the nicest in the north east, which is exactly what the top team in the north east deserve It's been a funny old season but once again 5under1and are firmly back in Newcastle's shadow.
Firmly back in your shadow level on points despite only 1 win in 11 games? ****ing high rollers you are eh?
5-1, + 1-1, = 6-2. also much better goal difference (counts as extra points at this stage in the season) and a game in hand. Alll this done with a fraction of the budget you had and a poor board. Newcastle > 5under1and
Yet STILL level on points, and while we are bemoaning how **** a season we've had, you lot are clashing knobs with excitement. Brilliant.
haha i love the mackem humour. But seriously you honestly believe 5under1and are top dogs in the north east?
I disagree, Bruce in. Its extremely disappointing that our season has ended this way. Bruce is maybe partly to blame, but Darren Bent has played a big part in our downfall too. Remember we had a full pre season with him and we built a team round him, look at the stats after he left, we have gone into free fall. I think Bruce is actually trying to get us to play football, pass the ball rather than hoof and hope. We have lots of new young players who have not had a full pre season together. What I would like to see is signings made quickly so we can get a team that gels. On the injuries, I think part of the problem is Bruce insists the players give 110%, we as supporters certainly demand that. We have players with loads of pace and in most cases these players are still young and growing. They take their bodies to the limit and beyond for us and thats maybe why we have had the injuries we have had. Bruce needs another couple of years in my book. Were Sunderland at the end of the day and not Real Madrid, were not going to attract a better manager, Bruce has spent a fortune, lets see what he can actually do with a full pre season and fit players. I still think we will possibly finish above Villa and Newcastle in the top half.
Honestly? I think we have technically better players, overall and in theory, whereas you have players who have a lot of heart in the badge, and who turn up and put there balls on the block. We'd give anything for some of that at the minute, we really would. I guess that makes us pretty even, as the table suggests/confirms. That's as good as your getting from me
I'm not so sure. - Krul/Harper - Colo - Enrique - Tiote - Barton - Ben Arfa Are all top class players. I'd take any of them over the players in your team in the same positions. Perhaps you'll agree or disagree with that. We also have: Nolan - 12 goals Jonas - Great player, just a shame about the crossing And then fairly average players in Simpson, Willo and so on. The problem is our mindset half the time. We flop against weaker teams and do better against the bigger teams. I'm not sure if that's because the players still consider Newcastle a huge club and therefore have a bit of an ego, so they underestimate lower table opposition, even though we are just a mid-table side. I think it's that personally. The only big, big problem is our attack force. Sunderland's absolutely pisses all over ours left, right and centre. I'd have Gyan and Welbeck over Ameobi and Lovenkrands any day of the week. As we all know, that's incredibly vital if you actually want to win some games. The team has to score goals. You can sometimes get away with a slightly below par midfield or defence, but if your attack ain't up to scratch you aren't getting anywhere.
I'd prefer a fit, on form Gordon to any of your keepers, but i won't lie, i'd take every one of the others you listed at the minute. I don't rate Nolan, and i haven't rated him for years, it's not a Mag thing, i didn't rate him when he was at Bolton, it honestly staggers me that he has 12 goals, remember, he didn't get that in his last 3-4 seasons in the Prem prior to this one! Enrique, Barton and Ben Arfa? If we had those 3, we would genuinely be in European contention, they are top class, Tiote has been superb, but i'll reserve judgement till season 2. I've been honest in my opinions there, strikes me we both need defenders and forwards above all else! For the record, we don't HAVE a strike force!
As the second half of the season's unwound, injuries aside, I can't help but wonder with a squad loaded with temporary loans how you can really expect performances with heart? I understand footballers should be professionals, but as others have said, it's the toon players who compensate for (perhaps) less technical skill by playing hard for the shirt. I think if Sunderland want a full season of hard work you need more permanent players who aren't just looking to impress Fergie, or get off the Milan bench.
Yeah you might be right about Gordon. I'm excited about Krul though. In the last two games he's been outstanding. Watch him soon if you can. I don't rate Nolan too much either. Scores a lot of goals, but his overall CM play is average. In terms of the overall team quality, he does let us down. I'd prefer a far better CM to take his place, but it would be incredibly difficult to replace his goals and his leadership. Bit stuck really and if there's ever a day when we do replace him, it'll be a tough choice. The thing is, we know Gyan and Welbeck can bang them in. Ameobi and Lovenkrands, on the other hand, have been ****e from day one and will never change. Gyan and Welbeck are just mixed up in a team which is on a very poor run of form. Put them in a different team, or give them a new manager and a bit of a team shake-up, and they'd excel. Welbeck is on loan though and won't be there for much longer, so I'm not sure if he could be counted. Either way, I'd take Gyan over Ameobi, Lover and Ranger, big style. There's Best too, but I'd need to see him for longer than the run of games he had to make a sound judgement.
I'll have a good look at Krul tomorrw, and give you an opinion, i've seen him 5-6 times, he looks canny, but fit snd on form (doesn't happen often sadly), Gordom is superb. If we merged we could fill a 90k ground and have a cracking side, but i'd rather a plague of termite ate my balls, and when i bent over in pain an elephant ****ed me in the arse, ha.
