Well now they can't pick on Guly all the moaning bastards have decided to pick on Rodriguez so you could join that bandwagon or you could say that Lambert and Schneiderlin both had bad days today and for all their niggly time wasting ways Sunderland's defence played well. Victor was magnificent as was Fonte and Lovren. JWP was my man of the match and Chambers also played well. Shaw didn't have the room he normally gets and was subjected to some pretty stern tackles. Sunderland as a team were as horrible as their manager was as a player. Finally that was the most inept display of refereeing I have seen in my life and the linesmen were crap too.
It was extremely marginal, but the correct call I think. To say "I've seen them given" is an understatement. Can't complain too much I suppose, but it would have made for a very different game. Certainly seems that way.
Fonte, Lallana, Osvaldo is 3. I'm sure there was a 4th but I can't remember it. I think it was one just outside the box on Ramirez I'm probably thinking of unless I remember one. I haven't seen a replay of the offside yet. Looked level to me at the time.
Oh I see. Well either way it wasn't his fault we didn't manage to convert any chances. I didn't think we should have had any penalties, the biggest claim was Lallana just before HT but he handballed it anyway.
The fourth was Ramirez on the edge of the box, which at best could have been a pen, with the defender getting a second yellow. As it was we got nothing.
Wasn't in the box, should certainly have been a foul though and I believe a second yellow for Gardner. Referee bottled it.
Thought Lovren was excellent again, Fonte a little shakey at times in the first half in a ten minute spell when there were a few balls into the box and Altidore was giving him some grief, but overall thought they were an excellent partnership again. JWP really impressed me, not been convinced before now that he carries enough of a threat to play as one of the attacking three behind the striker but not only were his deliveries consistently dangerous I thought he was very good in open play for most of the game, too. Also felt Lallana was really getting into his flow in the second half, was a shame he went off but also thought Gaston really carried the ball well and kept the tempo going when he came on. Jay and Rickie both suffered from a bit of profligate finishing, although it's worth mentioning that Jay finished his seemingly harshly ruled-out goal very well. All in all a game we can feel frustrated we didn't win but a hard-earned point and a game we probably would have lost last year, I'm not licking my wounds too much.
And if I was to name a football person to bring me out of my gloom, Di Canio wouldn't be the first name I'd utter: "...one point away from home against a fantastic side is a good result."
Good game to watch, so much attacking threat with Osvaldo, Rodriguez, Lambert and Ramirez on the pitch. I'm loving Lovren to pieces,so much class and times his tackles extremely well, commands the back four so well too. Osvaldo showed his class as well, strong, hard working, and great touch, but he really does worry me with his temper. Stupid yellow with the kick on Diakite,and then could of been sent off minutes later, but I think he was saved as he'd only been booked minutes earlier. Wanyama looked ok, very strong,loves a tackle, but his first touch isn't great. Very much would have taken 4 points from our first 2 games, great platform to build off of that's for sure!
It's not really that frustrating when you realize this was sort of a transitional game. When Clyne is healthy, he'll play right back and give us a little more going forward. I think Shaw was not quite 100% today. The attacking/lack of goals has already been addressed. This was a game where really we could have used Puncheon. Unfortunately, we no longer have Puncheon so in the future we will have to use Pablo Osvaldo instead. There are worse fates.
Simon Peach's interview with Di Canio reveals what really happened last night at the hotel: http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/news/football-di-canio-clears-scuffle-180602697.html
Our match is game of the day on Sky. Don't mind the highlights, but don't fancy the whole match. will wait till MOTD.
Sorry, who is Ray R? I personally I thought Lallana wasn't that bad today, there was a few nice passes, I think he's been better this game and last week than he was for most of last season. J-Rod's finishing was no worse than Lambert, but I agree with you about Wanyama; he is very solid and dependable, but I think today we could have done with Cork on in his place (or in Morgan's place for that matter, he didn't exactly have one of his better games).
We lacked edge in the first half and Sunderland seemed quite happy to soak up the attacks. It felt like a much different Saints side from the one that finished last season. Rodriquez looked extremely accomplished amd although Saints seemed to play at their best in the second half when Lallana began to get hold of the game by the scruff of the neck, the stand-outs for me were Chamber and Ward-Prowse. I was impressed by Wanyama but would have to say seeing these two, homegrown youngsters perform so well in this squad makes you wonder at the sense of signing expensive players like Osvaldo or Ramirez when se seem capable of producing players of such calibre ourselves. Must admit that I felt we missed Puncheon.
