Should have had at least one pen, Gardner should have been sent off, and Rodriguez's goal was good. Yes, the finishing could be a little better but really that was just **** reffing and a bit of bad luck.
Thank fook we got the equaliser. Such a one sided game. Really should have won it, but in the end happy with the point. I think Sunderland defended very well. Altidore is a battering ram up front. Osvaldo showed touches of class, and gave us a peak of his hot hotheadedness. Shame he didn't get a sniff at goal. JWP is going to get better and better. Such a good delivery. I hope Shaw is alright, but at least Clyne is back to cover at LB now.
If he can improve his finishing he will be a really good player. But for now, he should be relegated to the bench.
I've got to dash straight out but can someone go back to start of the thread and dig up the post from the Sunderland supporter who said they'd come and play nice, attractive open football and not do what Fulham did which was sit back and score from a set piece (or something along those lines), and point out the superb irony. Should have won the game but we've now got points from two games that last season we would have lost, and 4 points from 2 is a very good return I feel.
He's great in certain circumstances...breaking in on goal and shooting first time, he's rather terrific. It's the bits where he has a moment to consider matters where it goes wrong.
Good time to be playing Barnsley now. That is the game where we need to fill our boots in front of goal. Play Rodriguez and Osvaldo in that game and kick the seven bells of **** out of them.
Oh and I forgot to say. That's two games now and Lovren has looked really really impressive. Strong and committed in the tackle. Wanyama a beast in CDM too. Morgan overshadowed in both games, needs to work out their relationship in the middle together. I think we are going to get stronger and stronger this season. Edit: How was that a fair score at 1-1, did you not just watch that match Mr. Commentator. Yes Sunderland defended very well, and pressed us well particularly in the first half. But it was one of the most one sided games I've seen.
It's kind of a shame. Jay Rodriguez's finish on the "offside" goal was fantastic, but it'll be the ones he missed that people will remember.
Not surprised Sunderland played the way they did after getting that early goal, would have been stupid not to. How we didn't take more of those chances I don't know. Our attacking play was exhilarating to watch in the second half, reminded me of when we used to steamroller teams in the championship occasionally, but as so often our finishing let us down, and you have to give credit to their centre-backs who did really well to limit our chances. Those of you having a go at Rodriguez (who finished very well for his disallowed goal, remember) should maybe pay closer attention to who was missing all those chances because Lambert could have had a hat-trick today. Fair to say it wasn't his best game. Ramirez looked good when he came on, was pulling the strings well and how that wasn't a second yellow for Gardner, let a lone a foul, only Lee Mason knows. Maybe Ramirez should have come on for Rodriguez rather than Lallana though, who after another mediocre first half really looked quite good at the start of the second. Osvaldo looks to have a bit of class about him, some nice touches and was unlucky with his big chance to be climbed on by O'Shea, though to be honest he looked offside to me anyway. Got a bit of a glimpse at his hot-headedness as well and I'm afraid to say I won't be surprised if he continues his dubious disciplinary record. Bit of a disappointing result but you can't be too upset with a late equaliser, even though we should have done much better before that. Can't help but feel if Rodriguez's goal was allowed to stand that would have been a very different game.
Excellent performance second half, shame the set piece defending let us down, thought we edged the first half and completely dominated the second. Ramirez was excellent when he came on and should have had the second free kick against Gardner, Lallana had an excellent second half, and I personally would have taken Rodriguez off for Ramirez, but perhaps he was tired. Chambers looked a lot more confident second half. Ward-Prowse definite man of the match, most of his set piece deliveries were absolute beauties and looked very comfortable both on the right and in the centre - he's claimed a place in the first XI for the next few games in my eyes.
Wouldn't start him against Barnsley...would hate for him to get the three-gamer while playing in a less meaningful competition.
Well the ref was ****, Gardner and Osvaldo both should've been sent off, though I'm not too sure what Osvaldo got booked for. Same old story I'm afraid, can't break down teams who come to defend on a regular basis, and when we do the finishing is not good enough. Still would be hopeful that in another game if Lambert has 3 headers at goal he will score one, and maybe a few of the ricochets in the final third would fall our way. Point not the end of the world, but think we should've got all 3
I believe that he called Mason some very naughty things accompanied by enough hand gesturing to allow it to transcend the language barrier. All deserved, mind.
We've got the same amount of points after two games than after ten games of last season. Improvement.
Not a great performance, our passing was below standard. Bit of a shame that we only looked like a threat in the second half. Ramirez has to start next game we can't afford to dick around in the first half with jwp crossing to lambert being virtually our only threat. We were far too mechanical in the first half. Ramirez doesn't really fit the way we play, nor does osvaldo for the moment but they should play each other into some form soon. I was very impressed with jwp, found lambert nearly every time with his left or right foot, put in 2 brilliant freekicks, roughed up one of their players, put in a few blocks, was generally neat and tidy, and did a few lovely dinks over players, one of which could have easily been a goal. I much prefer to see him playing deeper as I think that suits his short and accurate passing more than playing on the wing where he can put in a cross but is at times a limiting factor in our attacks. Chambers was, aside from their goal, better than last game and showed his talent.
