Only just got back from the game today (live in Devon), but I thought I'd give it a go. Let's see who agrees. Vorm - (7) Hard to give a rating as he didn't have a huge amount to do. Only the one save - distribution was good throughout though, keeping the ball moving and letting us keep a grip on possession throughout. Rangel - (8) Really noticeable when he's not there. Tiendalli hasn't really replicate last year's form and Angel is a huge step up in every way. Always a big threat getting forward - felt it was harsh to take his goal off him. Davies (6) - Taylor (7). Davies was solid but uninspiring - but no doubt a reflection of the poor form all round in the first half. Taylor looked more secure, although not quite as dynamic going forward. Amat (5) - I've seen a few positive comments on the lad in the thread, but he worried me throughout the game. Not really stepping up in the same way as the others in the second half. There were 2 issues with his passing really: he slowed the game down and lost the ball in dangerous areas. I have seen him play very well, but this was a weak game on his part. Some will disagree, but I kept feeling nervously playing over who else could play centre half, and that's nto a good sign. Chico (6) - Chico did some good work (he likes defending that will grab the attention - being the centre half version of a goalkeeper that does a dive for the cameras) but he still has a habit of going gung ho that will only make it dificult for the younger Amat. Britton (8) - Excellent throughout. Once or twice missplaced a pass in the first half (the surest sign that we're not on our game) but showed his pace in mopping up Sunderland's rare forays into attack. Won penalty well (a sniffter of dragging his feet, maybe?) JDG (8) - Rubbish in the first half, I admit to saying that he would be one of the first (along with Routs) that I would take off, but very goo din the second. When he hits his rhythm he can really dictate play, taking excellent set pieces and a wonderful strike from distance. Routs (6) - I was very close to giving him 5. He improved in the second half (from being one of our worst players in the first) but still didn't do a hell of a lot. Dyer (7) - Pleased to see him significantly improving over the last few games. Shows a directness and confidence that some of the other attacking players seem to be lacking. Michu (7) - played well throughout, but still not quite linking with Bony. He had an excellent header saved and, once again, showed his team mentality in passing the penalty to Bony (which was acknowledged in the celebrations). Seriously, I am very impressed by this side of him - whether it was his celebrations with Shelvey against Liverpool or desperation to give Dyer a hattrick at Wembley, his first thought seems to be for his team-mates. Bony (7) - I was tempted with six, but he held th eball up well, took a good penalty and had some moments. He needs a little better service to make the most of him. Possibly a little generous, seeing how dodgy they all were in the first half, but a pleasing second half. Would like to add that I was particularly impressed by Sunderland's keeper - two world class saves from JDG and Michu - he was also the only one that seemed to really feel the defeat - he looked quite dejected walking to their fans at the end. He really didn't deserve that result - the rest of them did and a whole lot more. Can't remember seeing a team quite so lethargic and with such brittle confidence.
So if Vorm is getting sold to Barcelona we are going for Sunderlands keeper. lol Good stuff. Nice to hear from the people who saw the match live. Often very different from watching the game on TV. Can you tell abit more about how JDG played especially how he played as the general on the midfield controlling the pace of the game
JDG was off the pace in the first half - would be a hell of player if he played more on the front foot and more willing to put a challenge in. He didn't feel like enough of a presence in the first half - and I was thinking Shelvey would bring that physicality if he came on. Still, he offered the best chance - a beautiful free kick that, whilst not particularly pacey, dipped and curved incredibly and really looked like it was going to go in. In the second half he started to dictate play well. His passes started being a bit more confident and he felt more involved. Good corners going in the right places (I was shocked by how much joy we got at corners seeing the size of their team - that was one area they should have been all over us with) and suddenly he was willing to take a shot (an excellent goal, placed right in the top corner) where he would have played it away in the first half. If he could do the second half all the time, I guess, he would be with a champion's league team...
Have to say, thought they were grasping at straws with that. The yellow was harsh - had to be for back-chat rather than the foul - and then there were a few niggly challenges. I was starting to worry a little when the little fouls started adding up, but their left-back did far worse when he got booked for hauling back Michu when he turned him and ran in on goal.
A few of the Sunderland fans seem to be backing Cattermole - his brand of caring about the result was snapping at heels and a few kicks but, if they had more of a creative output, he would be an effective shield for the defence if he tackled and played simply. Had a look at their threads - they seem shocked by the team picked and I have to agree: Borini needs to be given a proper chance upfront (I hate this idea of squeezing a striker you don't trust onto the left - for fear of him failing, you make sure he will), Diakite and Colbeck were dropped, Ki was ineligible, and they apparently have some very good kids. If Poyet wanted to see how the older players worked, he should have looked at DVDs. Can't complain, I guess.
Okay. I had an really crappy connection so it was hard to see how he did. Nice to hear he played an outstanding second half. Agree his set pieces were really great today. Did<nt know that Swansea had it in them (to score 2 goals in a match) on corners,
Yes, very good at time-wasting. Even very good at wasting time when they were 4-0 down. (but he did make some decent saves)
Good win for us, almost feel sorry for thier fans thier board is depressing as f*** ! Rather them than us though. We looked better with captain Leon playing
they did the same last week v Man Utd, good first half then folded in the second but not to the same degree.
O'Shea seemed to be telling him to take it easy. He knew they'd lost. Maybe he thought better where we are than 5 or 6-0.
The opinion I have now formed on JDG is quite simple, he,s a world beater when we are on the offensive and on top in a match but when the chips are down he's the first one to go missing, loses most 50/50 tackles. AWOL too often for me.
Leon was my MoM yesterday , yes we played as a unit poor in the first half ,but Leon was the one who even on that performance was head and shoulders above every one else , he kept it simple and kept harrying and one event during the game summed him up , that run down the wing to win the ball against ? and then willing to receive it again after such a gut busting effort showed total commitment .It was a treat to see the ground rise as one to acknowledge his effort .Canas will be a worthy successor but lets enjoy Leon while we can.
