Literally just got in, saw the score of the game but wondering how it actually went. Coaching today started ****ty, ended well but got roasted in the process.
Dominated, loads of shots, should have had at least one penalty, hit the woodwork twice, defensive error led to their goal, Sterling was our best player .. Same old! But we came back from a goal down and the lads showed some fight and character for a change
This ^^ And This ^^ Some good points (raheem, good spirit, decent link up at times, chances), but again highlights our need for some decent finishers. We need someone like Darren Bent - not flashy but reliably finishes 1 out of every 2/3 chances (that's his career average by the way!). We've got to get goals and quickly. Once they start to flow I think we'll get loads, but we need a catalyst...maybe two!
It was the worst 90 minutes of Sunderland's life as we knocked it about midfield. Joe Allen is the New Lucas in that he could only pass sideways and backwards. But the effort of the players, the workrate, the movement off the ball and probably the support of the fans - all the stuff we had in buckets last season - were all praised by BR. Again.
I think it's a bit unfair to claim Allen can only knock it sideways or backwards, at parts of the game he was the only person defending.
IMO, that was Allen's worst performance for us so far (hardly bad since its only about four games!) and he gave the ball away far more than he usually does. Maybe, because of this, he decided to play it safe more as his confidence had taken a bit of a knock? He had been passing all directions prior to the Sunderland game
How was it? Suarez got a goal- showed a little flair at times- but for the most part looked lifeless. His goal came a muck about in the box- nothing spectacular- right place to tamely hit it in. Stirling made the goal. Stirling was good- but I think other teams have cottened on- they certainly paid him respect and marked him well. Borini played centre- and was margainally better... still not good enough for the red shirt though... although to be honest he really looked like the only one trying to score- the others (especially Shelvey) when they had the ball mildly tapped it in the general direction of the goal. Midfield kept possession quite well at times- but really lacked any imagination. Apart from a glaring error from Glen Jo- defence wasn't too bad. Kelly didn't have his best game... he has impressed me otherwise this season and last- but he was slightly off-key. Glen Johnson may have been the reason for our conceeding- but I think he was one of the few players who didn't look completely stagnent. All in all; neither team can be happy- it was a rather amateurish performance from both teams. Doesn't fill me with confidence we are moving in the right direction... at least not any time fast. I thought we looked worse than against City or Arsenal- definately worse than the opener against WBA (at least before the goal). Only reason we didn't get slaughtered is that Sunderland were playing even worse. League 2 would probably be more inspirational to watch than that... I think the team are down in confidence, morale, and maybe even jammy-dodgers to be honest.
