I think that's what we are building towards, in this mini end-of-season period. Getting Le Fee sharper, giving Isidor a breather, etc. Gearing up to have the team firing on all cylinders when other teams may start to flag. It was a frustrating watch in terms of fluid play.
Sheff Utd were terrible last night, as they often are, and the BBC described Burnley as 'dreary' in their bore draw at Derby. Luton were routinely regularly lauded as 'effective' last season. Yet somehow they all draw praise while Sunderland are criticised despite three clean sheets and seven points. I said, at the start, I'd settle for the playoffs and hopefully Wembley, win or lose, and we're almost there. We had key players out, last night, but people think we can just play sparkling carefree football ... ... the biggest mistake, last night, was playing a side who desperately wanted to win at home ... sort it out ffs!!!
The biggest mistake last night was the team selection. It was better after the changes and we could have pinched all 3 points late on. More thanks to their finishing than ours tho. it must be said.
Now that we've won the Friendly Cup, does anyone know when we're having the open top bus parade and celebration? Asking for a friend.
What a reaction from the 3-0 defeat at Coventry, RLB has clearly been working on the defence, sure people were moaning about the defensive performance after that game.
We're in a good place...a very good place. Leeds, Burnley and Sheff Utd will have to slug it out over the next 5 games to get the two automatic spots. They can't afford to let up, it will be intense, probably pick up injuries, not to mention the psychological impact on the players. One of them is dropping into the play offs. Beneath us there is a mad scramble to finish in the play offs. Same intensity, no letting up, risk of injuries.... Then there's us. Zero pressure, good time to rest players, rotate squad, bed in returning players, try new ides. Was last night a "live" training session on defending? It worked. We can hit the playoffs in the best nick of all the teams in there. Personally, I think RLB is getting it spot on, managing the situation now, to give us optimum chance in the play offs.
I think we need to brace ourselves for quite some criticism from our own fans in the next few weeks. RLB will be putting in players simply to build up fitness or to try out changes to the play. These games are virtually irrelevant now and just the 'calm' before the start.
On this, one player who’s only had 2 short cameos so far in the league but I’ve been impressed with Harrison Jones, was very mature in everything he did at hillsborough, looks positive on the ball, vocal and took one for the team with his yellow yesterday he could be a big player next year if we are still at this level
oh pitchforks and bedsheets a pleanty will be out. thing is, after last season, none of us saw this season coming. secured POs before the season ended proper, - unlike with TM, it was the last day. last season, less said about that the better, we have improved massively If TM or Beale as here I dont think we would have drawn that, top two close, but silly mistakes have costs us, and we have only lost one game by more than 1 goal. we have been close in each game, just silly mistakes, from a young side. final 5 games. 3 at home, make is fortress, bring the noise, roar them on.
It's a shame when lads like this are virtually ignored because people have 'bigger issues' on their mind such as where Aleksic played or when the substitutions were made. He's another great prospect and that was a massive game for him. The lad is playing in the first team just before what could be three massive games, getting on the pitch at Wembley would be incredible for him and his family ... ... and another advert on how good we are as a club.
100% mate so much to be positive about at the minute the odd under par performance shouldn’t cloud that, big game on Saturday in the sun to look forward too, play offs wrapped up, enjoy it lads no nerves needed until the 9th may now
I can't wait to see the lads play Saturday, should be a big crowd, chance again for some Fringe players to get minutes, tweaks to the team to get players up to speed / rested. Thought Harrison Jones looked very neat and tidy last night when he came on and certainly not out of place, a big positive there imo. Play offs secured, now let's get ready for them
Yeah the reaction to last night just highlights the reason for my deep frustration with many of our fanbase. The complete lack of thought that leads some to believe that just because We Are Sunderland we can overcome the reality that every season a minimum of three clubs have 3x the resources we have frustrates me massively. Any season we get playoffs we’ve done well. History means **** all unfortunately.
I try very hard to ignore commentators, especially co-commentators, but had to mute the knacker on Sky+ last night. I think it was the ex-Wimbledon player, Terry Gibson, who clearly thinks he's a real 'character'. He kept going on about how 'Sunderland were extremely lucky to win at West Brom', were gifted a goal and fortunate not to concede. It seems that Burnley players, blocking shots, is courageous and top class defending ... ... while Sunderland players are lucky and desperate for doing exactly the same thing.
The difference Le Fée makes to the side is crazy. We had ONE shot before he came on, 6 shots after. Rigg (3) and Browne (2) played 5 passes between them into the final third, ELF made 6 in just 21 minutes. 34 touches in that time as well, Rigg and Browne had 51 and 49 in pretty much the full 90. So important if we want to win the playoffs.
The narrative abiut Norwich building towards a promotion that a club of their size deserves had me fizzing too. Had to mute it too.
Gibson was very annoying (as all co-commentators on Sky Sports + are) - but to his credit I did hear him say that Sunderland and Leeds are "by far" the two biggest clubs in the league.
I'm hoping its an advantage. Whoever we play in the play offs will be playing off the back off end of season pressure. For 3rd, 5th & 6th looks like its gonna go down to the wire. Will 'exhaustion' kick in for them? But then again, are those teams gonna be more mentally prepared than us for the play offs? Whilst they continue to be focused on trying to win matches at all costs, could we struggle to get out of the second gear that you may be in for the next five matches?
