Match Day Thread Sunderland AFC v Luton Town – Saturday 18th March 2023 - KO 15:00

I feel sorry for the kid. He's a No10, or maybe a 9.5 who needs to play alongside and out and out striker. He's been plonked in a team and told to lead the line. Fans gave him about 3 games before labelling him as ****e and saying we should send him back to Leeds. We (the club) have let Leeds down and we have let Gelhardt down. No way Leeds would have sanctioned the loan if they knew he'd be flogged to death in a system that doesn't suit him

 

We did the same in the Fulwell End , lineing up the penalty spot with the corner of post and cross bar on the Clockstand side , dreamland ? Bob Dylan must have been there.

 

Yeah, probably right, bit then no harm in trying something?

 

REMEMBER we signed Dave Watson as a Centre Forward but he could play either there or Centre Half , I think first season he was around our top scorer . Ultimately he was a better Centre Half as the amount of England caps he gained testify .

 

I too feel it is a big ask, but it is an option worth trying, but only in the closing stages of some games. As I have already said elsewhere I want to see Jewi get more time on the pitch he has shown he can create chances for others as well as score solos, plus he gives us an out ball that we dont have with any other player in the team, with his blistering pace a huge assett, this nonsense from Tony about communication is LJ territory for me , get the lad on the pitch and let his feet do the talking. OaU

 

Agreed, it's not the olden days where pitches are ****e, the ball is hoofed and the opposition centre back is a big lump.

Bennette is probably the right answer with Lihadji or perhaps even Gooch as alternatives.

 

Ballard would be more of a battering ram approach and not in keeping with the way we play but I don't think there's anything wrong with O'Nien's footballing quality. First time passing and passing in general is good as is his touch on the ball.

Underrated player in terms of ability imo.

 

Some of 09's passing yesterday was sublime....just makes it look so easy.

 

I don’t know if he’d be strong or canny enough to hold up the ball but we lack that at the minute anyway. What he does have is lightning pace and we had a few occasions yesterday where we broke on Luton only to have no one with pace to play it to. He would bring that in spades.

 

He’s improved so much. I’m happy for the lad, class pro.

 

I was in a club, gigging on the afternoon. There were fans saying “he doesn’t get in the bench even if everyone is fit”

His game has benefitted massively since last season. I thought he’d be good enough for our level bur didn’t realise he’d improve this much. Pleased for the lad. Top pro as well

 

Said the same at HT. Zero intensity from either side and the whole stadium was flat as a fart

 

Didn't realise just how close we were to a winner when Gooch's cross was heading on to Ballard's head - just the slightest of touches from the keeper saved them there

 

Yes you are right in what your saying mate, we literally have hung him out to dry but being a Sunderland fan i say things how i see it on here and right now he just isnt good enough to play at this level. He offers us absolutely nothing upfront. I do genuinely feel for the lad though because like you said its very unfair on him to have this amount of pressure on him.

 

With safety secured, I'd play our two quickest players (probably Bennette and Lihadji) up top, but not use them as traditional centre forwards. Let's use their pace to pull defenders all over the place and play balls over the top of the full backs for them to run into the channels. They could either go on alone, find their strike partner or hold the ball up. Either way, this is an effective alternative to get us up the pitch, rather than having to take 20 passes every time.

 

I think what we are getting from Gelhardt is the same we would get if we stuck Embleton or Ba up front on their own - completely capable players, but not playing in a position to which their game is suited. I've seen some encouraging signs of late - his hold up play is improving and he's getting on the ball more. but has zero confidence in front of goal. Those chances against Norwich and Luton were painful to watch

 

I certainly agree with something that was said on one of the pods - maybe time to start giving game time to lads who will be here next season - not advocating dropping Amad, but certainly Lihadji and Bennette as you mention are surely worth starts soon

 

I think he will start preparing for next season p, probably after Burnley and look to get Ekwah, Lihadji, Jewi a lot more minutes in the last few games.

 

It doesn’t seem like 5 minutes since the season started and it’s almost over!! Mad

 

Yeah, it's flown over. All things considered it's been a great season imo with some cracking football. KLD increasing his % is a nice little bonus.