Another team bang out of form and in relegation places. We need to win. No ifs or buts. We have the ability to play them off the park. We need to do it and not get drawn into a physical encounter. The only way that happens if we attack and play with pace. Watford got into the game as we simply were too passive and they could assert themselves. Needs to be better tomorrow.
Jobe should make the difference. Missed him massively Sat, which is of course a worry for next season...
Agreed. But if they do what Watford did, and get away with as much as Watford did without yellows, it’s exactly what they need. Refs have been very quick to book SAFC players all season and far less willing to book opponents for identical or worse! If that happens, the game is spoiled. Hopefully we play like we know we can!
Pattern #657 on SAFC social media. Pre-match - This will be a tough game, they’ve signed some good players, the manager has changed to a better style, they’ve had a good rest and having training sessions to bed in the new players, they gave us a tough game down there so we can’t just expect to win, etc etc etc. Post-match - There was no reason not to beat them, no excuses!
Get the tactics right and we should win , get them wrong and we could loose , an even handed ref would help. OaU
I expect the lads to react. They will be as disappointed as we were Saturday but top players look to the next game to put things right. I think we see Mayenda in for Roberts. Hopefully Jobe back and Neil can go back to his natural position. Beyond that I am not sure we see changes, unless injuries. I know folk want Rigg out, but read what RLB recently said about him - I think RLB will be sticking with him and good on him. His teamwork remains solid, if his individual moments arent as frequent or as telling.
The non-penalty incident for Isidor v Watford got worse each time I looked at it. Basically lifted him off his feet at one point. Add those to some naughty tackles v Boro that weren't punished properly. Frustrating!
It is hard to know why the ref doesnt give it. Mind you there must be 10 per game not given, but that was blatant. I have a vague memory of Niall Quinn playing for the republic in a world cup and getting one for a shirt pull on him. I thought great, that will stop all this crap. Sadly the refs never have followed through
Hope we play Wilson and Mayenda through the middle,with Neil,Jobe and Enzo feeding their runs. Imo they can open teams up.
Surely all this blocking obstruction,wrapping arms,shirt-tugging etc. at corners and set-piece free kicks will have to be penalised at some point. It wouldn't take much....a few penalties given would stop it altogether!
As an ex-Sunday League centre half I'd back up what all defenders say they hate ... pace, pace and, worst of all, pace. But the through ball, wing play or one/two has to be done quickly so the striker can use that pace. A one on one, with the keeper, needs a gap and not when the players are almost together. As Isidor and Mayenda have shown it's basic physics that an onrushing striker is faster than a defender who has to turn and try to match his opponent. That's why defenders who can turn and make up that ground are so highly coveted. Luton don't have that so we need to do what we're doing quicker. There's nothing wrong with our play but it needs to speed up. Don't take a touch, have the courage to knock it first time and don't hesitate to knock the ball long for the strikers. It's that fractional hesitation that had me screaming on Saturday. We've waited years, what seems like decades, to have that pace ... ... so ffs don't keep knocking it from side to side across the back or the halfway line. That's what kills the atmosphere which then affects the players imo, get into them Sunderland and get them panicking.
Thats what got me on Saturday - Patterson had the ball and it should've been an easy pass to Cirkin who had no one near him but instead he passed it to Mepham, who then went to O'Nien and THEN onto Cirkin. 3 bloody passes when it should've been 1!
Yes and the crowd kept groaning. I know the theory is to tempt the opposition to push players forward but it doesn't have to be every time. If it moves their players around we can pass it to Neil, who can turn, but they're expecting that ... ... fire a few balls down the wings, through the channels or over the top and it keeps them guessing.
Patto's distribution mind! Every time he puts his foot on the top of the ball,rolling it back and forth....an opposition player charging in...gives me heart failure!
RLB: Luton - when we face teams with big physical attributes we have to adapt We have to play our best football against a good side. They will focus on their strengths. They are direct but we want to be consistent with our identity Jobe Bellingham is okay to face Luton Town on Wednesday. Ballard or O'Nien is a problem for the coach - we need competition, a good question to solve The players have a shared goal and the ideas are very clear It is always best to focus on your strengths, they will be very direct and focus on set pieces Alan Browne - we need his experience in the dressing room, in a few weeks we will have almost a full squad. We need wingers and Romaine and Tommy will be key to the second half of our season. They are direct and natural wingers. We are looking forward to welcoming them back. We will have replacements fully ready on the bench who can come on with full intensity We created a good level of danger for the last 15 games but the last 3 we have conceded more chances Romaine is training with the team, he needs another week of full contact training, Tommy is another week away. Against Watford it was strange, we have to accept that the other team can also be good At home, probably as we are a young team, when we fail to press our opponent we get frustrated and disorganise our structure. At that stage the good organisation is the key point We want to win more games, my playing style is evolving and a new experience, I am learning
I hope Ballard gets in, I really do love O'Nien, but Ballard deserves his chance because of how many we've conceded.
