I'd say Ballard would be better upfront than Batth, he can play a bit and seems quite adventurous.[/QUOTE] Ballard with his speed would be a better player to cover against counter attacks so I would stick with Batth and O/9 up front if we need to recue a point , they would cause havoc for 5-10 minutes. Picking a more energetic starting eleven might also help. Shuffling any four from Clarke Pritch, Geldhard , Amad and Roberts is not the answer and currently we need an alternative to the basic 4/2/4 .set up
O/9 for me too, could not understand and never will why he was not straight back in after his suspension ended talk about own goal.
The amount of high praises i heard about him when he first signed is unreal. I know a few Leeds fans and some of them were even upset he left them. Im confused and gutted that the player we got is alot different to what i expected. We cant keep banging on about his height aswell and not being able to play alone striker role. Aguero and Suarez for example have played in the middle of a front 3 all their careers and both are 2 of the best players ive ever seen.
There is a case for this when we get a left back fit IMO. Luke handles different problems very well, and if not starting up top, he could make a good impact sub. And he's always had a goal in him.
Unfortunately it's never gonna work out for Gelhardt here without Stewart to play off. In fact my heart sinks when I see his name on the team sheet as he offers so little. We should try our own players at CF for the remainder of this season, as I'm sure the likes of Benette, Lihadgi, Rigg, Gardiner or even 09 or Ekwah could do better.
I've always been happy to be me and have never wanted to be anyone else despite working for billionaires and looking after film/music/football stars. Most of them are weird, miserable and have serious personality disorders ... ... but I'd be tempted to be Luke O'Nien I've just watched the highlights and if there's a happier bloke in the world then he's blessed. He loves playing football, loves the club he's playing for and loves the interaction with the fan. Without looking I couldn't be sure how he arrived here, who signed him and what reception his signing received tbh.
People use Stewart as an excuse did Aguero do that for City? He has 2 of tbe best wingers in the league either side of him . The excuses are done now hes just not very good really is he
Jack Ross signed him, debut against Charlton first match in L1 and hooked at HT, although I thought he did OK. Got a bit of a rough ride immediately after that. Love the lad me, grafts his nuts off to get better in his profession and is a great character.
I think he is totally unsuited to our style of play and its time we tried something new. I have made a suggestion previous and wont repeat it but its hard to see how we get out of this fix. The pressure is building on Joffy , and chances have not been taken, but its not all his fault, the fault if any exists lies elsewhere.
Clocky and Oliver are starting to worry me now tbh. Either I have too many things occupying my mind, they have excellent recall or I'm losing it altogether. I've always excused my vague memories on fifty years of travelling the country following the Lads, never living in the same place for more than a few years and going home and away as much as humanly possible. I've never had a season ticket despite early years of seeing almost every game from Mansfield so have never had a regular place in the ground. I had a regularly spot in the Fulwell End where I could turn up and find the lads I knew. They were local, from Seaburn, Carlisle and the Nottingham area. As long as I could find that spot I knew I'd have mates around me. Around us were various lads who obviously always zoned into their own area. There was a lad who was obviously a bodybuilder, and edgy, but always canny with us. Then there were a few behind us who sounded like schoolteachers and analysed the game to death. We'd have a word if they got too far up their high horse. There was a lad in front who never let go of his personal crush barrier even if we scored a last minute winner. Among our ranks were Dave who'd vanish back to the pub after twenty minutes if we weren't playing well. And Steve who'd bring half time 'refreshments' like roll mop herrings or continental cheeses Or did any of that really happen ... ... perhaps I really am losing my mind.
The Fulwell End was great for things like what you've described, we had the same kind of thing - lads that you didn't know but we would all stand around the same area, laugh, joke and watch the match together but didn't know each other from Adam
Bit choked up after your post mate, all just came flooding back .... ... emotions that my billionaire bosses could never comprehend let alone experience.
I've got some great memories following Sunderland home and away, I didn't go to that many but I have memories that will stay with me forever. I've took the wife to home games at the SOL but I would love to take her to an away game sometime just to show her how good it is but doubt she would go
I am not a fan of pushing centre backs up front. Back in the day, when hoying into the mixer worked, I could see the argument. Now though it is a different ask in my opinion. I cant see ONien or Ballard being able to play the quick stuff we need up front, just an opinion. Touch isnt good enough, nor is awareness. Of all of our players I think Bennette may be a striker in time. I would play him and really invest in his development for the next few games. Whether he is up to it I am not yet sure, but now is a good chance to find out for me.
