So if we hadn't gotten our captain sent off, and lost two to injury, we would've been the inferior side? I was following the game on BBC live text in a Travelodge room, so I didn't really get a very good feel for the game - the live text geezer and Graham Taylor were just moaning throughout the first half - but I did get the impression that we had a spate of bad luck, and I'm glad to see that was the case. I'd rather lose bemoaning bad luck than lose because we played badly. Onwards and upwards. On the injuries, Jol seems totally adverse to playing Dejagah or Duff on the left, so I think we'll see Hugo come in there, and if Petric is ok he'll come in up top with Berbs behind him. Petric sounded like he had a great game (Taylor was saying "why didn't he start?!", which shows how much he knows about our club) so him coming in isn't a probem, but Hugo on the wing just hasn't worked yet. Agreed Captain's mate Senderos should come in for Brede, hopefully he can do the business. Glad to hear Bandit praise Kara (in a non-gloaty way), so hopefully he'll play the next game. Again though, I think Big Mart will stick with Bairdwell. The red card, having watched the link C58 posted, was probably about right, letter of the law etc. No malice and it was harsh but without the replays it does look very bad and that's all the ref had to go on. And I was going to say Berbs should be captain, nice to see others have thought the same. He seems to be a big personality and has a bit of fire about him, not to mention passion for the team. Who stood in as captain when Brede went?
Quite right too, you're very welcome. I think some of us are just a bit raw and touchy after a disappointing weekend. Best of luck for the rest of the season.
Here is an extract from Petric's comments on the Club site - The phrase "they scored two minutes after my goal", is quite telling - why on earth did he not go down while on the pitch ? It would have probaly taken those crucial two minutes to get the medics on and him off - in which case they would not have scored when they did !! We really need to learn how to play 'the game' - like Rose who went down with a fake bump on the head (and, arguably, helped them get their third goal).
It was indeed our very own moody Bulgarian. Thought he was immense as usual and really led by example. Captain is right about maybe the time off will give Brede time to work on his form, I think it may be the contract situation playing on his mind. Cannot be easy playing for a club that may well either sell you in a months time or realistically keep you until retirement. I read a few posts about the game on other teams boards, which basically described our play when we went down to 10 men as 'suicidal' but I don't think Jol will ever be the type of manager to play for a 0-0 draw against a team like Sunderland, we were on top at the time of the dismissal and even though it may have cost us the game, Jol was absolutely right to go for the win. With Hodgson yesterday we would probably have taken off Ruiz, brought on Senderos and gotten a point, but there have been so many games this season (Everton and Arsenal in particular) where Jol's attacking minded philosophy has paid off.
Bless his heart! Agree with the attacking philosophy sentiment - If we'd won Jol would've been praised as a genius, if we'd lost playing ultra-defensive he'd been called a plum.
I know what you mean, earning 50K p/w must soften the moral dilemma somewhat but we all like security and to know where our next paycheck is coming from. I'm not saying it's the definitive reason as to why his form has dropped, just speculating.
It's a predicament of his own making - we've made him numerous offers, but he's not signed anything, that was all I was saying.
If ever the phrase " it was one of those days " was to be used then this game would have warranted it. I felt we were the more positive team for the first 30 mins, ceating more chances and largely keeping Sunderland at bay. The sending off totally changed the game and came at a terrible time. As has been mentionned above, when a player has 2 feet off the floor he is out of control of his actions. This is what got Brede sent off. What is frustrating is that Brede was using his momentum to get in there before Cattermole. When Rose tackled Reither he too was off the floor with both feet but had then got 1 foot on the floor when the tackle was made. A split second is the difference between the 2 tackles. A yellow would have sufficed for both. The key issue though was the hospital pass that Karagounis played to Brede on the first place. He had plenty of time to control the ball and play a proper pass but messed up. these things happen and I guess on somedays the go in your favour and in others the do not. Look at how many times JOS ankle clipped and slowed the game down with ' professional ' fouls. A yellow card earlier and things would have been evened out. That said though, what impressed me the most was that we did not simply shut up shop but instead went for the jugular and carried on attacking looking for the goals. 2 clear cut chances and we would have drawn the game if not gone on to win. Sidders on another day would have buried that as would Petric. Positives were our attitude and desire to push on in the face of advercity. Berbatov and Ruiz look like they are forming a great partnership. Petric looked excellent when he came on, wish he would start more games. Negatives, Senderos looked very rusty, we conceded from yet another set piece. Credit to sunderland though, they did exactly wjat they needed to against 10 men and in Mignolet they have a world class keeper. One to forget and move on. COYW
Credit to Sunderland, as per Froggie. It's always difficult to play against 10 men. Echoing various comments I think Jol played it exactly right and to our strengths. Clearly we are better going forward then back. It also sends a message of intent to the oppo team. We're not here to bore the world! At the end of the day we only had a point to gain if we'd have shut up shop and if it didn't pay off, as Bidders said, Jol would've looked a 'plum'. However, a bit of gung ho, we've got nothing to lose, faint heart ne'er won fair maiden and all that and we could be talking about what a brilliant game and bagged 3 points. We didn't but my respect levels for MJ has risen to even higher heights! COYW
Here are the video highlights of the game - http://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2012/november/19/sunderland-highlights
The Opta Evaluation confirms what we have all been saying - Fulham were the better team on Sunday ! http://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2012/november/20/opta-evaluation
The footballing authority that is caughtoffside condemns Brede's challenge! http://www.caughtoffside.com/2012/11/19/gif-brede-hangelands-horror-challenge-on-lee-cattermole/
I missed the irony in your comment at first Bidley! Thanks for posting the different view however. For one it was NOT worse than Adebayor's simply because he did not make contact with the player. Secondly, from that view I cannot see how it could be a red card. But of course that wasn't the view Mr Probert had, so we will have to grimace and hope that lady luck is on our side at the weekend.
Exactly what I thought - the replays are very kind indeed. It looks much worse played at a proper speed, which is obviously how the ref saw it, but hey ho, c'est la vie etc.
Here is an interesting Podcast, including some new comments by Jol. Personally, I was pleased to hear the take on that fake bump on the head for Rose and the circumstances around Sunderland's third goal - travesty !! http://www.bbc.co.uk/podcasts/series/iffc
ot was one of those days that you get once a season, more gutted about the injuries and missing brede than the loss, well done sunderland scores 2 good goals, at least we never shut up shot and went for it, i love martin jol
