Buckley has a clumsy touch, no composure, yes he's direct and quick but more is needed. Giaccherini was great today, for someone who's rusty. His timing, vision, composure and passing made us look like a different outfit altogether. The lad just looks a class above the rest. We need young players with these potential attributes, hopefully with a bit of pace, the only thing that lets Giaccherini down imo. Also Giaccherini has to be the blueprint to make our top class academy worth it's while. If our present staff aren't technical enough lets get staff in who are. That second half performance is what I want from my Sunderland team, with an added clinical edge of course.
Whats wrong with Fletcher £12 Mill, Conner £8 Mill, Johnson £10 Mill and Rodwell £10 Mill…who needs an Acadamy with our scouting network !!! Agree with what you say Funk , we need guile and skill in there. But , as some lads have said, 20 points is a bit better than normal. Here's to 2015 and 26 points next Christmas. Remember the REIDY days when we could relax, dream and enjoy the second half of the season.
Agree with everything that's been said - but it isn't that easy any more. The last English boy who understood anything at all about footballing skills was Paul Gascoigne. Seriously, which kid today respects and practises the skills of Wilf Mannion, Len Shackleton, Stanley Matthews, or Tom Finney any more. Skill is 'old fart' stuff. Football is played on the computer, ma-a-n. That's the problem. You've seen it in Scotland, where the brilliance of Billy Steele, Bobby Johnstone, Gordon Smith, or Jimmy Baxter has become forgotten, and it's happening in England nowadays. The big question here is 'how do we defeat the yob culture, where everything beyond two years ago is bullshit'?
Giaccho did a lot of running about but his lay offs were over hit for the area where they were, no good at prising open packed defences. Unfortunate that our finishers could not do anything with half chances.
I agree when Giacc came on yesterday he looked the most likely person to make something happen. I think he has to play on the left in a free role with PVA overlapping. Then we have to decide if were going to play 2 up top and 442 or stick with 1 up top and drop either Fletcher or Wickham. Giacc simply has to play, he looks rusty but he is not going to get match sharp without games. Its a shame the Gomez shot did not go in, a goal up and we would have found some space as they pushed to equalise. The game really needed a goal yesterday.
Agree about the Giaccherini Buckley reference. I agree totally but we have to remember that Bridcutt looked awful until earlier this season. Maybe Buckley will do the same. I hope so! We had a creative player in Alvarez who replaced Wickham and we missed Wickham. Biggest issue I think is that you can't build in January you can only make small improvements. It's a more inflated window!
I like Buckley on the bench, he just needs it drilling into him to be decisive. Half a dozen times, yesterday, he made great space to receive the ball wide but hesitated to rip past the defender. The crowd need to give him the support, and therefore confidence, to take a risk and follow it through. Giaccherini was by far the best player on the pitch yesterday. No surprise he hasn't had to play 3 full games in a week.
We have a **** scouting network that may get lucky once in a while, then we have people who know little about football & take incoming & outgoing transfer business away from the manager/coach, so we end up with players that no-one else wants, we buy high & mainly sell low with the odd exception. I feel that our club is quite poorly run these days & is crying out for someone who knows what they are doing. This season, because of all this we will be in a relegation battle, yet again, and, more than likely relegated.
I agree our scouting network is pants, and our record must be one of the worst for transfer howlers just look at what we have paid for Fletch Whicks Jozy and Danny and estimate what they are worth today, its shocking, but I don't expect us to be relegated this season, I think we will be at least 6 points away from the drop at seasons end, this is progress of a kind, but still too close for comfort.
Using Altidore and Graham isn't a reflection on scouting. It's a reflection on the people in charge at the time. Same with Fletcher and Wickham. You can't blame our current scouts for any if them. Fwiw I think Wickham will fetch far more than his outlay in a couple of seasons. Fletcher I'm not sure as he's fantastic sometimes and average others. But he's only just back to fitness after some heft layoffs. Graham and Altidore simply aren't good enough.
I'm guessing you're a young lad, no offence intended mate, but I'm amazed at you're negativity. We are way ahead of where we were last season. At the very least, we've got 19 games to achieve what we did in 5 or so at the end of last season. I agree we are way behind where we were about 5 years ago, but that's ancient history. We have a new regime and we need to give Gus a chance to fully implement his plans. If it doesn't work then that's the time to criticise. Until then, have some perspective and give the guy time to develop his squad as best he can, as quickly as reasonably possible.
Where is Giacc more suited to play, out wide or in the middle? Seems he is intent on trying to get a place in the middle. EMANUELE GIACCHERINI insists he feels more at home in a central role after returning to the first-team fold. Giacherini has played the final half-hour of each of Sunderland’s last two games as an attacking midfielder after coming off the bench following more than three months on the sidelines with an ankle injury. The Italian international was primarily earmarked to operate in a wide role when he arrived at the Stadium of Light in a £6.5million deal 18 months ago. Gan on Giacc.
So he should. He our only central player who's first instinct is to turn on the ball to face goal and look to move into that pocket behind the striker. Something this system needs desperately.
I'd let him play anywhere he chooses, he has a quick mind and an eye for the opening. Poyet needs to remind the rest of the team that they should be reacting to him not standing watching. Our 'off the ball' work at Villa was pitiful at times
Got no problem with Gus, it's behind the scenes & great lack of correct support I feel is the problem!
I would love to see Fletch given a crack at this role as I have said before, both Giacca and Alvarez can play here too according to reports from Italy so we are not short of options. I have been less than impressed with AJ this season, he was our worst performer against the mags until he won the game for us, what an enigma he is.
