Total ignorance. Did you actually watch the game? Senegal are dreadful, they got torn apart by Zambia and it should have been 5-0 at half time. Cisse played for 15 minutes, and Ba had next to no service. No matter how good you are, you need quality behind you to be at your maximum, which just goes to prove all the idiots that say we're **** without Demba are wrong. It's been a team effort, not just Demba Ba.
Colo has had to play half fit because he was our only available CB at one time. In the 1-1 vs Man Utd he aparatently had a back spasm and could hardly walk the night before. However, it was just bad tactics that lost us that game. In the other matches where we've conceded a 3 or 4, it's been down to injuries, but against Fulham, fair enough it was a **** penalty decision that gave Fulham their hope back, but the Dempsey hat trick came from this ridiculous high line we some times play. We played the same high line vs Arsenal last year and we conceded 4 in 20 minutes. We played it against Fulham and conceded 5 in 25 minutes. It really baffles me that someone with the intelligence of Pardew, and a bloke that for most games, has really made us solid as a rock at the back and organised us so well, can have these random games where he gets it totally wrong, like against Fulham. Colo is quite quick off the mark and he's quick for a center back, but in a highline he's not going to catch players with pace.
Exactly, which shows how pants Senegal are! How is Demba supposed to score without any service, and when the other team have around 70% of possession? Anyway, I like it when Sunderland fans do this, because it just comes back to bite you on derby days
Yeah, Dempsey had 40 yards behind Colo for the hat-trick goal, so what your saying makes sense. I still think defensively is where you are weakest, Cisse will be a good signing, but wasn't needed IMO. A proper left back, Santon right back (where he earned his Italy & Inter debuts), but if either of Taylor or Colo is off form, you struggle. I know you lads like Williamson, but I don't see anything other than an adequate defender there. Your midfield is unquestionably very good. On Senegal, they SHOULD be a great side, but they lack in midfield, unbelievable group of strikers, and some cracking defenders. Nothing in the middle.
Was that the first time an underdog has ever won a match? The Ivory Coast only managed a narrow 1 - 0 win over Sudan, who are a far worse team than Zambia. Doesn't make Man City or Chelsea ****!
Our defence is actually good, it just sometimes has it's off days. Since Willo came back we've kept 3 clean sheets in 5. Colo is still playing very well, but just not against Fulham. We definitely need more depth in the CB area. Willo is good, but he's not near the defender Saylor is. I reckon we should go for Samba. I have no worries about our defence, other that we lack depth there. Before Saylor got injured I would have said that was our strongest area really.
Jackpot, working the Saturday and put the Sunday off in hope the TV powers that be would rearrange it!
I guess in a way we are agreeing, I think Taylor & Colo compliment each other well, whereas anybody else, the defence is a wee bit more detached. I certainly fancy us to score against you, put it that way, but I won't go any further than that!
Talking about how well a team plays because of team spirit is only relevant if their opponents do not have a similar unity. Sunderland should look at the fixture at SJP as one they'd take a draw from all day long. Newcastle should think the same about the reverse fixture. Only an moron would try to compare morale levels between teams. In terms of playing staff, I speak from recent experience of watching my team play (struggle against) both of your teams... I'm much happier that United are facing Sunderland away on the last day of the season than Pardew's gang away.
Hmmm, I'm not going to say you wont score, but you hardly have great quality up front. Sess will no doubt threaten, but Bendtner, Ji and Whickham, none of them really concern me, but derby day is a day for things to happen, so who knows. Since you seem to like defending and attacking on the break, I personally think 2 goals from us can win it, because if your defence is breached, your plan really goes out the window really.
I can't remember saying that underdogs never win. But anyway, theres this thing called probability, I don't know if you have heard of it.
I won't argue we are lacking punch up top, but Seb and Sess carry a threat. Vaughan & Gardner are very capable fromrange. Whickham will be playing the 2 games between now and the derby, this may help him along a wee bit. We need a ****ing striker though, your absolutely right on that.
It's tough to call, and no doubt this will be a close game. If this weren't a derby I'd predict a win for us all day long, but derby days frighten the **** out of me and always have. Even when we were up top of the league and you were fighting relegation years ago, I was still ****ting myself.
How good the team actually is rarely makes any difference! The season you's went down with 15 points would probably be the worst Sunderland team on record, yet we only edged the home derby and were a goal behind at half time at the SoL! Rewind to last season, Sunderland on a high, good start to the season, Bent scoring goals etc. Newcastle coming to the game off the back of a 0 - 4 trouncing at home to Arsenal...
Destroy us? Well blow me down, could this be the Mags writing us off. Be careful boys, I remember what happened to us last season when we did similar!! Also quite a few sides better than Newcastle have failed to "destroy us" this season. Even under Bruce every defeat was by a single goal. The one thing we seem to have now is competition for places, and a manager who can channel players into using their strengths to benefit the whole team (look at Cattermole who looks a completely different player). O'Neill knows what he is doing and win, lose or draw on Derby day I am confident we will turn up organised, players knowing their jobs, and in a frame of mind that will give us the best possible chance of coming away with 3 points. Bring it on!
When did I say I was writing you off or that we'll destroy you? I said ON PAPER, then I said what's on paper does not matter when it comes to derby day. It's a tough one to call. Learn to read ffs.
You not stick around for the comeback against Arsenal then Dave? Pretty sure that one ended differently...
