Just back in from the game and delighted. Who would have thought a couple of weeks ago that we would go to Leeds and West Brom and come away with 4 points and 2 clean sheets
Been on the drink over the dark side all day ! Hard to keep our mouths shut all day but I eventually snapped when some thick Geordie asked what I thought of the performance !! When I told him I hated the black & white B******s and was only there for a concert there was a little animosity that lasted 30 seconds when they realised there was 11 nutters in the bar Some of the lads were a little concerned but we waltzed through the Percy Arms without a word from the locals Never seen our game but when the result flashed up on the telly and 11 crack pots cheered there was a deathly silence which lead to us strutting out and onto the City Hall!! We took over the toon for a afternoon is the story we will tell tomorrow, we definitely kept the red flag flying high on enemy territory
No, but I like the bloke and hope he's still here as a coach when a head coach comes in. That sounds sentimental but I think we have to get a balance right of a good head coach the players look up to with others they like and respond to. I think that is crucial to being successful. Peter Reid said fook it to criticism and did it his way. Roy Keane came in with no nonsense. Enigma and a will to win. I'm hoping for a decent recruitment re head coach this summer. Fingers crossed lol. It's the hope I can't stand.
I don't want Dodds as permanent head coach but it's fair to say that he's shown he's got his foot in the door if that's where he wants it. Picking up points nicely and is that 5 clean sheets in 6? Hume, Ballard and O'Nien are a banging trio but it's Dodds who plays them together at CB.
Er - isn't it quite common for teams to win games through playing well, or the opponents making stupid mistakes, or a combination? We were pretty good against Southampton away but messed up in defence so we lost the game. They dominated possession in the first half, without really testing Patto, but their star striker made an appalling mistake so they lost the game. Suck it up Baggies,.
Yeah I agree. Dodds is a good bloke, on ready to moan they treat him like the devil incarnate. Full of ****ers that place. He’s also slowly improving us step by step with a quiet confidence and determination. We’re more competitive and that brings confidence which will bring the better football. I want a new head coach to be able to bring what they must have but we don’t need to rip everything up and have a complete change. What new head coach wouldn’t want someone the players respect and knows the players. If we change all and it fails we’re back to being what we thought we’d learnt from.
West Brom boss Carlos Corberan's angry Dan Ballard blast https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/s...=a73edde4dcb3d8fcf40d517c2718393e&date=140424 By Dominic Shaw MIKE Dodds jumped to the defence of Sunderland's Dan Ballard, who was singled out for criticism by West Brom fans - as home boss Carlos Corberan moaned at the defender's "terrible" foul on Josh Maja in the reverse fixture at the Stadium of Light four months ago.... “The second yellow card had a massive impact. You can have desire, but when you have a yellow card, you need to increase the calm,” Corberan said. “To concede from a set-piece after losing a player is painful. “If the referee understood it to be a yellow card, it has been our mistake to achieve two yellow cards. It’s a lesson for Brandon and it’s a lesson for us. "We haven’t had the experience to play with a player less since I arrived. I know for some teams how much of a disadvantage it can be. “For me it was unfair that in the first game, they injured Maja. It was a terrible action. It was unbelievable. The player (Ballard) who scored that day injured a player and the referee didn’t send him off or give him a yellow card. “It was ridiculous – not just because it was against us, I am talking about football. If somebody today breaks their limits with two actions, they’re two yellow cards. When you have a yellow card, you must control yourself.” Sunderland interim manager Dodds, who guided the Black Cats to only their second victory in 12 with this win, was pleased with Ballard’s application in a testing atmosphere. The centre-half enjoyed conducting the celebrations with the travelling supporters at the final whistle. “It can work that way,” Dodds replied, when asked whether the boos could act as a performance stimulus. “When you have a group like ours, and the opposition fans want to give some stick, they’ll stick up for each other. It brings the group closer together, but Dan is a big boy. He’s an international, he’s a Premier League player in waiting for me. He can take it. “I was a bit surprised. I am always respectful to the fans, but the first boo did take me by surprise. “He’s a great kid, Dan. West Brom fans target him, that’s fine, it’s a part of the game. Dan showed today he can handle that side of the game, but I didn’t need today as confirmation.”
Another cracking away day. Very professional performance as has been said. Thought the back 4 were rock solid again giving us the foundation to build on going forward. Big shout to styles who played well at fullback but was even better when he moved into midfield broke up play and picked up every loose ball keeping things ticking over a little like Evans did. Haynsey enjoying himself in that video. Cracking lad and another cracking atmosphere created by the away support. Looking very solid just need that bit of strength flair and pace up top and we will be a very good side. Knackered but happy Sunday to all.
