After the Reading game it was puzzling to see five changes, so many players selected, playing out of their best positions too. Ryan Seager as a lone striker doesn't work, McQueen stuck outside on the right wing, when he is best as a Central attacker, generally lightweight in midfield, Caulker didn't look interested. Josh Sims is good but needs a supply of passes to enable him to use his pace and his final ball decision was off today. Too many crosses in general were aimed at a Centre Forward that wasn't there. Give Sunderland full credit, they were very well organised and not without talent. Nearly a month to the next U21's game, so not much chance to put things right quickly.
Don, the point of the under 21 games is to develop young players, debilitate returning (from injury) first team players, get fitness to first team players who have not had much game time and test players out. It isn't really about winning the league, nice as winning the cup last year was. None of the above should be puzzling at all.
I guess being top of the league is less important, but breaking up a winning team (Bertie being the exception of course, and Gazza who was blameless this time) and losing, isn't good for morale, I would have thought the difference here was the lack of Harry Reed and Will Wood, plus the tactics used were wrong for this opposition on the day. All part of the learning curve of course.
I have watched a good number of the U21 games this season and this was by far the worst performance. Saint don you are right about what you saw. I was particularly disappointed by Caulker, if he wants first team games he will need to show a bit more enthusiasm than he did last night.
It is nice if the U21s win and winning the league would send out a nice message, but the U21s is also used for development and helping injured players recover, so the team isn't always selected solely to win.
I must admit I do get that dig in the ribs of loss, whether it's the UXX or the First IX. Just that the dig gets keener the closer the loss gets to the first team. Then I try to reason the loss through. It helps.
This is the point where we say that it's all about the development of the players and that results don't really matter.
http://www.saintsfc.co.uk/news/article/20151010-u18s-brighton-home-report-2737445.aspx Saints u18s drew with Brighton 3-3, sadly letting in a late goal.
