I agree with most but thought Januzaj was completely bossed by his man, nothing shameful in that his man was an excellent, experienced PL player. We are just a few tweaks away, I do worry about Moyes comments he seems focused on the wrong things, and the shape forward of the back 5 is too easy to defend against.
He's gonna get bossed mate, when Barry and Baines are doubling up on him and he's backed into a corner every time, that's what I mean about link up play, there was almost nothing, look at the other side, Bolasie had an out-ball every single time he went forward. On your side, unless Adnan or Gooch could beat their man, you'd be dispossessed. Manquillo just didn't do it enough and Watmore was never there for the option. How a player who doesn't look at anything but the ground when he has the ball is in a starting 11 of a PL team is beyond me, he was shocking. As for Moyes, I wouldn't worry about his comments, it's the fact that he never seems to learn from mistakes on the pitch that'll infuriate you.
Like I said, no shame in Adnan having it tough. Watmore should be at a championship team on loan, he does have massive ability and potential but he wants to run every time, even Ronaldo, Messi, Neymar, Suarez, they will actually give a quick ball far more than they run of you watch them, he has to learn to look up. Running, the oppo knows you are going, 3 quick passes and then the oppo is back to reshaping and covering, that's how you open space up. He will improve but I fear if he's kept here and starting it will stunt rather than benefit the lad.
He must be a late bloomer. I've seen him do some damage in the past when he's running with the ball, but for him to not know when others are in goalscoring positions, it's like watching kids football, it'd piss me off no end. Gooch looked the bigger talent of the two, he just needs to slow it down a little bit mentally, as he seems to want to rush everything. For a kid played out of position (according to commentary) I thought he had a great game and almost capped it with a goal, whether he meant it or not we'll never know.
I thought he was excellent most of the first half. Running at people, looked good on the ball and looked good in the pass as well.
This i agree with 100% and will probably get slaughtered for it on here, but the lad just isn't Premier League standard at the minute. Plenty of enthusiasm, bags of pace, sadly too easily dispossessed and very little end product. What concerned me was Moyes never subbed him earlier, he was clearly knackered 15 minutes into the second half, but he waited till the damage was already done before making the change. He should have gone much earlier IMO.
Gooch looks a genuine, natural footballer mate, he's not looked out of place at all, he's a real prospect that lad. Looks like he can play more or less anywhere across midfield, got really high hopes for him.
Couple of flair moments from him mate, I was happy with his 1st half display like you say. He was as guilty as the rest for going missing in the 2nd half though. That's a Moyes issue though, some managers can stop that happening, he needs to address that fast because that won't be the last time you concede first this season.
On a positive note: I just read on FB that Everton donated £200,000 to the Bradley Lowrey cause, well done lads and thanks. Over to you Mr Short.
It's not! Against City and Boro we conceded first but kept it together and could easily have taken a point from either/both games! Last night was strange as I saw them seemingly give up after going behind. Hasn;t happened for a few months that and I hoped we had rid of it. I think we'll be OK this season. Everton are a much better side than they were last time they were at the SoL - they look very good in possession and good up front too. We miss a "leader" - Defoe was captain last night and I rarely saw him geeing up the team. We do miss that rubbish central midfielder we've got! I think with Rodwell we can say "come in number 8 - your time is up" sadly - I so wanted Rodwell to succeed and keep giving him chances - he's looked better this season than last but he still doesn't look up to the mark. Played a lovely through ball for Defoe mind! Onto Sunday - at least we've got an easy one there!!
Yeah, he'll soon learn that the pass will always be the better option. He reminds me of Memphis, trying to do just a little bit too much, then it'll click and he'll be up and away in his career. We've got one or two on our books who need to do the same. They can't all be as good as Rashford.
Morning lads, well I didn't see that coming at HT! First half I thought we looked the better side without really creating that much (barring the Lukaku header) and Defoe had that great chance for you. I was hoping Barkley would get the hook at HT but never truly expected it, but fair play to Koeman, a brave call that. Ross has started the season very well but his touch was awful in that first 45 last night and the change in personnel really paid dividends. When he's in that mood Lukaku is a beast and the link play with Bolasie, Gueye and Mirallas was superb at times in that 2nd 45. Your defence wasn't helped by the poor screening in front of them imo and they were left far to exposed at times, that said there was no excuse for leaving Lukaku unmarked to head at goal 3 times in that game. Tough start for Moyes but he will get it right over time imo, if he's true to form he'll revert you back to a solid 4-1-4-1 and try and get a few clean sheets under his belt.
Now in the Echo: Sunderland fans have today been fulsome in their praise for Everton football club after its £200,000 donation helped Bradley Lowery's fund reach its target. The Goodison Park club made a magnificent gesture to help the family’s Bradley's Fight appeal to raise £700,000. The five-year-old from Blackhall is battling cancer, and his family are hoping he can have lifesaving treatment only available in the United States. Bradley was Sunderland's mascot for the match last night against Everton, and thousands of fans chanted his name to help draw attention to his plight. After the game, the Goodison Park club announced they were donating £200,000 to the fund - and fans urged Sunderland to do the same.
You miss M'Vila mate, he's maybe not a leader but he's a ****ing boss, players like him breathe confidence through teams... the captain is just an armband nowadays, usually to stop a player leaving or something, ****ing worthless.
Delighted we did that last night, the additional publicity as a result will hopefully see the remainder raised quickly and the young lad can get over to the States for his treatment.
Have SAFC put in? The pot was over £450k before Evertons pledge if the club haven't put in now is the time to take it over the line, surely? About 50k? Chicken feed.
I think the target has been reached mate, but that shouldn't stop the club, or anyone else from donating. The lad needs all the help he can get.
Agreed - we do miss him but he's not ours. This N'Dong came into the game last night and knocked a few nice passes about. Looks OK - although you can;t judge from that as he was under very little pressure as the game was already over. I'm wondering if Moyes is going to play 3-5-2 - he did that at the end of the game last night with Denayer, Kone and Djilibodji as the three central defenders.
He came on far too late IMO as did Denayer, the damage was already done before Moyes got his act together.
