He looks like one of the worst left backs I have ever seen in a Sunderland shirt, he is absolutely terrible. He seems to be partly responsible for just about every goal that's going in against us. Why does he insist on playing as a left sided forward when he surely knows by now that he keeps getting caught out of position, gifting the opposition forwards all the time in the world to drift into the space that he leaves behind. He needs dropping straightaway or we will continue to gift teams points.
You mean the lad that was second in player of the season last year? This years Richardson, Kenwyne, Graham, Seb? He's poor defensively, as are most wing backs nowadays, who do you suggest we drop him for mate?
Yeah that guy, who gives a crap if he was good last season he's having a stone cold nightmare this season. Yedlin on the left and Jones on the right, can't be any worse.
Jones is dog ****, at least as bad as PVA. Every year a scapegoat. Wonder what would have happened if Spurs had binned a struggling Gareth Bale? For me, the only way to rebuild his confidence is to back him and build faith. He didn't suddenly become **** but as standard a stack of our fans will turn on him. He & Coates are the 2 being pulled out, when the entire team bar M'Vila, Ova & Lens/Defoe in flashes have been ****e.
Probably Billy Jones off the top of my head. He needs dropped, he is ridiculously out of form and a massive liability. I don't have scapegoats GG, I just call a player **** when he's ****. Last season serves no purpose as to how he is doing this season, I was singing his praises before the season and had him down as our player of the year. Now I have seen enough of him this season, the lad needs took out of the team pronto.
I just think 83, building his confidence is what's needed, and we have nobody better to replace him with. I wonder, when we fail to attract players, is it partially as we have a reputation for turning on our own and throwing them to the Wolves? Maybe you don't have scapegoats mate but many, many of our fans need one, constantly. He has been poor, absolutely, but so has Jones, why replace him with a player on the wrong side who has frankly been awful as well? What about young Robson? Anyone seen him? Any good?
I'm not thinking drop him, I'm thinking 3 at the back myself, It's the only way I see our wing backs will getting cover with the squad we have. Fact is both fullbacks were done with their pants down leaving space behind them. It was Man City's only attacking outlet. Since the opening game every team has done by exploiting the same gaps of space behind the fullbacks. Three at the back is the only way I can see us giving them cover.
What about a more orthodox 4-5-1 than 4-3-3? Move Lens into a number 10 with M'Vila & Toivenen? I agree we need to protect the wing backs until they get some belief back.
But he did suddenly become ****. I have no idea why but it's happened and it's no good pretending it hasn't happened or blindly hoping he'll pull through. When you have a player that is an absolute liability you drop them, it's as basic as it gets. Hell, Advocaat at lb would probably be better.
So, and this is my annoyance, not the suggestion he's dropped. Why, specifically, is it PVA? Most of the team has been **** why isn't this thread 'we need to make multiple changes'. Every year someone gets singled out mate, it's undeniable.
Sometimes when a player is to far gone and completely out of sorts, he needs a break. At this present time, leaving him in the team will be doing more harm than good, to both him and the team. I know Jones is ****e, I knew that when we signed him. I think he could be slightly less **** at the minute though by staying back and holding his position. Far to many times now PVA has been responsible for bringing forwards down, being caught out of position, playing players on-side. It's destroying us. Robson does look good but I don't even think he's close to the first team yet and knowing us for the way we handle the youngsters, I would say there's no chance of a call up for him. Bring back Rev... Any unattached left backs we could bring in until January?
Urby Emanuelson, Taye Taiwo (I think, he may have been snaffled...). Apparently Vlaar is fit to train now, that would be a savvy move, offer him a deal. An actual genuine quality CB.
Because the rest of the defence has been poor to mediocre and PVA has been dog**** at best all season. I'm not one to scapegoat usually but I've seen a goat and goddamit I'm going to scape it. Ps. See Safc83's post for a more reasoned answer.
Well me and Home and away were talking about the 352 and 451 options tonight at the game, the worry is Dick never did get the target man he wanted and it would be so important in the 451. Only Ola will be able to play it without falling back onto tweedle de(SF) and tweedle dumb(DG). With the 352 the wingbacks can run a flank on their own as they'll have covering defenders, and we could play Defoe with Ola up top which think would be right pain in the arse. Who would you play as the lone striker in 451? That's the con for me. Had dick got the target man he wanted i'd say 451 in a heartbeat.
I like Vlaar, the only slight concern I would have with signing him is how long would it take him to get fully up to speed. We need people who can come in and do a job straightaway, unfortunately we are not in a position to be able to give players time as we are in enough **** as it is. Just to reiterate, it is a very, very slight concern.
Play Old maybe? He started as a CF, and he's good in the air. Ola Borini Lens AJ Rodwell M'Vila Maybe?
It's a legitimate concern of course, but maybe that's how we get a CB of that calibre, steal a march. I'd suggest Kaboul, who's looked very good with JOS organising, could form a very decent CB pairing with Vlaar, who has the same leadership qualities as JOS but is superior in every way. We have to do something, as we are completely ****ed at the minute, the Mags being equally as bad doesn't even begin to compensate. a 0-0 in the derby and we are both screaming in terror.
