Match Day Thread Sunderland vs Newcastle @ SoL

To be honest we'd get over 7 drubbings if we lose the next one provided we stay up (regardless of whether they stay up too).

 

We used to want them in the league as they were a good source of points towards our European escapades. Now we need to win the next one, have them slip out the league so we can say we won the last derby which is all that really matters, and hope a team comes up we can beat

 

I can't really comment on your strength in depth as I don't knew enough about your fringe players. I do know ours have been terrible so no arguments on that score. We saw it on Saturday against Watford when some of these fringe players needed to step up because of us having so many players out - and they didn't step up at all. You've got a few decent youngsters coming through, but both teams need much more strength in depth. Hopefully both teams are addressing that in this window by bringing some quality in.

The real losers in this game (from our point of view) were players who should have grasped the opportunity to put themselves in the shop window and get a decent move. Any scout watching that lot is very unlikely to be going back with recommendations to sign any of our lot. I think both teams have a massive gap between the first team group of players and the backups who come in due to injuries. That's bad enough at the best of times, but when we're both in the bottom three it shows what a disgrace both sets of reserve players are (barring Pickford and Watmore).

 

We've got a squad of squad players, that's our problem. Not enough quality, the gap in quality between first team and fringe players is very minimal. I would say it's the opposite with you. You have quality in the first team but your fringe players are a million miles away from that level.

What will prove the most effective, we will find out in May. Quality with no squad depth, or lack of quality with a good squad depth. Time will tell...

 

Fair enough. Like I said, I don't know enough about your reserve players. We're starting to get a bit of depth in midfield but we're still painfully short in terms of strikers and defenders. It wont all be fixed this window, but if we can bring in one decent striker and one decent defender that will make a huge difference and be a step in the right direction. Just have to hope against hope that it's enough to be slightly less ****e than 3 other teams.

 

Stop trying to look smart mate and try learning to read... 50 BETWEEN them as in those four/five players mentioned had 50 apps together...

 

The Mackems had several threads on this I see. Shame they got no points for the win as it was a nothing game. My Toon team with Shola in beat them 12-1 on FIFA the same night and I kept Willo at CB.

 

Feck off and go for a walk down the A19 you sad Black and white twat.
I know what he meant, just having abit of light hearted banter with the lad.

 

You do realise he was the lad you were allegedly bantering with?

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Nev man, Your injured players are ****e. None of them are starters for you, especially after your January Business.



Our squad has more depth, way more, no doubt. Our problem is the wage bill of our second string. Many signed with the intention of being first team. Squad players on first team wages. It shows how much our transfer policy has been failing over the years. So us having more depth isn't necessarily a good thing from a Sunderland point of view when you consider the circumstances

 

......trying to work out what currently injured players has to do with the players who were unavailable against Watford

 

Maybe I miss understood but my point remains. Your squad depth is ****e and we have one hell of an overpaid second string. Not great on both accounts.

 

Never disputed this, and if you read any of our threads over the past couple of years you'll struggle to find a post from any Newcastle fan that does. We've known for a long time that we haven't had suitable backups - on top of the fact that we have had too many squad players taking up first team places. I am hopeful that the club has finally realised that you have to pay serious money for squad players (unless they're out or nearly out of contract). Against Watford we were left with a right sided CB playing LB because of Paul Dummett and Kevin Mbabu both being out injured, and it showed. We had Saivet taking up the DM role because of Colback being injured, Colback has been poor this season compared to last, but he looked to be much more suited to playing alongside Shelvey. Saivet will be able to play in that position more comfortably once he's more settled, so that's not as big an issue, but asking him to play an unnatural game having just arrived was unfair on him. We even had Riviere coming on as a second striker because of injuries to Cisse and Toney who are both ahead of him as reserve options. The players we had available as our backups were shown (yet again) to not be up to the job. We can't cope with the injury situation we've had this season (again) when our alternatives are so poor. I think the lesson has finally been learned - but it may well have been learned too late. We certainly can't fix all the issues this window by any means.

 

Top class craic' that mate.
I bet your a right laugh after a couple of Blue WKD's.

 

Squad depth WTF?

It's like two boxers sparring in the gym and when the session finishes one of them declares himself the better boxer.

 

...and then the other one agrees with him

 

You drink Blue WKD? What an absolute fanny you are. I don't think you are really in a position to comment on craic or banter after your efforts on this thread. It would be akin to Hashemi Rafsanjani being lead speaker at a "Worlds Best Bacon" convention.

 

Regardless of squads, all I know is that Sunderland haven't blown 76m to get relegated. That alone makes us the bigger chumps. I honestly can't see either team getting out of this. I reckon we are fighting over 18th and the bragging rights from the remaining derby. What joy.

 

I still think we'll have just enough to escape. However, I thought that last time we got relegated too