We got slapped 3-0 with arguably our strongest team out. Vaughan missed a penalty at 0-0 and Mannone made an absolute howler to gift them the lead. Mannone (Stryjek 68), Matthews, Galloway (Love 46, Beadling 68), Kone (Djilobodji 61), O’Shea (Browning), Cattermole (Gibson 61), Ndong (E Robson 76), Rodwell (Asoro 46), Khazri (Honeyman 61), Lens (Maja), Vaughan (Embleton 68).
To be fair their competitive season has already begun as they were in the Europa League a week ago. So they were way way ahead of us in fitness terms. Saying that Vito's mistake sounded like a right **** up.
You can't place too much emphasis on pre season, especially when your opponents have already played competitive games and are ahead of the curve.
Probably how our season will be, win one, draw one and lose one. I did get the impression that we played quite well but had a disastrous 6 minutes which isn't ok but better than being ****e all game.
Friendlies don’t mean bugger all, I recall last years pre-season friendlies we won all of them - I think you'll remember the rest.
Shipping 3 goals in 6 minutes in a pre-season friendly could be a real blessing in disguise. Grayson's now seen the brutal reality of the fragility of our defence. Yes they're further ahead in their pre-season, but there's no disguising the task in hand!
I liked the sound of this from the gaffer..... http://www.sunderlandecho.com/sport...ars-work-harder-or-i-ll-replace-you-1-8651784 Grayson has been insistent that his players must adjust to a different mentality in the second tier but fears some are not showing the right signs. He said: "There’s certain players that are buying into the ideas and certain players that aren’t. If players are not willing to work hard for this shirt they can go somewhere else. I’m not prepared to work with players who aren't prepared to run and do the basics that millions would give their right arm to do. We have to address it and we will address it. "I was disappointed because it has been coming a little bit anyway. If you look at the Bury game, we were too easy to play against when we were 2-0 down and it could have been 3-0. "And then today, if you give good opposition chances then they are going to take them. "No disrespect to St Johnstone but they wouldn’t be in the top half of the Championship, and if teams in the top half of the Championship get opportunities like St Johnstone got then it is going to be a tough season for us," he added.
Who is he is talking about, and what are these ideas I wonder, will we find out soon, certainly hope so.
I think we probably know, Kone and chums, good that Grayson is getting it sussed right away while there's still time to shift them out and players in who want to be there. Doesn't seem like anyone's going to make a mug out of him even a little bit.
Apparently Sunderland have asked for a replay because the gas fitter who scored the third one wasn't corgi registered.
