Some performance that was, mind. Individually, tactically, confidence, desire - all bang on. We will be talking about that 3rd goal for a long time. Delighted for Roberts also - such a quality player. People have banged on about our squad depth being weak . 4 1st teamers are out, and players are stepping up. Bennette and Diallo were pretty hot also. In sad news, A Sunderland fan i know and worked with passed away this week at such a young age - that was for you Stevie G.
We only need the height on set pieces. The key is to move the ball at pace which we saw last night. This is a young team so can only get better. Like has been mentioned there will be bumps along the way but I think we are seeing a glimpse of what we can look forward to.
Don't want to take anything away from our performance because I thought we were excellent from the first whistle, but Reading were comfortably the worst team we've played this season. We dominated from minute one and they were way, way off the pace. I'd go so far as to say they are worse than a lot of the teams in L1 and Ince has a big job on his hands
I'd say the first 9 games have shown us there is nothing to fear in this league. Sheff Utd and Norwich look the best teams and ironically we could and should have beaten them both. Not suggesting we will be in the top 6, but the only thing that will stop us having a successful season is injuries. I came into this season happy with 4th bottom, but hoping for comfortable mid table. I think mid table should be the minimum of our ambitions now. Get Roscoe , Dennis and Ballard back, add some quality in Jan and a top 8 finish isn't outside the realms of possibility Ask me again when Watford spank us 5-0
Our support was class tbh ... quiet in the minute's silence, loud for the National Anthem. And the encouragement, in a souless tumbleweed stadium with only a stupid drum to provide 'atmoshere', was top class, we managed to turn the game into an occassion. Sky must have thanked their lucky stars that it was us and not the likes of Huddersfield. The young lads starting, and especially those on the bench, must've thought they'd 'come home'. It's incredible that KLD has so quietly brought us all together and, for the first time in years, there seems to be a common purpose and spirit. It was a pleasure to be among the Sunderland support yesterday, we didn't quite match the team for once ... ... how long is it that we could say that
Modern day centre back really. In a 3 specifically. He works hard and loves the game. But he is defo suited to that position.
I’m happy to admit when I’m wrong (obviously not to the wife mind!!) I still think he’d be capable in a midfield role but he just looks, as @clockstander out it, “born to the manor” at centre half
I don't disagree that maybe defence could be his best long term position, but I do disagree with the viewpoint that him playing well there proves that he's not a midfielder, it proves nothing of the sort. Every time he's played in midfield every mistake has been pounced on by the usual people who want him to fail there, when the stats prove otherwise game after game. I think most of us thought there was little chance that Evans could step up to the championship in CM as he wasn't particularly impressive in league one and he's done really well. As far as I'm concerned O'Nien would be just the same.
Right centre back is easily O'Nien's best position, and I'm starting to think right back is Gooch's. Gooch has looked every inch a championship level right back this season. I know he has his fans but I don't think anybody could have expected him to have stepped up the way he has. For me he's been our player of the season. He's very quietly under the radar become undroppable and also, for me, ideal captain material. Hard working, popular, aggressive, not afraid to shout at people. Evans does a great job but seems the more quiet type. together they make quite a good "leadership team" (thanks for the memories LJ)
not getting back into the O'Nien into midfield debate but his stats are indeed decent in midfield even if he fails the "eye test". My issue is the stats only tell half the story and its pretty easy to see that he's slow in possession and makes the wrong passes, even if those passes are completed. That might seem like bias against the lad. It really isn't. I love him to bits. He used to teach PE at my school and for me he's the perfect squad member. Works hard, respectful, good in the community. He's everything we want in a Sunderland player. I want him to succeed. Which is why I want him to play right centre back where he looks far more effective, no matter what any stats tell me.
There’s a pleb on that thread who thinks Scott Hogan’s goal was better. Good goal, but 3 simple passes down the middle of the pitch and a great cross and finish isn’t quite on a par with this one!!
If anybody can find a GIF of Bennette's first touch in England as well please. It wasn't particularly outrageous - it was just so silky smooth. Like the ball was part of his body. Like Thor's hammer returning to him. Some times you can just tell with players. Bennette is special. We will be making a huge profit out of him. Huge.
They're 4th in the league, so based on that (and results so far), they aren't too bad. Could be they had a bad day and we had an amazing one. But I don't think any team would have coped with us yesterday. We're the surprise package this season, other teams will eventually get wise to us, so expect things to get more difficult but I think we'll finish higher than anyone could have guessed
Complete and utter rot! No-one wants him to fail, but we've all been watching football ling enough to recognise when a player isn't good enough. His agility, aerial ability and willingness to tackles makes him an ideal CB. His inability to play on the turn, retain possession in tight positions and poor decision making makes him a poor centre midfielder. No agenda, just opinion. It's no coincidence that his best performances for us have come at RB, RCB or CB
Don't agree with this. Evans "failed the eye test" for a lot of us when we were in league one, I'm not sure how much stock I put in the eye tests of football fans judging by the ****e I hear around me at the matches.
