Match Day Thread Burnley FC v Sunderland AFC – Friday 31st March 2023 - KO 20:00

You're not a proper Sunderland fan if you don't love Lynden Gooch in my opinion.

 

Following on from that defensive performance last night does Dan "the wall" Ballard get straight back in when he's fit. Who would you drop from that back 4 last night?
Great to have these options and versatility with O9 and Goochy in the team but would you play or bench him?
Obviously this is assuming we get no more injuries which is highly unlikely going on this seasons form.

 

I'd still like to see 09 in the Corry Evans role for some games personally.

 

Fair comment but I think Michut's form has meant we have not missed him as much as I feared we would.

 

Looked on Burleys forum last night, from the sounds of it, we're the first team to go there and not roll over for them this season.

 

Thought he done really well considering that was his first start against by far the best team in the league.

Sure there were a few wayward passes but he will learn and he improved second half.

Personally I think we have unearthed another gem.

 

Personally I would like to see 09 as the DM in front of the back four. Atm Dan Neill in the injury absence of Evans is making a decent fist of being DM. Dan i reckon can be more creative and attacking further up the pitch.

 

Let's see 6 games or so, before judgement.
I thought Michut looked too frail to be effective i was wrong, he is a scrapper.

Give Ekwah a chance

 

This ^

Such a massive springboard for the next two quick back-to-back fixtures..

 

We like good football as much as any other fans, but give us lots of heart and energy as well? Not forgetting their impressive football nous. We have got a cracking team here.

(Add to that, a cracking owner, coaching staff and recruitment dept)

 

Aye...And we have honest supporters who always speak the truth when we under perform...very knowledge supporters.

I am really confident that if we don't get promoted this season, the players who will want to come here, will make us one of the fancied teams to push on for the big time next season.

 

Tony Mowbray: Lynden Gooch was Sunderland's warrior in Burnley draw



https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/s...ch-sunderlands-warrior-burnley-draw/?ref=ebls

HE has spent most of the season praising the impact of Sunderland’s youngsters, but Tony Mowbray was quick to hail his side’s experienced defensive core after they excelled in this evening’s goalless draw with Burnley.

The Black Cats became the first side to prevent the Championship leaders from scoring at Turf Moor this season as they claimed a deserved point.

Danny Batth and Luke O’Nien were superb at the heart of Sunderland’s back four, ensuring that the injured Dan Ballard was not missed, while Lynden Gooch returned to the starting line-up and delivered an excellent performance at left-back, with a series of sliding blocks resulting in the scoresheet remaining blank.

Mowbray said: “Lynden is a warrior. He and Luke are the grit and determination of this team, that every team who is ever going to succeed needs.

“You need players who put their head in, block shots. I've talked about soldiers and artists, and they are very much our soldiers.

“Danny Batth, you've got to mention too. He’s been a rock and amazing for this football club.

“I thought the balance was alright tonight, it's great that some of the young lads got game time in that environment and it's good for the experience of the team.

“I genuinely feel that if we get recruitment right in the summer, we can be a force in this league and give them problems.”

Mowbray promised that Sunderland would attempt to take the game to Burnley, and while the Clarets might have had their chances, with Anthony Patterson making a couple of decent saves, the visitors came closest to scoring when Amad Diallo’s deflected second-half strike looped against the crossbar.

Mowbray said: “When you come here, you know you're playing against the best in the league - I don't think they've lost here this season.

“I said to the boys before the game that we had to go and challenge ourselves, compete and enjoy the night. We tried to play on the front foot and yet they do build from the back and they wait for you to get the press wrong, they play it past you and they're away.

“I think we generally got it right tonight and a little more aggression and intensity, we might have nicked it a bit more. Against a team like this it's got to be nick it, one pass and you're in. We didn't do that quite enough but it's a great experience for these young players.

“There's plenty of positives for us, we've come here and left disappointed we haven't taken our chances. We were good out of possession, it was just that final pass, that last little bit that we're just lacking without Ross Stewart to punish teams.

“We'll hopefully resolve that in the transfer window, get Ross fit and fill the team with goalscorers. But it's a really focused group, they are brilliant listeners who want to be better footballers.”

 

I think we are starting to build toward something special at our club there is a long term plan and everybody seems to be buying in to it. Even talk of increasing capacity hints at bigger and better ambitions. The football on a whole this season has been good to watch, the players and staff have stood up to adversity (injuries and some awful refereeing) with their heads held high and then puffed out their chests and got on with the job as best they can. Sure there is still a sniff of playoffs but if we stay on track and only finish mid table for a team who finished where we did last year to where we are now with young players who are having their first full season is a testament to the recruitment and management team. Next season I think we will undoubtedly be bigger better and stronger HWTL.

 

Have we brought in some excellent young players, undoubtedly... however there is one glaring void. Lets see what happens over the summer transfer window... before praise is heaped on Speakman

 

have to agree, done a good job and for a change not a big talking point...couple of possible mistakes but you can accept them when a game is well managed.

 

Yep. Got a lot right, but got that bit wrong. Took a gamble last season and it worked.

I expect a couple will be signed in the summer.

 

Yeah Twitter is the same. Best team in the league can’t break down a stubborn side, who also created the best chances and came closest to scoring! We should’ve just rolled over and let them tickle our tummies!

 

Yeah, if he really doesn't kick on before the end of the season probably go on loan in September

 

Considering they are the youngest team in the league they don't roll over very often.