SUNDERLAND reporter Chris Young gives his verdict after the Black Cats missed the chance for a first Premier League victory, following a goalless draw with Swansea. Mannone 6 - Barely anything to do, with Swansea mustering just one shot on target. Back-to-back clean sheets one positive from the last two games though. Jones 7 - Continued where he left off in the Capital One Cup, by shining on his first Premier League start for Sunderland. Always looking to get forwards and offers a better balance to the side. Vergini 7 - Centre-half may be the Argentineâs best position after all. Helped that he wasnât facing an old-fashioned targetman, but distribution and ability to bring the ball out from the back is an asset. OâShea 7 - Proved that he can thrive when regular defensive partner Brown is absent. Marshalled back-line effectively, with Swansea barely getting in-behind. Van Aanholt 6 - Linked up well with Johnson during the first half and kept the dangerous Nathan Dyer under wraps. Cattermole 8 - Continues to be Sunderlandâs stand-out performer. Continually broke up Swanseaâs attempts to move the ball quickly around the penalty area and never let the visitors find any rhythm. Larsson 6 - Pressed Swanseaâs midfield well and provided a delicious cross which Wickham should have converted. Rodwell 5 - Game passed him by. Reaching the stage now where he needs to start putting his stamp on proceedings. (Gomez 6 - Carried the ball forwards into Swansea territory and a couple of nice interchanges with Alvarez.) Johnson 7 - Very good first half when he came as close as anyone to scoring, but faded after the break. (Alvarez 8 - On-loan Inter MIlan midfielder demonstrated why Sunderland have brought him to the Stadium of Light. Lifted the crowd and took the game to Swanseaâs 10 men.) BUCKLEY 8 - Proving to be Sunderlandâs biggest attacking threat at present. Ever-willing to run at opposition full-back and linked up well with Jones. Wickham 6 - Held the ball up well and linked the play, albeit his decision-making still lets him down. But had to get header from eight yards on target. (Fletcher 6 - Chance wasnât as easy as Wickhamâs, but still should have grabbed the winner). SWANSEA: Fabianski 7, Rangel 5, Williams 7, Fernandez 7, Taylor 6, Ki 6, Shelvey 6, Sigurdsson 6 (Richards 6), Dyer 6 (Montero 6), Routledge 6, Gomis 5 (Bony 6). We have launched a FREE football app covering Sunderland AFC, Newcastle United and Hartlepool United. For all the latest news, gossip and match coverage straight to your mobile and tablet, download the Football Echo now from here:
Pretty close to what I saw, I would have had Catts a point over the rest mind. The guy has been immense. Thankfully we haven't had the deluge of we should get rid of him because he got booked. Larsson should be on 5 with Rodwell too.
Not far off that; Larsson does a lot of the messy stuff in the middle of park, so he looks like he has had a poor game. Successive managers have played and praised him so he must have something
Would have Larsson as MOTM as he did all the fetching and carrying while carrying Rodwell, thanks to him Jones and Buckley got a decent service to press forward.
Only seen the highlights but Larsson much more positively involved than Rodwell. I don't know how long it will take for Rodders to get up to speed, but I don't think we can wait much longer. I'd give Rodwell a break and put one of the more creative players in alongside Larsson. Alvarez or Gomez. Strikers are a concern but I reckon they'll start scoring soon once we create more chances. We look way more balanced with proper wing-backs and AJ and Buckley alternating on the flanks. we've got that bit right.
Absolutely - just wish his brain would work a little quicker when he gets the ball and we're moving forward. He dallied so much on Satujrday at times when we looked like we could definitely do with him shifting the ball! Nordic - Rodwell looks off the pace. Needing time but we're running out of it - however, he moved the ball a lot quicker than Larsson did when he got it in midfield. Cattermole (who I have backed for the last 3 years with little support on here) is looking every bit the player I knew he was. So to those of you who slated him in the past - Told you so The lad is going to be player of the season - 10 times the player Shelvey was on Saturday and people were purring over him recently. And every bit as good (better?) than anyone picked for that role for England. His yellow was "one for the team" but compare it to shelvey's high lunging foul and it was nowhere near as bad. The rule of Cattermole strikes again
Got to own up to the Cattermole thing but my has he proved me wrong over the back of last and up to now in this season, seems more mature, more idea of his role etc etc. We do need the needle threader midfielder and up to now Gomez looks the part, was impressed again with Buckley and Alvaraez and Jones 1st up looked really good, we had a couple of heading chances between Connor & Fletch that should at least have tested the keeper, once we get the creating/scoring bit better we'll be doing good, not trying to single 1 guy out but Rodwell is still way off the pace for me
Cattermole has just continued doing what he always has. The difference now is, he isn't being hung out to dry by **** team mates and having to do lastminute tackles when they have let players bypass them. And as has been said sometimes he takes one for the team, his reading of games imho is very good. To my mind he should be captain, as he quite clearly is doing the captains job on the pitch. And no I'm not denying he can still have a rush of blood, but to my mind that shows how much he wants to win.
Currently Larsson is the only player who can cross a decent ball at free kicks or corners...his midfield play is not up to much and he is not a great tackler.....
Not anymore. His deliveries have been s**te for two seasons, Saturday was no different. Notice where he puts his corners, it's a recurring theme. please log in to view this image
Thanks for that Bri, I was avoiding getting into another discussion about what he actually does on the pitch as I know I come across as so anti Larsson. But he does one or two things right in a game, which in some peoples minds makes him worth his place for the other 88 minutes of being inept in a game. Just like Cattermole gets slanged off for a rash tackle and is berated and the people who don't like him ignore the 88 minutes he played well. Oh and for the record when he is on the pitch I'm always hoping Larsson will have a good game.
Mad init, he was once touted as one of the best set play specialist in Europe nevermind England. Now he can barely strike the f**ing ball Nee bother, I'm very much in the same camp as you fella. 5 corners, 4 don't beat the first man and the 5th nearly hits the opposite corner flag. s**te, not good enough to take set pieces unless it's a direct free kick that suits a right footer. He dordles on the ball giving opponents time to reorganize. For all his waiting to make that 'thread the needle' pass on Saturday, he ended up playing it to the flanks anyway, trouble is it didn't stretch the Swansea backline as they had all the time in the world. One forward central pass into the box. It's not like he was trying and failing which wouldn't be so bad, it's that it sizes it up for ten minutes and thinks 'nah'. please log in to view this image I'll give him his due, he works hard, but that's something that can be achieved in any level of football, from international to Sunday league. I'll say it again, I never wanted him to sign a new contract and I don't rate him(I don't hate him either). I know people will say scapegoat but the stats and my eyes back my feelings up.
Bri, I can't see what Larsson brings to the table either, as you say his corners are poor and his direct free kicks are even worse, but successive managers have picked him and praised him so there must be something we are missing. Poyet spoke about bis work rate and doing the 'messy' (not Messi) bits , like breaking play up and harassing the opposition, I will watch him a bit closer on Saturday but I don't think he is worth his place ahead of Gomez
I honestly don't know what Gomez has to do to get a start mate, both our cm's are hardly setting the world on fire and Gomez has looked sharp every time he's played.
