but he could only head it straight at their keeper. Negatives: Sissoko - what an arsehole at the end of the game £5.75 for a flapjack at Clapham Junction station
from the vid linked above 48:08 ball pipped forward and sissoko glides past dan neil its just not his position sorry and moves like that happen repeatedly. He's not a 4 and would be more 8 receiving the ball on the half turn looking to play forward, not sitting deep with the entire game ahead of him. Yes he can shield, move side to side and block passing lanes but the rest of it doesn't cut the mustard as the 4. In regards to an 8, an 8 is more box to box and box rigg and jobe have more tenacity about them so where does he fit, particuarly when browne is fit. He's out of form, contract weighing on his mind and taking on a new position unnecessarily for me, he deserves a spell out of the side but with browne and samed out of the picture for the moment he may be persisted with. It's a long season, he has ability and he can come back from this, I'm not sure where but thats what RLB is paid for. It's not particularly targeting to suggest a player out of form having already been sent off poorly and given away a pen poorly is dropped. We seen Ballard get similar treatment after plymouth, although i also think he wasnt particularly fit.
Plenty say he isn't cause he is a lads fan, but I still think the same. Just cause he is a lads fan doesn't mean he isn't on a wind up! He only posts when we lose, usually drops something that doesn't make sense or is ridiculous then leaves and never replies! Posting about going for Mbappe if we had any ambition was the one for me! No one can post that and not be pulling people's legs man!
