We trounced a load of European Giants last summer then went to have an awful start in the league, there's absolutely nothing but fitness and selection issues to take from pre-season. It's nice to see your team play well of course but the players sometimes have specific individual instructions that ends up making the team look completely disjointed. Add to that a lack of fire in the bellies for a match from a player's perspective, you have direct orders not to push too hard and risk injury, it's almost a hall pass to say "**** it, do what you want just don't get injured". It's like letting somebody test drive your Ferrari, you'd never let them slide it round corners at 120mph you let them see it works and that is all.
Uninspiring yet comfortable in the end, been red hot in Toronto, conditioning will still be a big part of the aim. Back home now with the entire squad available for next two. No need to panic, we're simply into the second half of our preseason program.
Pants - Good game, made a couple of very good saves. Matthews - Offered nothing going forward, quiet game but still early days for him. Beadling - Impressed with this lad, plenty of pace and good on the ball. Hopefully push for the first team match squad. Van Aanholt - Looks like he could start the premier league tomorrow, up to speed with his fitness and sharpness, looked good. Cattermole - The longer the game went on, the more he bossed the midfield. Giaccherini - Looked off the pace and out of sorts. Bridcutt - Pure ****, don't rate him one bit. Defoe - Does what he does best, scored goals. Give me a proven scorer like Defoe for free over a 13.5m, 20 year old, unproven kid For the opposition we were playing against, we should have been able to control the game better. Fitness is done now, I expect the match sharpness to be there or just about for the final 2 games against Doncaster and Hannover before the season starts. Hoping Lens is going to provide pace and a creative edge which we missed today. Only Van Aanholt and Johnson (Defoe also of course) gave us an attacking threat in the second half (first half was dull)
That was Pathetic, Devoid of any skill and Embarrassingly inept..... God help us if we start the season like than (And I can't see any chance of not doing just that) We need a full rebuild on the evidence of the last 3 games. Steven F*****G Hawkins has more Mobility than both John All'sh**e and Wes Brown!!!
That's not what I saw tonight. Player for player, they look better than us - off the ball movement (and therefore passing options, ball retention) were vastly better than ours; positioning equal or better than us, passing accuracy better than us usually. And to think they have two U.S. international regulars to add to that, I can't see us as better than them in any single department except maybe Pants. Toronto have traditionally had the same geographical attraction problems as Sunderland has in England. But they've got three or four good players there now, and I doubt if they'll remain as bottom dwellers. Especially as their second string players would leave most of ours for dead.
Dear Sunderland Fans, It was a good 2-1 win; the players gave everything to get a better result than the previous two games. We’ve had a 12-day pre-season camp with two training sessions every day and performances will improve when we don’t train as often. ... We were much improved in the second half from the first. The two goals are important for Jermain [Defoe]. It will be a good boost to his confidence, they were good goals and we’ve still got another two games to go before the season starts so hopefully there’ll be more to come. There won’t be as many training sessions now and the power will come back. That’s why I reiterate that results aren’t important at this stage, it’s important we go back in good shape. The players have two days off now; after that you will see that they feel much better. The new signings weren’t fit to play. They’re still a little bit behind. [Jeremain] Lens is coming on, but [Younes] Kaboul and [Sebastian]Coates need a little longer. Give it a week and that could all change because they will get extra sessions over the weekend. Thanks for your support, Dick Advocaat
That's why I said competitively though, tonight wasn't. Toronto are half way through a season, if our players were half way through a season you would see a totally different game. I do take your point and agree it shouldn't have been that hard tonight and better performances are needed. Dick has touched on that though, so I'm fine as that man knows what he's doing. He has said the next games will be more about performance so lets see how they go
Traditionally? You do know they're less than 10 years old? I watch a lot of MLS, Toronto are having a hit and miss this season imo. they're actually 10th overall, though they do have games in hand. A Poor championship quality being carried by Giovinco and Bradley who are three classes above, players on ridiculous amounts of money. Biggest wage spender in the league and they're miles off in their own league at the moment. True enough about our performance, but then we already know that starting 11 can't play for ****. Good trip for hot weather and opponents in mid season but the visa problem leads me to think is it worth it? Anyway, new signings in for Donny in a week and Dick has the numbers to start playing his way. I'm expecting much more in the next two games, if not I'll be staring to sweat.
I don't think we're any great distance apart here,mate. There are two doubts in my mind though. (1) if our players were half way through last season, would we really see a totally different game? Fitness-wise, we would of course. But was there an improvement in quality then? That's my concern - Toronto licked us in brains tonight, simple basics like running into space, positioning, turning triangles into diamonds so that the pass between two defenders can reach our own player, etc. (2) We agree 100% on Advocaat. But if you put Shakespeare in charge of a herd of sheep, can he teach them to speak lovely English? I don't know if this squad can move on, no matter who you put in charge. If you don't know the basics at 12, what chance have you got of learning them at 27? (Perhaps this is a complaint about British football generally, rather then Sunderland. I don't know). I was very disappointed on a number of counts tonight. They were woeful, and I'm not sure even Dick can correct it. It's too ingrained.
Yes 'traditionally' Funky. It means 'far back in your existence' and, yes, I do know Toronto FC were formed in 2007. And you're quite right in saying their season is "hit and miss" - won 8, drawn 3, lost 7, I believe. When you say "a poor championship quality being carried by Giovinco and Bradley (you missed out Altidore) who are three classes above" I presume you mean Sunderland are a poor Third Division quality being carried by astonishing good end-of-season luck and bugger all else, do you? Because that's the difference in them I saw tonight.
You'll never win as a game is always seen two ways. I used to follow Toronto until they shafted Ryan Nelsen and there're "traditionally ****e" but to their credit they've been 100% better preformed this season. The highlight of our performance for me was the headlock
Ha, ha, yes that was pretty cool. Thing is, I remember Chelsea winning their first ever title in 1955. They'd been around since 1905, never amounted to much, but fifty years later they came good. To write off Toronto for a few bad seasons to start with is silly. Frankly, they looked better than us tonight in just about all aspects of the game except muscle and Larsson's gobbing off to the ref. I can see a possible future for their 2nd string if they stick to their footballing principles. I can't see any future for Sunderland without a wholesale clear out. If you look at the thread about Sunderland training, you'll find miles of iron and hardly any ball. What ball is involved is passing back from three yards with both feet - something that should have been second nature before they were ten. I'm not sure Dick can change this. What is needed is Short and Congerton to sit down and decide to change this club from weight-lifting to football again. Because, frankly, I saw very little idea about football from Sunderland tonight.
Didn't see it but most people know our team isn't good enough so I don't know what people expect really. We need to buy some quality and if not then we struggle again. Hopefully Mr short spends but iam not holding my breath.
ITS PRE SEASON FFS!! Ever since I was a kid pr season has meant nothing! Zilch! It's about getting the players training, getting fitness back and nothing else. It means nothing and I don't care about performances. I remember times when we won every single pre season friendly and got relegated. I remember times when we lost every single pre season friendly and had a good season and I remember 50/50 ones too! Never, in my 34 years watching Sunderland, have I taken any heed in pre season
Aye the MLS needs respect when Bradley wright Philips banging the goals in for fun. That lad couldn't score in the championship for **** sake.
Without out any shadow of doubt, any MLS side over a full season in the Premier League would finish bottom. The fill players are of an incredibly low standard. Fitness and point of preperation is the only reason they are giving English sides games at the minute.
