A comeback like today's makes such a difference to confidence, for players and fans alike. Now, two home wins and we'll be top of the table! What do you mean shut up?
Just got back. Absolute dog ****e for 82 minutes. A 4-3-2-1 formation that left the fullbacks totally exposed. Niko is a pretty poor footballer without being left on his own. Little to no desire, lethargic, poor team and individual play. Roberts came on and we had a little buzz about us, showed some neat stuff and finally dragged the non existent Illias Chair into the game. Sunderland were fully deserving of the win until the last 5 or 6 mins. The fans chanting for Armstrong and at long last he was brought on. Johanson could have stayed in the changing rooms and nobody would have noticed. What we saw today was very poor. We also saw a bit of character to claw it back. Don't be fooled by the result. We were shocking.
Anazing! I really did not see this coming! An incredible and confidence boosting end to match. Agree. Seems we got a “Get out of Jail card” I would be livid if we gave up a “won match” in this manner. Great for us, painful for them!
I honestly can't remember, he played centrally of Chair and Field. Many times kakay got the ball and absolutely nothing was infront of him, he had to wait for Albert to run out wide. Shodipo gave it a good go in fairness to him whilst Dykes was his frustrated self. The most and quickest Johanson moved was running off the pitch to get subbed in a sulk. We really are accomodating this player at the moment. Chair was garbage, often slowing any attack down by coming backwards but as my lad said, you Don take a player like Chair off, you take the johansons off! Roberts was the key substitution, this lad buzzes about, always wanting the ball, he became a tad infectious and it's what we desperately needed. Armstrong did more in his cameo than 3 or 4 other players combined! They are musts for me in the next game. Tactically, I wasn't at all impressed and neither were many in the crowd. We don't press the opposition in their half at all, that's plain to see. This enables them to get the majority of their team higher up the pitch. We suddenly close down in our half, by which time, they have more options. I found this very strange indeed. The formation was also bizarre, absolutely no width to our play. Which we have become used to over the years, Chair playing in a midfield 3 rather than as one of the 2 players behind Dykes was also strange and contributed to his poor 80 minutes. We did a smash and grab and I'm happy with that, a better team would have been 5 or 6 up by half time. Its going to be a tough season this one, whether Beale is up to it, only time will tell.
Out of a deep sleep to see we came from behind to draw. I guess l’m neither happy nor sad at the result but reading some of the comments has me worried that future results may be painful. Oh well, one point ain’t so bad.
If anyone had that in the score and scorers prediction league you ought to be declared prediction winner forever.
It's glossing it over pal. Sorry, we were ****ing brilliant, everyone played superb. Ffs. I will praise where praise is due, I will criticise where criticism is due. All my opinion of course. A point is a point, you're correct, but we were also ****!
Yeah, we nicked a point we didn't deserve. We were **** and we got a point. Our ****ing keeper scored in injury time! Just enjoy the moment for ****s sake, we will get better.
Yeah, I felt the midfield was wide open. Chair offered nothing defensively and Steff was non-existent, leaving Field on his own. As you say, leave players like Chair on in case they produce and to be fair, he did, after being really poor. Dieng was fantastic though. Not just because of his header, but that double save at the death was world class. I thought we were terrible first half, but I thought we were much improved 2nd half, with Roberts making a big difference. Yes, start Roberts and Armstrong next game. **** me he's quick.
There just didn't seem like there was much spirit in the team, it was bizarre. Players getting on each others backs for not making the right pass or not moving for a return. Hopefully it will improve.
No criticisms allowed Bob, you should know better. Happy clappy only, especially when following the match day thread.