****ing fantastic that lads. The spirit must be immense in that group at the minute 3rd game in a row we've come from behind to win or draw. Now be honest who saw that coming at 3.20 this afternoon?
Agree about the last bit but this performance from Neil hasn’t come out of nowhere. He’s probably been our best player the last 3-4 games. And I don’t think he’s had a below par game in a fair while. We don’t necessarily need Jobe and Rigg to be mom every week. We just need consistent competence. Hopefully finding their way through a bad patch will help them to raise their floor a bit.
Sad to admit but I had a few tears when that third goal went in. These youngans don’t know the word defeat
Not sad at all mate Sunderland is life to most of us I spend my week working and waiting to watch us. Seeing your team do well is the best feeling in the world
Can we all take a deep breath. This is an amazing young team, at least 4 of our own academy players with perhaps more to follow. At 2 down the negative comments is disappointing to read. Trust the lads and give them time, most weeks they get the job done. Dan Neil is our skipper and was outstanding again today. If he has a bad game do not slaughter him. Jobe is a rolls royce who will play at a higher level very soon, lets hope it is with us. The back 5 or 6 are all good players, who will at times will get hurt or suspended so just stay patient if your personal favourite spends time on the bench. Patto has played a lot of football for a young keeper. Personally I think he needs to control his area better under the high ball and improve his kicking. He is not the finished article but most keepers reach their peak at 30. Competition for the jersey will do him no harm. Wide men by nature can be frustrating but they excite us at times also. When Mundle & Watson return, we have good options but If Jack Clarke was an option then go get him for the promotion run in. We have given Isidor a fair run of games and he is Not a 20 goal a season striker. They are not easy to find but I think a striker will determine whether we go up automatically or through the play offs. Jack Clarke would help with goals. RLB has inherited a great young team, that cost little but is now worth close to a £100 million, lets also applaud the financial men behind the scenes. Lets hope our manager is good enough to get the job done as this team and our fanbase(best in country) deserve it.
Hats off to every single one of you in that away end today, doing the hard yard and the long trips they deserve results like that one
He was very good against Bristol C too mind. I think that’s the biggest thing now for Neil is consistency - in my opinion which I know isn’t shared amongst others, him being a 7/10 every week will allow the likes of Rigg and Bellingham to shine. They might have off days but they’ll also have games where their magic wins it for us. I think that’s similar for a lot of 6s though, it’s an under appreciated role that allows others around you to perform.
What an effort. What a win. Any win away is hard. Going behind harder, two a mountain. But they keep playing their game, and after some of the soulless trash we suffered before this regime took over, watching them is a fabulous tonic. Well done everyone of them who bust their guts for each other, and for the boss. We are miles ahead of where I thought we'd be, just miles. Dan Neil man.
Hard to give it against Bellingham with a goal and assist today and Watson was defo against Stoke. But I do recognise that it’s harder for Neil on paper to get MOTM consistently because it generally goes to the players who contribute with goals and assists. Obviously the eye-test we all throw out is a different story and we can appreciate the things that are overlooked in data. I hope this is him turning a corner because I was vocal of his performances earlier in the season but he was learning a new role and had the responsibility of captain bestow on him.
That's why I really want Samed to be a success. It would allow us to push Neil and Jobe that little further up the pitch and rotate Rigg in and out giving players a rest, now and again.
Yep. Dan is learning a very hard job and getting better. He definitely sacrifices himself for others. But it is a rare gem who can play deep like that and move and pass forward like he can.
The comments are sometimes fair. It's how quick, nasty and relentless they are, when we go behind, that looks poor ... ... compared to how slow, meagre and brief the praise is when we come back. Today isn't the first time we've seen 'GAME OVER!!!' posts ... ... and not the first time they've been wrong. Not that it'll stop them repeating it next time
Agree totally. If we have a solid platform (from Neil or even all three midfielders) then we’re only really looking for one standout performance from elsewhere to make a difference in most games.
Aye I agree. I think Samed 6 with Neil and Jobe further ahead would be a really good midfield 3. It’s harsh on Rigg but I think we’d be a better team. Gives him minutes from rotation as you said