He’s much better up front than in the number 10 role. Jobe has bags of talent, there’s no denying that. I get frustrated when we insisted on playing him behind a striker even though it was obvious Adil would have been a much better option.
I stated weeks ago he wasnt given a specific job role and was drifting in and out of games. People like structure. They like to know what they are doing. Personally I think the lad could do a decent job wherever he was put but more than happy to let him have the No9 role for the time being.
The more I think about the Head Coach recruitment process, the more I think that our main target is already in a job. Imagine the backlash from the fan base if they gave someone like Paul Heckingbottom the job after their "thorough process of recruitment" was completed? I think it is very unlikely to be someone currently unemployed, because they would have been appointed by now IMO.
I was excited about Ba pre season and despite his ups and downs this season I still am. Genuinely think his upside potential is as high as anyone else at the club. Like has been said decision making and mentality can be coached. On mentality, the way he rode out the boo boys shows he has the character. I really like the lad, rate the lad and believe he will go on and be a cracking player.
We have to start somewhere, to have any chance of competing in the Premier league we need a squad of players at the level of Jack Clarke. Problem is we can't afford to do that. So what we have to do is buy them 3-4 years before they get to that level, some will develop quicker , some a bit slower and some not at all , that's the gamble. Every transfer window we will bring in more younger players to try and progress and some fans will complain we are signing more youngsters. I'm not denying we need 3 quality experienced players in the spine of the squad, the recruitment have gotten that wrong. The bit I don't understand is the negativity about the players we've brought in. They aren't **** , cheap options. They are an investment and are first team players in 2-3 years . Just not right now. If we didn't sign them now in 3 years when they have progressed and are championship or PL ready we wouldn't be able to afford them, this is what the model is about. Yes we will sign players that don't work, that also works with £10 million players, look at Rodwell
All the previous managers have played him suggesting they all see a decent player in there somewhere. As stated his decision making will improve and hopefully we will see the player the managers see.
I see it mate. I see a lovely amount of natural ability and attitude. He has the tools he just needs smoother and polished he could be a really top player.
He really excited me when he's on the ball, nobody has a clue what he going to do, most of the time that includes him. I can't remember which game it was he cut inside , dropped his shoulder to go outside the defender, who read it and went to go with him, however Ba forgot to take the ball which completely wrong footed the defender allowing him the chance to pull the ball back , I think for Clarke who scored
I keep seeing people say we need an experienced spine, in the team, and that's a fair comment. But following on from what you said I wonder if, yesterday, there were many better spines than Ballard, Neil, Jobe. To buy them now would set us back £30/40m? We have them in the team already, improving all the time, and they've cost next to nowt. What we've lacked, this season imo, is players being in the side long enough to form partnerships. If we have a more settled team/style I think those improvements will quicken. Hume and Aouchiche seemed to understand each other yesterday and so did Ekwah and Rigg ... ... but it takes a little time and patience.
The appointment of Mowbray wasn't exactly received by a lot of Sunderland fans positively, but TM with his brand of management and style of football made him very popular with our fan base. After he was unceremoniously dumped..I truly believe they went for the ultimate cheap option in Beale hoping he could replicate the same kind of admiration and respect Mowbray managed to achieve and gain the support of the fan base. How wrong they were. The next appointment will absolutely tell us all where the ambition is with this club. In my humble opinion, if it is a Heckingbottom kind of appointment, it shouts of just being happy trying to compete in the upper end of the Championship and not really "going for it"...Lets see.
I think at times we have missed the experience this season, however the more seasons these players play the more experienced they become. It's getting the balance right time, allow the players a couple of seasons to gain the experience or bring some in. I'm all for giving them time but I don't think everyone else is. If we get it right we can do both but the players we bring it have to be right. I'm not sure Dack is here for the right reasons, Evans however is a prime example, he's been a huge miss and I think Neil and Ekwah would have benefited even more had he been fit. If we can get a couple in on frees, that aren't on silly wages with the right temperament could be ideal. They don't have to play week in week out, but having them around the dressing room and training pitch could be priceless
Tell ya what, I'm all for the long term sustainable approach, but they simply cannot wait all season and then appoint a 31 year old. We need a proper manager through the door, ASAP
Standards and a proper bloke in. Not a waffle spreadsheet whooper. We need someone to tell speakman to shut up.
