That looks like he’s either been seriously coached recently or learning from Isidor … … although perhaps he’s just very good
Bit of everything I think. I've always personally rated him, think he showed a lot more than Burstow/Rusyn in limited minutes last season but good coaching, confidence and having good players around you to feed you and learn from is a great combination
Last night, at 2-1, one of our players went down with cramp, Neil I think. The referee ran straight over and told him to get up. So how, at the SOL. do we see opposition players down for minutes and sometimes the trainer comes on?
The fact that if you work hard enough, you can be good enough Edit - I've just read that statement to the missus and it affected me in a way I would never have imagined. Emotionally I read that and I'll admit that the eyes started watering. I've watched Sunderland going back to the days of Chrissy Turner, Stan Cummins, imagined being Gary Rowell growing up playing in the back lane, going through the years of Shaun Cunnington,, Craig Russell, Phil Gray, Johnny Byrne, Don Goodman, Quinn, Phillips but nothing had EVER affected me like that statement has. No matter if people think he doesn't deserve a place in the first 11, he deserves to be thought of along the likes of Benno, Bally, Quinny - he seriously gets what it means to play for this team and for us, the fans.
Might not have the most talent, but has worked hard to get where he is A brilliant role model to the younger lads and a very tidy footballer
And your edit is spot on. Name a championship centre back that can pass with both feet? He has taught himself that and it will be a sad day when he moves on
Watched the game last night with a few drinks in the town, dead as ****. I thought Dan Neil, for all he was class again, started poor distribution wise, but slowly grew into the game. We got a slice of luck, they missed good chances and we took ours that happened to hit Mayenda's hand. Result. After our goal I felt like we done a really good job of suppressing their response, they struggled the further up we pushed them, just like the home game. Beginning of the 2nd half was so flat, like the home games at 0-0 or 1-0. You can't really believe it, how we easily surrender possession. Its like you need to suspend their family above a swimming pool of sharks to threaten them to switch on. Mepham had a right old brain fart again, then Patto was caught in no man's land. He's having it tough lately. Response was poor, they really could have scored 3 or 4 last night, Patto made a good save. Our second goal was magnificent however, I really do love Mayenda. He's a powerful and creative force, he nearly set Isidor away like he has done so often. I think the way to go has to be Mayenda and Isidor on the back of this, Ogunsuyi and Abdullahi hopefully making their way on the bench. It makes sense given we have no Le Fee. Would like to see Browne given minutes later in games for Bellingham, to avoid him being booked and also prepare for a potential ban. I think Browne will be better suited alongside Neil as opposed to playing the same role as Rigg. Nice to Harrison Jones playing. Shame about Aleksic. Well done Hjelde for a solid game.
Glad it came across that way. Never have I ever felt that emotional about a player before. Must be age catching up with me!
There's a lesson there for all the 'bin him off, send him back, he'll never make it' brigade. Our players aren't just names on Football Manager, they're human beings with feelings and families.
