Match Day Thread Gateshead FC v Sunderland AFC & South Shields FC v Sunderland AFC - Saturday 12th July 2025 - KO 12:

I miss our Hartlepool pre season games. The last one i went to i was literally sat next to Ballard with Roberts the other side of him

 

Myself and @Scout73 saw him against Berwick a few years back and definitely looks a decent prospect

 

Talbi and sadiki were sat behind us today but I didn’t notice until I saw a picture on Twitter

 

Can't be doing that on the football pitch imo

 

Have I missed something or…… but where was Chris Rigg today?

 

Haha really. Wish i still had the pics i posted them on here at the time.
I felt part of the squad because Dack, Pritchard were next to him with a few other that i cant remember now. The fans must have thought who the feck is this nob head, cant remember us signing him

 

https://rokerreport.sbnation.com/20...-4-sunderland-lads-get-off-to-a-winning-start
Anthony Patterson: 6/10
Had a bit of trouble with a free kick at the end of the first half but otherwise his only action was with his feet, one overhit clearance but otherwise tidy enough.
Niall Huggins: 6/10
Good to see him back and was up and down the line all half, did give away a poor pass just before our second though.
Dan Ballard (C): 6/10
Cruised through the game without being troubled.
Jenson Seelt: 6/10
Same as Ballard, never really tested and used the ball well.
Jenson Jones: 6/10
Look accomplished at left back, working hard out of possesion and combined well with Mundle ahead of him.
Alan Browne: 6/10
Got away down the right in the first half following a run in behind and forced a save. Played just off Isidor.
Habib Diarra: 7/10
Was very tidy on the ball, including getting an assist when he played in Mundle for the second, also had a shot well blocked after Tutierov picked him out, but his off the ball work was great. Covered so much ground when pressing the opposition.
Enzo Le Fee: 6/10
Set up a goal almost immediately with a trademark pass that broke the lines to Isidor. Sat just in front of the back four and used the ball well but was a bit casual on a couple of occasions and got lucky South Shields couldn’t take advantage after winning the ball from him.
Timur Tutierov: 6/10
A busy display down the right wing, worked hard off the ball and set up Diarra for a good shot at goal and then had a header himself that went narrowly wide from a Mundle cross.
Romaine Mundle: 7/10
Always seemed to be in the wars but he seems to revel in them. Scored a goal after a quick break with Diarra, forced a save from a free kick and was generally a nuisance to the home side when they were in possession.
Wilson Isidor: 6/10
Broke the offside trap to get onto the end of Le Fee’s ball and slid the ball into the far corner. Almost got another with a shot from the centre spot that went just over. Not hugely involved other than those two instances.
Substitutes
Simon Moore: 6/10
Like Patterson in the first half he barely had a thing to do but did react quick to smother a half chance after Neil gave the ball away cheaply.
Trai Hume: 6/10
A pretty relaxed showing by Hume, patrolled the right flank without being heavily involved.
Nectar Triantis: 6/10
Shame we didn’t get to see him in the position he played out on loan due to injuries but was steady at centre back.
Zak Johnson: 6/10
A good display in the middle of defence, used the ball well and was involved in the fourth goal after stepping up and winning the ball late on.
Dan Neil (C): 6/10
Kept the ball ticking in the middle of the pitch but like Le Fee in the first half was a little too casual at times and got caught out leading to the home side’s only real chance of the second half.
Ben Middlemas: 6/10
Tidy alongside Neil and pushed up a bit more to get involved with attacks, always looking to break into the box or play a ball into the forwards.
Patrick Roberts: 7/10
Had the South Shields players on strings for most of the half, they couldn’t get near him and kept drifting central to play in through balls, one of which led to the third goal.
Harrison Jones: 6/10
Completely out of position at left back but did a fine job.
Milan Aleksic: 7/10
Was a constant threat down the left with his runs in behind, scored one and could and maybe should have had a couple of others.
Ahmed Abdullahi: 7/10
An accomplished display up front, kept causing problems with his movement and his work rate off the ball. Deserved a goal after missing a few from either good saves or one notable soft shot after Mayenda played him through but made no mistake right at the end.
Eliezer Mayenda: 7/10
A typically busy display by Mayenda, constantly running at and out muscling the opposition defenders and when he wasn’t forcing good saves himself he was linking up play well.

Man of the Match: Habib Diarra
Some really good displays considering it was the first game of pre-season but my man of the match was the debutant Habib Diarra. Not only did he set up a goal with a well weighted ball to Mundle but his effort off the ball on such a tiring day was superb, constantly chasing the South Shields players and never giving them a second on the ball.

 

He got injured on international duty last month

 

Ah I missed that

 

Really surprised how quick he was actually, unsure if it was just comparative against tired legs but looked rapid

 

That’s probably only half the budget

 

Anyone got that clip of the lads fans on the radio saying let’s get carried away

 

Really??? How can we spend over 200m??

 

The magic world of FFP and PSR

 

I wouldn’t back any of the new lads to understand a word I said

 

We aren’t putting bids in for strikers for no reason, we will defo be signing one. Give Abdullahi a championship loan if possible

 

Young Jones at LB looked as good as anyone.

Looks like he's going to get some game time in Portugal.

 

Now I might need some clarification because both left backs were young and Jones. But I assume first half?