I'm not going to have a go at the players as I think they know they were all bad (except hume) sometimes you have days when you're off your game and Plymouth seem to have a voodoo on us. This was all down to le bris, wrong team, wrong formation and wrong subs. We give him the plaudits so we should tell him when he makes the decisions that hold us back.
Just watched his post game there. Talking of ambition. Why is he bringing 2 centre backs on and parking the bus at home to Plymouth ?
Ridiculous subs, bringing Isidor off (our main outlet) for his speed and bringing Ballard on was wasteful. Should've been 442 formation from the start. He needs to be playing his best players in their best positions regardless of who it is. 2 holding midfielders at home against bottom side was not a sign of a ambitious coach
Pack the midfield not the defence and play there, can understand taking off Wilson as he was shattered but putting on a defender? Nah not for me.
Seen quite a few comments on how O'Nien had a shocker, I thought he was fine at the time and watching the highlights back confirms it. If anyone did it was Mepham, horrible touch for the first goal and didn't win the header for the second.
Thought both centre backs had an off day. Infact, I am not sure any single player has a good game. Maybe Hume. In the pub after the game not one of us could name a MoTM.
Mepham did for sure, I'm not sure what O'Nien did wrong of note. Played some quality long balls too especially in the first half. One of the few players who was trying to make something happen throughout the match.
It’s only just dawned on me, after all these years, that some people are angry because they’re personally affronted … … as if the team played badly deliberately, to offend them, and not simply because they played badly. I’m obviously not a psychiatrist but there’s a pattern of people taking personal offence as if they’re the most important part of the equation. It’s pointless trying to encourage them to look on the bright side because black is their favourite colour. Leeds can blow a late 3-1 lead to Hull, Sheff Utd can lose 3-0 at home but Sunderland, despite their ages and inexperience aren’t allowed bad results. The manager and the team are relatively inexperienced at this level and it’s quite possible that sometimes they just get it wrong. That doesn’t mean they’ve done it out of spite.
My thoughts after a good sleep and watching the highlights. Disjointed performance, we struggled to defend crosses especially and that's on everyone not just Patto. Frustrating that we didn't pick up 3 points, but not the end of the world, there's a long way still to go with lots of twists and turns to come. I have no doubt we will bring in some reinforcements hopefully early in the week to allow them to train with the team before Monday.
The one thing I want to take out of this game is that every time we have a setback, we win the next game so on that basis, we win against Boro!
Hope so, bout time we put in a good performance in smog land. The big 3 will be most welcome. Normally would take a point but think it has to be the 3 this time round.
Yes slept on it also and agree very poor performance all over the park. 1st half was played at a pace that suited Plymouth almost like a training exercise. I did warn that you have to focus on these types of games and not take anything for granted. Once ahead I thought we would see it out but disappointing subs for me allowed Plymouth to lump it into the box. 2nd equaliser was woeful defending all over including the 2 players that simply allowed the cross to come in. Far to easy should never have been allowed to get the cross in. Anyway they had a poor day at the office we all do from time to time. Let's get behind them again ready for a visit to boro next Monday where we will put things back on track.
Slept on it and whilst it was poor and an opportunity missed, that’s all it was, one opportunity missed there’s 17 more opportunities to go and we’ve seen anyone can slip up at any time, we’re in touching distance for a reason we’re a good side, bodies coming back soon and still time in the window to strengthen, back the lads and what will be will be, this season so far has exceeded everyone’s expectations, we’ll be fine
I'm not asking for facts, I'm asking you to justify why you think we as Sunderland fans are too arrogant and are expecting a top 2 finish.
...and the other defender came on to replace a defender, so it's not as defensive as that poster is trying to make out
One of the areas of the game we need to address is seeing out a lead. I know that is obvious to say. What I dont really understand is the approach we seem to prefer which is to throw and extra defender on. The further down the football ladder you go that is an acceptable enough tactic. But the higher you go the better tactic is to control possession and double down on that. I was thinking about this while dog walking this morning. We have really young players. So when we counter and young lads go for the goal not the corner I can understand that. Or when we take on a forward pass instead of rotating it back through the back line 1 more time. However, all of our coaches know that possession is king surely? I just wonder why we are not therefore focussing on this? It isnt a big coaching ask to be honest. At the end of the season it is often fine margins that separate teams. I hope we can solve this one as it has the look of a fine margin for us right now.
It's why RLB has done for many games. Brings on Ballard to close the game out. Not sure why we didn't make attacking subs TBH. Wilson of who was isolated all game, replaced by another who was isolated. RLB had a shocker yday, line up, tactical changes and subs. He has done amazing yday but lots of yday was on him.
