Got to look at the bigger picture and think about how getting some rest for Jobe, Roberts and Isidor might benefit us in the long term, not to mention getting some minutes for the likes of Watson, Aleksic and Hjelde
Too many still see us a Premier League club, for some they grew up with is in the PL, so thats all they know and some just dont accept that were not that now, and any sign of negativity they feed on it even in L1, they were saying we need to spend etc, we shouldnt be here. we are a PL club. in a stupid way, I am glad for the time in L1. its gotten us to where we are now. we have to earn that right to a PL club,
I have to be honest about all this. I've watched loads of playoff finals, including Leeds v Southampton, which was a lottery played in heavy rain. Literally anything can happen and a fluke, a wonder goal or a bad refereeing decision can cost you the game. But, as you say, there will be games that go down to the last second of extra time which can be exhausting and demoralising. One of Leeds, Burnley or Sheff Utd will, after being top of the league, feel devastated to have missed out. That may make them determined to go up but sometimes trying too hard can work against you ... ... we'll either go up or we won't, whatever the case we've done well to get this far.
None of us know what's going on in training or how the manager/coaches are planning the next few games. We can only guess and make calls based on what we think we know. My guesses are that Watson has lost interest, Neil can't play without Jobe holding his hand, Enzo might have to play wide left and CIrkin will come back in as soon as he's fit but playing better than before his injury. If he's not fit I'd consider O'Nien there with Ballard and Mepham to cope with a team who throw lots of balls into the box as West Brom tried against us. I'm also expecting Samed to appear at some point. Aleksic is a good player but I can't see him shifting any of our midfield now that Enzo is back.
One of the things I think about is what are some of these players best positions. Players like Browne, Aleksic,Le Fee,and Mayenda seem to be fitting in where there's a gap,not really in the best position which might draw the best from them.
There was a time, quite recently, when I didn’t like the majority of our squad … … these days I’ve really like the vast majority. Players like Alese, Ballard, Poveda, who’ve had injuries, may well come back and play their part. At least they’re not Rodwell, Roberts or Johnson.
There was a time, quite recently, when I didn’t like the majority of our squad … … these days I’ve really like the vast majority. Players like Alese, Ballard, Poveda, who’ve had injuries, may well come back and play their part. At least they’re doing Rodwell, Roberts or Johnson. Edit mate
Harrison Jones is a very good player , and real class, picked up a booking last night for a team mate and didn't bat an eyelid.
After a quick gleg at RTG, during my break, I've decided those 'doom-mongers' who aren't Mags, clinically depressed or confined in some way and desperately trying to entertain themselves are actually deranged. Some of those who wrote off this season, before it even started, are now declaring finishing outside the top two a dismal failure and RLB has to go. I don't know anyone who predicted we'd ever be top of the table, challenging for the automatics or clinching fourth place before Easter. Unfortunately, we've achieved that in the least exciting way possible. The best way is to start by playing poor or average, gradually improve and finish fourth with a great unbeaten run ... ... we've done the exact reverse which can, I admit, feel like an anticlimax. The next few games are pointless, from a 'final position' point of view so won't have any edge ... I get that. Personally I'm going to use this opportunity to focus the finer points of our game, how certain players perform and hopefully see a few of the kind of goals we're capable of scoring. I'm already looking at trains, planes and hotels for the semi-finals and really starting to get excited. Ha'way lads & lasses, we have at least a big night under floodlights to look forward to. A lucky few thousand will have two and the rest a massive game to watch live on TV. That's the bare minimum but we might also have the chance to see these lads step out at Wembley ... ... win or lose that would be a massive change from being beaten at Cheltenham or drenched at Accrington, not to mention a great advert for the club. Even if we don't go up the support and occasion might just be enough to tempt Enzo or other good players to come to Sunderland. Doom monger on the left, happy clapper on the right ... ... but they both get to the same place in the end please log in to view this image
....but unfortunately for Bristol City, they meet us over Easter and will undo all of the good they've done
