Firstly a criticism of Poyet, he bottled it for me. He should have kept Johnson on the pitch when he brought Scocco on. When you're desperate for a goal you don't take your top goalscorer and best player off the pitch. Second criticism, why on earth does he pick Larsson? Its like playing with 10 men and I felt sorry for Ki and Bridcutt having to pick up the slack all the time Invisible Seb was on the pitch (he's worse than Whitehead and Whitley). Third criticism, starting Fletcher after that performance against Hull was staggering, he brings nothing to the team whatsoever at the minute. I think he touched the ball twice before his big moment when instead of laying Ki in he selfishly shot when he'd never have scored from that position. Altidore did more in his first five minutes than Fletcher did in his 90 minutes at Hull and his 45 yesterday and that is indisputable whatever your opinion on either . I said in the build up he bottled it against Norwich and can't afford to do the same, he did and it got the same result. Hopefully he learns from this for when the likes of West Ham come and play the same way. Player ratings Mannone 6: Quietest day he'll have at Safc but dealt with what he had to Bardsley 7: Started confidently and always wanted the ball. Got forward well and made some good tackles Oshea 6: Fairly comfortable afternoon and didn't shy away from pushing forward when needed Brown 6: Much of a muchness, should have been booked in the first half for a terrible foul. Very lucky as he was booked late on Alonso 5: Dissapointing going forward but his task was made hard by Borini not staying wide. Bridcutt 7: Was impressed with the lad, made some great interceptions and was composed on the ball Ki 7: Tried his best to drive us forward but his options were limited with Palace sitting deep and a lack of movement from our players Larsson 2: One interception in the first half was his only contribution. A woeful performance that let the whole side down. His usual pointing and hoping someone else does something. Johnson.7: Started well and looked like it was going to be his day, difficult for him against an overly defensive team that doubled up on him Borini 7: Disappointed in him 1st half as he looked reluctant to get at his man. Came to life in the second half and was unlucky not to score twice in the space of 30 seconds. Should have done better when he got to the bi line but put his cross straight at the keeper Fletcher 3: Dreadful, made it hard for the team as he offers nothing in that role. Fluffed his chance to make an impact when he should have laid Ki in instead of going for glory from 25 yards. Subs Altidore 6: Did much more than Fletcher and actually put the defence under some pressure. Dropped in and laid the ball off bringing people into play. Forced a decent save out of the keeper. Gardner 5: His game was ruined by the incompetent referee who yellow carry him within a minute for a nothing foul and his first when some gbh tackles went unpunished. Still did more than Larsson however (not hard I know) Scocco 3: Looks woefully short of fitness/game time. Be hard for him to make an impact this season.
This will turn into another Fletcher v Altodre thread. Altidore was ****e, and folks like myself who have always tried to give Fletcher the benefit of doubt are now realising, that it's not just Altidore, but Fletcher is **** also. As for Larsson, he must have done Maggie Byrne up the hoop and made a video, as he must hold some trump card, the sneaky useless twat.
I thought Larsson did ok for the first 20 minutes or so. Harried and chased and kept the ball. He then reverted to type fir the remainder! Brudcutt did ok but he's very much a "sideways and backwards" player from what I've seen so far. We needed more impetus going forward. I simply don't see how Larsson starts so many games. Colback would surely be a better option in there I don't think.Brown was lucky at all. I think, had he been yellowed fir a cynical (but.not dirty) challenge then he wouldn't have made the challenge second half. The free kick given against him which they.then passed to us was funny as ****!
I can't blame Colback if he walks away in the summer when someone like Larsson is starting ahead of him. Was Giaccherini injured?
Why does he not play a front 3 of Giacc, Borini and AJ ?? I just don't get it, Fletch and Altidore are woeful at the moment and those 3 have scored goals this season. Also why Larsson keeps getting a start is beyond me. I would rather Gardner played personally, again not great passing the ball be he is a threat and can score from distance.
Because during very single game you hear ' Sunderland free kick, here's Larsson, the dead ball specialist'. Dead ball specialist my arse, pointy finger specialist aye.
how seb started a head of colback is beyond me. He's had one maybe 2 good games at CM in his life and his main contribution were his free kick and corner abilities now they are also mostly ****e. Total waste of a shirt i also felt for bridcutt and ki it must be crap playing that sort of shape and one of you be utter dog toffee
Watch it Parkersafc you may get stick because you had a go at poyet. he bottled last week & yesterday in my eyes but lets kiss his ass because he got us to a cup final.
resting six players did nothing to improve the chances of a win yesterday we could be in the semis and no worse off than if we had not(as it turns out by the joy of hindsight)
The main problem for me was the constant deep crosses from Larsson, especially as the game went on they kept coming from deeper and deeper until they were just long balls, He came off around the hour mark and I thought great, maybe we'll stop playing into their hands, but suddenly, everyone was pumping long balls in We all know Jozy can't head, he's only 6,1 and heavy as ****, you'd think they'd know that training with him everyday . Everybody knows the type of CB Pulis plays with will deal with those balls all day long and they did.
Or they don't/can't follow orders, probably due to a lack of technical ability? But else can we do? We don't have right players or balance to play any particular style of play well do we? That's from the efforts of his predecessors isn't it? Any head coach coming in was always going to caught between a rock and a hard place. We all knew this. The time to judge Poyet is how he performs with 'his team'.
This is exactly what I think, it is now or never time is not on our side, we have one striker at the minute and that is Borini, we must tailor the team to suit him. No pun intended
In.my team prediction I said id go Borini through the middle with Giacc and Johnson wide. I can o.ly assume Giacc picked up a late injury?
Fletcher or Altidore why? both players have no finishing touch and very little inventive play they also seem to have very little luck. Play Borini up front supported by AJ and GIac and definately Colback instead of the Swede and move Colback to play right behind Borini
About time we started with - Manonne Bardo, Brown, O'Shea, Alonso Johnson, Colback Ki Giac Borini, Scocco
scocco should be nowhere near a start imo what i have seen of him in a few cameos,chuck whatmore in at least hes fit ,speaks english and is scoring
