Match Day Thread Sporting CP v Sunderland AFC - Monday 21st July 2025 - KO 20:00

we were very good first half and probably should have scored twice, we’re undone by sporting only real attack

midfield 3 looked very impressive.

second half with 10 changes was always going to be a drop off but we held our own although sporting were well in control (they only made 2 subs really, a third coming on in injury time second half)

lots of positives but also some realization we need more down the spine of the team, get that and as I said I think we’ll surprise a few people

 

I've noticed a few posters saying "needs a good loan" for several of our players. I didn’t agree, but just ignored their opinions... I'm glad you have raised this point, as I agree our coaching has improved significantly.

RLB said he'd make a call on several players after the Portugal trip. Looking forward to see how this pans out in the next few days.

 

Thats what I told Luke yesterday at the visit to training, he said Jenson Jones is like a whippet!
Was even better tonight against what looked like a much better player.

 

I think it's an old fashioned way of dealing with awkward situations that won't happen at Sunderland so much.

Tough decisions need to be made and, to be honest, a 21 year old isn't a teenager any more.

Our youngsters are developing quicker, with this regime, and Jones is now middle aged

I imagine what Mayenda could learn from Hibs is how he could last more of the season than the manager.

 

It’s not all football, need to grow the person as well as the player. Given that he came into the club with Hemir who by all accounts is bone idle the part of the objective may have been to change his environment. Cannot argue his game time was very disappointing but also hard to argue he hasn’t pushed on since.

 

He played twice and people, on this forum, were saying he should be shot as a mercy killing when he came back after seemingly making no progress at all.

I really don't think he could've been given the secret to football at Hibernian tbh ...

... no offence but I'd rather our coaches were guiding him rather than whichever caretaker manager they had at the time.

He's pushed on because he's a good player imo, not because he couldn't get a game against Raith Rovers.

 

Enjoyed the game tonight. Was a real test against an extremely strong side.

A lot of positives to take. Some of the interplay across the midfield and forward line was superb, really should've taken at least one of the chances created. The press is intense and organised, the recruitment has enabled that bringing in quick players who can cover ground, but are also disciplined enough to not leave gaps. Thought Talbi was a real bright spot, needs patience but I think he's going to be a star. H.Jones did a great job at left back, i'd like to see him go play 30+ games at a decent level and see where we're at next summer, players develop at different ages so no concern about his age. Seelt looks a monster at the back, playing his way into RLBs lineup at the moment. A few of the other young lads in the 2nd half were pretty good, future is bright.

A couple of things I didn't like though but best to happen in pre season. @Smug in Boots asked earlier in the thread if Ballards lack of pace could be a problem here and it pains me to say it but I think yes. He's a great old school defender, when we are going to be defending against crosses all game he'd be the first name on the teamsheet but he gets caught out by channel runners a lot and with the high line we seem to be going with PL attackers will kill him. A lot of it is positioning as well, not just speed. He needs to learn when to drop if there's no pressure on the ball. Thought Dan Neil was poor, think it's going to be hard for him to dislodge the 3 midfielders currently in the lineup but he has to be doing better in these games to force the issue. Really like Neil and feel like I defended him a lot last season when others didn't but I worry about the contract.

Overall, the key takeaways for me are we need a centre back but the midfield and forward line looks good to me.

 

I’m convinced Monty isn’t real

 

Reckon we could still make use of signing a similar calibre player for upfront to the lads we’ve brought in so far

 

Yeah I agree, but i'd be happy to wait for that if it isn't possible right now. Whereas I think we're bordering on desperate for a CB

 

Yeah I think we will manage to get what we need. I love mayenda he had a few missed chances today but I think we could really benefit from a good finisher up there with the amount of crosses coming in from Adingra and Talbi

 

It's possible they were right.

As for Ballard I think he's young enough, and good enough, to make the step up quickly enough ...

... providing he has the right player alongside him.

They can be good cop/bad cop.

 

I was really impressed with Talbi tonight so i've been a bit surprised by what i've read on twitter.

 

I don't think it's necessarily anything to do with who's alongside him, especially when his problems come from balls between himself and the fullback. I wouldn’t be at all surprised if we lineup against West Ham with a new CB partnership, or a new CB partnering Seelt.

 

I only read the first Twitter comment which was 'Aleksic is abysmal' ...

... I stopped reading there.

 

He was the better of the two wingers

 

Far as I know he is adored.

 

That’s definitely the case. Would be worried sick heading into West Ham with Ballard and Seelt

 

https://rokerreport.sbnation.com/20...sporting-lisbon-plenty-of-positives-in-defeat

Blondy Nna Noukeu: 6/10
Got caught in no man’s land for the opener but was comfortable with the ball at his feet and his only real save of note was when he tipped a spinning ball just wide midway through the second half.
Trai Hume: 6/10
Got forward well to combine with Diarra and Talbi, getting in a couple of shots at goal but didn’t look quite at it defensively and gave a bit too much room to his man out wide, with a few unopposed crosses coming in.
Dan Ballard (C): 7/10
Got caught by a clever pass from Sporting that broke the offside trap but otherwise did a great job against the physical Harder.
Jenson Seelt: 8/10
Really looked the part tonight, was very good defensively but notably excellent on the ball. Used his feet well to get out of trouble on one occasion and then played a great long ball for Mayenda to run onto.
Harrison Jones: 8/10
Naturally a number 10 but was up against one of the more dangerous wingers around in Quenda but really put in a shift to keep him out of the game. Was quick to get out to the winger and didn’t allow him the space to cause problems.
Noah Sadiki: 7/10
Seemed to cover every blade of grass and still find room to protect the back four. Not just a runner though, was comfortable on the ball and played a lovely chipped pass to Diarra for his long range effort on goal.
Habib Diarra: 7/10
Like Sadiki was always on the move but played in a more advanced role and that allowed to him get in and around the Sporting box. Had one well struck effort from distance that went comfortably over the bar and another after finding space down the side, forced a near post save but probably should have gone across the box, either with a shot or to play in Mayenda.
Chemsdine Talbi: 6/10
Neat and tidy down the right for a lot of the first half but then burst into life with runs inside later in the half, one got him a left-footed effort on goal that was easily saved, then played a one-two with Hume and put in a nice ball for Mayenda to run on to.
Enzo Le Fee: 7/10
Constantly found a pocket of space to operate in and then had the vision to make something happen, put a chance on a plate for Mayenda that probably should have been buried and played in Diarra for a near post shot.
Simon Adingra: 6/10
Always dangerous when he got his defender isolated, constantly getting him past him with pace and trickery. Created the space to whip a cross in a few times but all were overhit.
Eliezer Mayenda: 7/10
Was a nuisance up top with his closing down and combined really well with his team-mates, had a few chances to score but a few were blocked and easily his best chance went wide from Le Fee’s pull back.

Substitutes
Tom Lavery: 7/10
I was impressed with Lavery at right back, did a really good job defensively and was quick to get forward to provide an option down the right.
Zak Johnson: 7/10
Solid in the centre of defence and reliable, but a bit safe, on the ball.
Nectar Triantis: 7/10
In central defence again rather than midfield like he was during his loan spell at Hibs but did a good job alongside Johnson.
Jenson Jones: 7/10
Had to work really hard against some tricky wingers but did a sterling job, tried to get forward and had one burst inside that troubled Sporting but mostly a good defensive effort.
Dan Neil (C): 6/10
Tidy on the ball and good decision making to not turn into trouble when pressed but a little safe with his passing.
Alan Browne: 7/10
Did a good job alongside Neil to keep Sporting at bay after the break and used a quick bit of skill to get away from his man on occasion, constantly looking to get us up the pitch.
Patrick Roberts: 6/10
Easily stepped away from his man but no real cutting edge and tried one too many turns at one point in the second half which gave the Portuguese champions the chance to break.
Milan Aleksic: 6/10
Was up and down the left flank all half, showing a neat turn of pace but his final ball was lacking.
Timur Tutierov: 6/10
Always a willing runner just off the main striker and did well to create a free kick on the edge of the opposition box early in the half.
Ahmed Abdullahi: 6/10
Didn’t get any chances to work with but worked hard up top on his own.
Matty Young: 6/10
A comfortable display for Young after coming on late.
Trey Ogunsuyi: 6/10
Unfortunately for Trey not much chance to make an impression.

Man of the Match: Jenson Seelt
This was a close call between Seelt and Harrison Jones but it was a very impressive display by Seelt so soon after making his playing return from a long term injury. He was very composed defensively, was classy when he was on the ball and showed he can be a genuine option this season.

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Photo by Gualter Fatia/Getty Images

 

Both better than Mepham imo.