Well we won 5 - 4 second half and were the better team, they were very physical especially their No5 and the ref was useless or biased probably both. If Caden Kelly had started the game we would have won in a canter. Honestly think that was not the Carney I know in goal but it has to be said, we cant keep giving seven goals away and expect to win. Have we got any coaches at this level > if so I would like to see some evidence .
Our goals were pretty good, some good moves and finishes. That lad Hoppe is the one we were loosely linked with from Mallorca, not sure how much they bought him for in the end. Very poor defensively from us tonight, Newall played CH and normally plays LB but the other CH wasn't very good at all tonight.
Good to see Mowbray, Dodds, Dan Neil and Patto all in attendance as well. Michael Carrick also watching
Bilongo was their No 5, Hoppe No 9 I believe, we had two tall centre backs on tonight and it was not easy telling which was which, but I was impressed with our No 5 , (watching Arsenal now by the way and that Nketiah is some finisher i remember he tore us to bits last year ), back to the U21,s though and that must have been a great game to be at, hope you both enjoyed it tonight , I certainly enjoyed that second half.
Crazy game but tons of fun. Was a good crowd there tonight as well. Didn't here what it was but must have been 500+ Think Newall was the 5. Compton was the other lad with Blonde hair, he wiped one of their lads out and got booked because he let a long ball bounce over his head.
Roker report on the players Jacob Carney: 5/10 He didn’t actually do that much wrong and was let down by some of those in front of him, but it seemed like every time Boro had a shot on target it ended up in an easy goal. Callum Wilson: 5/10 Every time Boro got into the box on his side they looked odds-on to score, and usually did. Ben Crompton: 5/10 Similar to Wilson, really struggled when Boro attacked the right of our defence. Nathan Newall: 5/10 Battled away out of position on the left of central defence, rather than his usual left back. Connor Pye: 6/10 The pick of our defenders, looked a bright spot on the left hand side. Chris Rigg: 6/10 Had a good effort from the edge of the box saved by the Boro’s ‘keeper. Spread the ball about well and quick to put a tackle in but like most of his teammates, unable to give much in the way of protection to the back four. Harrison Sohna: 6/10 Typically tidy on the ball but as the more experienced member of the squad, he has to be protecting that back four more. Ellis Taylor (C): 6/10 Did not provide the struggling Wilson any protection and struggled to get involved in the first half, improved after the break in an attacking sense and got himself on the scoresheet. Ben Middlemas: 5/10 Unable to provide a spark playing just behind Gardiner. Michael Spellman: 7/10 Showed some pace on the left wing, got a goal back earlier in the second half and helped out his left back. Made one really good burst forward in the first half and played a good ball that Gardiner was unable to get on the end of. Harry Gardiner: 5/10 Very isolated up top and landed awkwardly after competing for a ball which cut his game short. Substitutes Ethan Moore: 8/10 Showed quick footwork and good movement from as soon as he entered the pitch, crossing for Spellman’s goal and was a threat for the entire second half, got a deserved goal when he tapped in Sunderland’s third. Caden Kelly: 8/10 Made a difference when he came on, played a sublime ball to Taylor for his goal and scored a couple himself, including a well hit volley from the edge of the box. Oliver Bainbridge: 6/10 Came on for Pye and like his fellow left back, did OK. Marshall Burke: 6/10 Came on for Rigg as the goals were flowing and, like Rigg and Sohna, unable to stem the tide defensively but played well going forward. Man of the Match: Ethan Moore Moore and Kelly both stood out following their arrival off the bench and either could have been our man of the match but I’m going to give it to Moore. The 18-year-old caused problems immediately, set up Spellman for a goal soon after coming on and got on the end of a loose ball after Taylor’s shot was saved. please log in to view this image Photo by Nick Taylor/Liverpool FC/Liverpool FC via Getty Images ROKER RAPPORT PODCAST! Roker Rapport Podcast: A Luke O'Nien Lovefest -The Shrewsbury 1-2 Sunderland FA Cup review! MATCH PREVIEWS! On This Day (9th January 1993): Sunderland share spoils in six goal thriller at Roker! OPINION! Bring back Jack Diamond - but only if he’s allowed to shine for Sunderland Loading comments... Sign up for the newsletterSign up for the Roker Report Daily Roundup newsletter! A daily roundup of Sunderland news from Roker Report Email (required)
Just about agree with that, Kelly and Moore were good when they came in, Pye did well at LB. I didn't think Sohna had a good game at all in midfield though.
Think I need a bit of practice at this cut and pasting up to be as good as you mate, but I will never be as quick, but its a decent report on the players for once and how I saw it. We have some decent players in that team but at times they look like strangers, I think they lack leaders or maybe leadership , possibly chop and change too much, I dont know.
Most are very young for that level tbf. We stood next to the dugout first half and most of what Murty was asking the players to do was communicate better with each other. He asked the keeper to organise the CHs, the CHs to sort out the midfield etc. At one point he actually shouted something like 'why am I the one shouting for us to get into the right shape, you do it' just to put the onus on the players. One other thing which was quite amusing was he shouted ad Compton (I think) and said 'start talking more' and the player said nowt back and stuck his thumb up at Murty; he just turned around to the bench and said 'I've just told him to speak more and he's stuck his ****ing thumb up' Their bairn loves it close to the pitch to hear them shouting and what actually is said during the game.
SAFC U21 5-7 Middlesbrough U21 Sunderland Under-21s returned to Premier League 2 action with a crazy encounter against Middlesbrough at Eppleton, as the visitors emerged 7-5 winners. All five of the Lads’ goals came in the second half, but were somehow not enough as Boro hit four more after the break, having led 3-0 from the first 45 minutes Michael Spellman, Caden Kelly, Ethan Moore, captain Ellis Taylor and an own goal from visiting ‘keeper Liam Roberts comprised the Sunderland scoresheet, whilst Matthew Hoppe (2), Sonny Finch (2), Pharrell Willis, Jack Stott and Joe Gibson netted for the Teessiders. Graeme Murty and John Hewitson named a team which included Chris Rigg after the 15-year-old’s first-team debut at the weekend, whilst Nathan Newall, Harrison Sohna and Ben Middlemas were also among the starters. A difficult first period ensued, as Hoppe opened the scoring after five minutes and Willis doubled it with eight to play in the half, both with composed efforts from inside the area. Finch added a third shortly before half-time to rub salt in the wounds, as the Lads looked to rally ahead of what would be a jaw-dropping second 45. Gibson made it four with a near-post shot which found its way in just 75 seconds into the half, but Spellman made it two goals in two games with a well-taken close-range finish straight from the resulting kick-off to make it 4-1. Hoppe struck a clinical finish for five midway through the half as he claimed his second of the night, but there were six more to be scored. Taylor’s corner was barely dealt with by the Boro defence as Kelly thrashed in a sweet volley for 5-2, before Finch claimed a brace with 15 minutes remaining to restore Boro’s four-goal buffer. The madness was far from over, as half-time substitute Moore registered his first goal at U21 level this season by converting the rebound as Roberts denied Taylor. Remarkably, it remained a 6-3 scoreline for 12 minutes until the 88th, when away skipper Stott found the net for seven. An astute piece of attacking play by Taylor saw him cut in and fire past Roberts in the final minute of normal time, the first of two late Sunderland goals to claim pride to the final score. Kelly’s shot from 12 yards then found its way in via a combination of goalkeeper and post in added time to pull it back to 7-5. The most unorthodox of defeats but one nonetheless to restart the PL2 campaign for the Lads, who now quickly return to the drawing board before welcoming Norwich City to the Academy of Light this Friday afternoon. SAFC U21: Carney; Wilson, Crompton, Newall, Pye (Bainbridge 59’); Rigg (Burke 76’), Sohna; Taylor ©, Middlemas (Kelly 59’), Spellman; Gardiner (Moore 46’). Subs not used: Richardson. Much prefer the updates and glimpses from the touchline by our own correspondent OA the Murty episode in particul was very reassuring . But posted this report just the same.
Anyone that can, get themselves along to these, decent football, cheap food and free for season ticket holders. I went Monday and will.be going to more, we have some decent young ones to watch
