Sounds like Rigg was paggered on Saturday and we could do with putting him on the bench tomorrow night imo. Got to remember that he's 17 and not burn him out.
These have the league's best away form iirc, so we've got to be at it the whole game. We've proved time and again we've goals in us especially at home but need to see games out better than we have lately. It's all getting a bit congested at the top so 3 points would be handy, just go for it lads and bring home the points, don't care who scores our three goals HTL.
They’ve only taken 6 points in their last 5 away games. 3 in 4 before the win against hull. Their away wins have been early season when their form was really strong against Pompey Stoke and qpr, then as I said hull recently. Not amazing teams. Drew with Oxford Blackburn Luton and lost to Sheffield Wednesday away. Their away form is good but has been slacking recently. Hopefully that continues and we continue our home form
True but Millwall looked a draining game physically, especially with the weather. Saturday-Tuesday-Friday is a tough ask for seasoned players and Rigg isn't one yet. We'll see anyway.
Modern take on footy isn’t it? I used to drink in Durham Footy club, and players used to come in there when reserves were playing. Said they’d rather play 3 times a week than train! Game has obviously moved on a massive amount since then
HA'WAY THE LADS MACKEMS ATTACKEM Frustrating draws lately but in the grand scheme of things there's been some tough away games. We'd built up a cushion at the top and with suspensions and injuries it could of been a lot worse. We are still up there digging in. Sunny me lucky black cat isn't amused with the draws and said "get the 3 points sewn up early, attack attack attack". (Ps, think he'd stuck his pyatt in a cobweb)
Gotta use the squad for me. XI and subs determined by many factors I feel like, what we have to do against West Brom is control the game more.
I’m judging subs when we have capable players fit I appreciate what you say about control the game more but I don’t want to change the game plan. Jobe is going to help massively with second balls and holding it up. I think our biggest problem last few games has been finishing. We wouldn’t be saying this had we took our chances. Someone is due a tonking soon. I hope it’s tomorrow
In fairness I hate when people say I play 4 times a week and I’m not a pro! aye but you’re also not playing at pro level intensity for 90 minutes 3 times a week
Was really worried how we'd cope without Jobe for his 3 match ban and we managed to remain unbeaten which is credit to this squad, Millwalls late equaliser was a sickener but these lads gave their all. Can't remember a set of lads who fight for the shirt the way these young kids do....there's such a lot to be positive about so far this season.
We have a manager new to the league and a young squad advantage Sunderland because every single game they learn and get better opposed to players or managers set in their ways
Chalk me up as someone who'd like to see the odd sub earlier. I think Rigg in particular would benefit from being asked to give 60-70 mins a week at full blast, but little more. We've got options we can use. RLB will never be a manager who uses all five by the looks of things - and to be fair that would typically mean changing all of our forward thinking players, which goes against his desire for control - but we are going to need to spread those minutes around more, and there have been options available to him.
I don't think theres a great issue in the game if you bring Middlemass or Jones on against Millwall barring fresh legs. Does the result get worse? No, does it get better? Possibly? These aren't kids, whether they're good enough or not, anyone can put a shift in, especially for 10 mins. Sometimes you have to think with Friday in mind, Rigg hasn't be amazing of late, despite him being a brilliant little player, I'd go for Connolly ahead of him if fit. AC is a good option! Jobe is definitely gonna be a difference maker, you're right he'll help the combativeness of the side, I thought Neil was good at the Den too, so if those two can control things it'll be vital. I think the set up doesn't need to change, tweaks are needed. Early in games at home we harass teams well and we are good with second balls, when we go 2 up or let's say 1-0 late on, if we are tiring more needs to be done to retain possession for me. I agree, we are close to putting it all together. Boro have been tonking sides lately, I'd love if we could follow that.
That makes more sense I thought you meant us just control possession in general. Jobe and neil retain the ball well second half usually and I think our problem was asking Rigg to do it against milwall. Rigg has looked worse recently but I think that’s because of the setup. We’ll see true Rigg tomorrow imo. It’s a big ask to throw a young player on against milwall and I really do appreciate your point of fresh legs. Can see both sides of the coin with that one if I’m honest. hopefully when we have a full squad he uses his bench more. If not questions are rightly asked about that. think we really do win tomorrow comfortably interesting about boro, early season they were creating but not scoring. They’ve scored 15 goals in their last 3 games with an xG of 6.45
If Aleksic had tucked that chance away on Saturday....and he should have....75% of the comments here would not have been made. It's clear that whilst we have options on the bench, some of them are just not fully ready. RLB will stick with those he knows are,until the others catch up,which,imo,is why he doesn't sub when we think he should.In addition,he's looking for the players on the pitch to solve the problems they have,which,fatigue apart,they're learning to do. Fatigue,rather than tactics, seems to be uppermost in his mind when making unenforced changes.
