Oh doom and gloom, we lost another pre season game and we're not signing a player a minute. Must be the end of civilization as we know it. All our seasons outcome are decided of the back of this after all.
Good for you. Wrong thread though. This is a thread for a meaningless preseason friendly, not predictions, because you couldn't possibly be using the result of this game to determine our seasons outcome
A third defeat out of five, even if it is only pre-season, inevitably sparks a louder encore of calls for further investment in Sunderland’s playing squad. In fairness, Sunderland’s performance at the Keepmoat Stadium was much brighter than the leggy, jet-lag ridden displays they produced during their three encounters in North America, with a combination of defensive errors and poor finishing proving fatal. But it is impossible to dispute the need for another couple of attack-minded recruits before the transfer window shuts, even if no-one arrives in time for the Premier League opener at Leicester City in less than a fortnight. Much work is clearly still needed. The understandable worry heading into the new season is who will solve Sunderland’s age-old problems in front of goal. At least though, Sunderland appear to have addressed one deficiency which feels like it has been “age-old” – the one about adding some pace in the final third to the Black Cats’ ranks. On the evidence of his Sunderland bow (yes, debuts are always unreliable, to add to the unreliability of pre-season) Jeremain Lens is going to become a real fan favourite on Wearside. Lens was the star of the show in South Yorkshire – quick, strong, capable of beating a man, getting to the by-line, delivering a cross and yes, even boasting an eye for goal. At times during the second half when Lens seemed intent on dragging Sunderland back into the contest by himself, it was no surprise that his team-mates were patting him on the back. The £8million man stole the limelight from fellow new boy Younes Kaboul, who was content to stroll through the second half, as he eases his way back into competitive action. By the time Kaboul entered the fray at the interval though, Sunderland – who had seen Patrick van Aanholt hit his own post in the opening stages – were trailing after falling behind on the quarter-hour mark. Harry Forrester’s looped cross from the right flank found Cedric Evina unmarked at the back stick, who had all the time in the world to cushion a half-volley beyond Costel Pantilimon. Dick Advocaat then tinkered with his 4-2-3-1 system, with Jermain Defoe moving into a more familiar central position, and Lens and Adam Johnson taking the two spots out wide. It sparked an improvement, with Johnson going close to levelling in the 31st minute after he beat the offside trap to Jack Rodwell’s lovely arched ball over the top, to leave himself with a clear run on goal. But after bringing the ball under control, Johnson could only scuff a shot which deflected into the arms of Doncaster keeper Thorsten Stuckmann. Lens continued to be Doncaster’s chief tormentor though; going close seven minutes before the interval when he cut inside off the left, went past two defenders and a hit a low shot from the edge of the box which deflected just beyond the far post. Sunderland went even closer moments later when Lens picked out the run of Fletcher, who just managed to keep it away from Stuckmann despite a heavy first touch with his chest. Fletcher laid it back to Defoe, just inside the area, but his low shot was deflected inches over the top by centre-half Rob Jones. Kaboul was one of four substitutes introduced at the interval, with one of those replacements - Danny Graham - going close to a 57th minute leveller. Lens pressurised Doncaster right-back Luke McCullough into a loose touch and it fell to Graham, just inside the area, who hit a first-time shot that was gathered well low to his left by Stuckmann. But it was the hosts who doubled their advantage just after the hour mark when Jack Rodwell was needlessly sloppy in clearing a low pull-back from the left. Rodwell thrashed the ball into the back of Harry Middleton and it rebounded invitingly into the path of Harry Forrester, who sent a half-volley beyond Pantilimon into the far corner. Johnson forced Stuckmann into a save in response, the Doncaster keeper tipping over a shot after the winger cut inside off the right. Lens then almost produced a stunning individual strike; holding off two Doncaster players 25 yards out before unleashing a right-foot thunderbolt that Stuckmann managed to tip over the bar. He was the undoubted shining light for Sunderland, albeit Emanuele Giaccherini skied a great chance to pull one back late on. But over the next few weeks, Sunderland are going to need some more of that “quality” around Lens, which Advocaat had identified at the end of last season. Doncaster: Stuckmann (Marosi 82), McCullough, Taylor-Sinclair, Butler, Jones, Evina (McKay 86), Wellens (Carberry 86), Coppinger (Mandeville 83), Middleton (Lindley 86), Keegan (Whitehouse 67), Forrester (Pugh 83). Sunderland: Pantilimon, Jones (Matthews 63), O’Shea (Kaboul 46), Coates (Beadling 63), van Aanholt, Cattermole (Larsson 46), Rodwell (Bridcutt 71), Johnson (Buckley 82), Lens (Watmore 82), Defoe (Giaccherini 46), Fletcher (Graham 46). Subs not used: Pickford, Mannone.
What we loving, you may call it pessimistic but we have had two stinking seasons a reasonably fortunate to survive both. We have signed a player we had in the squad, what looks like two back up players and lens, who sounds like he played well tonight. Struggled against Dario, poor showing in America, and beat again tonight. Season starts in 10 days or so you can KTF but unless you know something I don't yeh I'm sorry not to optimistic right now. This is MY opinion
After a decade of misery I think we can all make an exception to all the fans like me who have our worries !
We could be 10 points clear at the top with 3 games to play and there would still be a few of us who would think we'd fucj it up. Nature of being a fan.
Oh my word. Sessegnon with blistering pace. On the left, cutting in, taking it outside and just running away from people. Unreal. When he burst between two, stepped over it and bamboozled another and hit a swerving dipping howitzer at the top corner I thought I was dreaming
O.k., Doncaster probably raised their game a bit tonight But our first home game is against a newly-promoted side. Does anybody imagine Norwich will care less than Doncaster cared tonight? When did you last see a newly-promoted side give less than 150%? I think, by the beginning of September, we're very likely to be staring a very nasty reality in the face. It's all right people saying they don't care about pre-season games. But I DO care about personal standards and performances. And I haven't seen much to make me happy.
He was the bright spark for me tonight, along with Kaboul who looked a class above. Other than that the Balti pie and half the away end chanting d "give us our ball back" were as good as it got. Watmore cameo but he was trying too hard. Lens looks class. Something happened whenever he got the ball. Overall team shape was a little worrying as Lens and PVA spent most of the game hugging the left touch line barely marked crying out to be passed to. Catts - looked like he was nursing a ten pint hangover Pants - looked a bit bemused and flaky, put O'Shea in the **** a few times O'Shea - seems to have lost what little pace he did have Seb - upped the tempo when he came on, looked sharp Graham - better than Fletch.... Decent crowd. Donny were tidy and all looked good on the ball but My Nan would've looked good the amount of time and space we gave them. Rodwell - was he playing....
Thinking about the young`uns How did Beadling do when he came on? Any chance we may have `found one`? Sounds like Watmore was trying over the top for the few minutes he had. Would that be fair?
Just got back in from the game, it was a decent run out but there's no hiding that it's a very poor result against a league one side. Lens looked a million times better than anyone else on the pitch, us trying to play out from defence looks like an accident waiting to happen, midfield drastically improved when Larson came on, Giacherini looked lively, Graham tries his heart out but lacks pace and ability to be a decent forward for us (but was still much better than Fletcher), Mathews looks like a carbon copy of Jones not much to separate the two based on tonight, Watmore lots of effort but no real quality in his short spell at the end can't see him making an impact on the first team any time soon base on that. Verdict, it's only a pre season no need for panic we played some nice stuff and on another night we might of had 2 or 3 their keeper making a couple of decent save and Giach firing over from 10 yards from a cut back, Lens looks absolutely class though!
Beadling looked steady in next to Kaboul. Was pretty much over by the time he came on. He nearly flicked on a corner with some side/back heel action! Hard to tell. Felt sorry for Watmore, he was on in the "Lens" position and was isolated out wide. Won a few corners but also hideously mis controlled the cball on the touch line and put it out for a throw. Trying too hard. Looks quick but not sure if he is or if it's his little legs going like the clappers. A couple of other kids came on a the end but couldn't hear names over the cheering at those coming off. Johnno took the inevitable "*****" chants in his stride by being largely anonymous apart from a few shots over the bar. Giacc smashed a sitter high wide and handsome late on. Best one was O'Shea off balance and half out of play on the touch line passing the ball back to Pants who absolutely twatted it straight back at him. They nearly scored from the resulting chaos. Pants bollocked him for not controlling a ball that Pele in his prime wouldn't have killed!
Graham is a funny one. He works hard but he's just a walking "nearly". It's like he goes where the ball went last time and is confused when it doesn't go there again. He nearly gets on the end of things but seems to come up short more often than not. He presses from the front though. Hard to judge given the forty yards of unused space between him and the two holding midfielders early on though.
What got me was when lens kept on skinning his full back lashing it across expecting a striker to get on the end of it around the 6 yard box he looks up to see danny graham ambling in at the penalty spot, he must of been thinking what the **** have i signed up for here!
