We needed Isak. Even when he doesn't score they're so terrified of him it allows others to walk the ball in. I can't see us scoring today so just got hope for a mutually beneficial 0-0
Arteta to come out at half time and explain why they are actually 2-0 up. Wilson is a passenger, not just today but in the squad in general. The drop off from Isak to him is astronomical, he has been very good for us over the years but his legs have gone (not even recently) and the effort it takes him to get into positions he used to just glide into are causing him to either not get there or shank it when he does. I'd have prefered we played Osula, he's a bit of an unknown still but fast and I think would have asked more questions of Arsenal. We've been the better side this half but failed to capitalise on it. We'll go into our shell later on in the game I suspect, a draw suits both teams and even if we lose it's vital we don't get thumped as we're currently above Chelsea on a +3 goal difference alone.
You aren’t getting thumped here. I’ve just been saying on the Sunderland board, you are only a few signings away from challenging for the league now because it’s so weak. Chelsea, Arsenal, Spurs and Man Utd will be in no position to challenge for the league next season. City don’t look like turning it around but with King Pep you just never know. Arne was on Klopp momentum but that drifted and Liverpool weren’t as good after the new year. The door is being wide open again for a new team to come in and grab it.
I’d be looking at Delap as an understudy and with more games next season. Isak does another year, leaves for billions and Delap steps up
I'd agree that Isak is off next summer. He'd still have 2 years on his contract and I can see him going to a PSG, Real, Barca or Bayern for £120m+. Couldn't begrudge him that and we're at a stage where it's great to have a possibly world class player but when the back-ups are trash it's not playing the odds.
There we go, I feel like we could have played for another couple of hours and not scored today. Our first team is pretty good but if we're missing players like Hall, Joelinton and Isak we're not at a level to be able to absorb that and still perform. Not clinical enough today.
I reckon you might have stood a chance but unfortunately for you he’s now attracted to the smell of trophy polish
