Match Day Thread Sunderland AFC v Millwall FC– Saturday 3th December 2022 - KO 12:30

Hope you’re okay mate

 

Not sure why I love these videos as nowt happens in them, but I think they're great.

 

Ballard comes in at CB ahead of O’Nien all day long, no questions asked. I’m sure Mowbray will feel the same way…

 

The Championship James Milner?

 

I think so too. 09 has done well, very well. Ballard showed great qualities prior to injury. Especially coming out with the ball and playing forward. Something I wish our centre backs did a little more.

 

Yeh that’s not a debate for me. It’s a bit like saying Simms should keep his place ahead of Stewart cos he’s done a good enough job without him.

 

Ballard has been a long time out, and few players just catch their form and the pace of the game immediately they are ready to play.

He looked very good, and definitely will force his way back into the team. But rushing him back would be bad for him and bad for us.

Luckily, the never to be under estimated ONien has taken that pressure away by his consistent performances. This lad gets better, and he is in his natural element at the back. We are looking very good back there with those two, Wright, Alesi, Cirkin, Gooch and Huggins all looking good enough for this level. In a couple of cases one above it.

 

4 of our next 5 games are against sides who currently sit 20th, 21st, 22nd and 23rd. Blackburn (H) also who sit 3rd and are doing well…

Good chance to push towards the play-offs going into January!

 

Love to see us thump them. That result still pisses me off! Two goals that with var wouldn't have stood, I reckon we would have been coming away with a win had the right decisions been given.

 

I like to watch the camaraderie Flash, how players react to each other and to the staff. I reckon that I can read people pretty well and these videos give us as fans the opportunity to be “in the room”.

That might sound a load of ****e but that’s why I like them

 

I agree with this. I usually like to see the reaction of former players as they come down the stairs and how they speak to the staff.

 

I agree Ballard is a better option and better player. But onien is playing very well there. If you drop an in form Player because someone comes back from injury, what exactly does that say to the other players in the squad?

Mowbray literally said that Robert’s is the best player at the club, but he doesn’t pick him ahead of Amad as that would be really detrimental to him. Good management imo

 

I do agree with you. Plenty of games coming up, here’s hoping O’Nien continues this form but I’m sure Ballard will find his way into the side eventually. Personally I’d be tempted to play O’Nien at RB ahead of Gooch.

 

Onion has earned his place, he won several battles in the air yesterday, always fights for everything, uses his football nouse to be in the right place most of the time, I can’t believe how many people think he should be replaced at the earliest opportunity.

 

Ballard/ O/9 , conundrum, look forward to when we have similar options up front, and I reckon we will this time next year, if not sooner. OaU

 

Huggins. Gooch. Hume. Ballard. O’Nien. Batth. Wright. Alese. Cirkin.

We’ve got very good defensive options, for a 4 or 5.

 

"Back to back wins in the Championship for the first time since May 2007"

Official highlights:
https://safc.com/news/team-news/2022/december/millwall/highlights-vs-millwall

Full 90:
https://safc.com/news/team-news/2022/december/millwall/full-90-vs-millwall

Two minute Highlights:

Post match analysis:

 

Hope you recover quickly. Take care.

 

I can't remember a leauge chable so close. 2 wins and you're up there, 2 defates and you're at the wrong end.

 

Not for me mind. I think ONien has been excellent and deserves his place in the team. I would think Mowbray would value that level of performance. I also think him and Baath make a good pair. As much as I think Ballard will be excellent, he needs to earn his place, not just be handed it. Up to him to show Mowbray he earns the right to play, and for ONien to keep showing him he deserves the right to play.