Match Day Thread Sunderland v AFC Wimbledon - Tuesday 15th December - KO 19:00

Ah well. Disappointed with a draw but team was disrupted due to covid and Hull lost, so one point closer to top spot. Hope we sign a speedy striker in Jan, would make a world of difference to this side.

 

Only the very best teams in the world can do that though, teams play us exactly the same as if it was an fa cup game against the best team in the country, there's only really one solution which is to spend on players good enough to deal with it which means a lot of money.

We either do that or we accept the risk we might get smashed I've every 4th week because we've overcommitted like Keegan's teams used to.

 

Yes we could, but the EFL would need to investigate the circumstances and we could have been forced to forfeit the game

 

F*ck automatic promotion. The play offs is the future. See ya's at Trafalgar Square boys. Were finally going to win at Wembley .

 

That first goal is the key, the first five minutes are vital get a goal and its a totally different game. OaU

 

Others have been in the same boat and taken that risk. Nobody has forfeited a game yet.

Unfortunately I reckon understandably Speakman and Johnson have been preaching a “fear nobody in this division” narrative (rightly) and so didn’t want to request a postponement so quickly.

 

Wrong thread mate

 

The circumstances are different in every situation, I would rather trust the judgement of those involved in the talks with the EFL

 

did we?... last i heard the EFL had said they did not want us to abandon because they were unsure what sanctions they would throw at us...you may have heard different somewhere of course but if we had the option then we should have taken it.

not going to call the lads for the performance, you could see there was a lot of the midfield looking for those passes then having to turn backwards, a massive communication breakdown across the pitch but with 8 1st teamers out it was never going to be a classic.

sick of third division officials, not that i disagree with every decision but they do make some strange ones.

really need that pace in the squad though.

 

It's not the best teams in the world who can break down defences, it's the best teams in their respective leagues. Otherwise everyone would play 10 behind the ball and every game would finish 0-0... Bottom of the table will always sit back against top, doesn't matter if it's Prem or Sunday league. Hull seem to be doing fine at playing against these defensive teams

 

Grigg's attitude is dire, if you are not scoring as a striker surely you should be working even harder for the team.
Body language looks like he doesn't care and work rate is just enough to be classed as a token effort.

 

no - the EFL said we could postpone but said they’d investigate and couldn’t confirm what the outcome and sanctions of that investigation would be. It’s been the same for other clubs this season.

no team has yet even found “guilty” and we wouldn’t have been either

 

really? It’s about the game?

 

Football would be much more entertaining if shoulder checking was rewarded and diving was punished.

 

They aren't facing what we had tonight like, they just stood in their box and waited for us to attack.

 

On a positive note for tonight I thought Sanderson was excellent. Won a lot that was throw his way, wasn’t out muscled, had pace to recover too.

Hopefully has gotten himself noticed by Johnson after that, would love a back four of Willis, Sanderson, Wright, and Hume.

 

Surely , surely this is the end for the totally ineffective George Dobson can’t run , can’t pass , can’t trap a bag of cement , if we don’t have better in the squad it is a sad indictment on the U23 and U18 squads he is so poor . I know the COVID problems disrupted the preparation for tonight but sorry Mr Johnson he should not be anywhere near our team , realise you are new BUT! was he any good in training?

 

You have made the same point more than once without knowing the facts, but still come back , give it a rest, we would be 4 points worse off if we took your advice, see what I mean ?

 

If the EFL would investigate a covid postponement to ascertain if any sanctions are necessary then they must share the parameters of that investigation, as you say. The rules should be hard and fast. For example, as someone else said, the rule could be 3+ players unavailable due to covid, including those self-isolating, then game can be postponed without sanction like for internationals. It appears the club did not have clarity on whether 8 unavailable players would be deemed an unnecessary postponement. Decisions like this should be taken out of clubs hands - what happens if this is a play-off semi for example? Should a club postpone and hope investigation goes their way? Fraught with clubs making decisions for wrong reasons I think. Just publish clear parameters around when it is ok to postpone and everything is resolved.

I think it should be a cut and dry situation where any covid cases or formal self-isolation and the game should be off - no debate. Nobody need make the decision then, not the club or EFL.

 

Didn't quite work out tonight for us but can't be too surprised considering the injuries, the covid stuff and our bench having played 24 hours before or were unfit. Still nice to see Johnson trying to impact the game with positive changes even though the positivity didn't quite transfer to the pitch.

My god can't believe I'm going to say this but we missed Wyke!