Match Day Thread Sunderland AFC v West Ham - Saturday 16th August 2025 - KO 15:00

Just a shout for my new favourite player Talbi. He's so good. So calm in tight spaces, makes good decisions, barely wastes an attack, has the ability to go from 0-100 instantly, has quality oozing out of him. But my favourite thing is his defensive work rate and the quality of that defending. Said it multiple times during pre season but it's just so good, how is he 20 but knows exactly how to defend? Right to the top.

 

I really like Adingra and Talbi btw. Adingra does need work on his touch but he’s so rapid and always going at fullbacks he makes things happen and that’s what we need.

Talbi is looking better and better too really like him

 

Him and Hume just locked down their side in the 2nd half. I'm the same as you, buzzing about this lad - just think once he gets more experience he will explode for us

 

Yeh, he's got the x factor.

 

Diouf looks a cracking player and is a great athlete, but Talbi pretty much stopped any threat he posed, especially 2nd half

 

Just seen the goals back, what a finish by Isidor he loves that corner of box finish but that was way further out than standard.

Also, looked in my SkyBet and there’s fortunes in there. Boost frenzy

Would be a perfect day was I now not dog Ill cos of all the cheese and scran mixing with the beers.

 

Agree very much on Xhaka. This is a ridiculously young team, especially in midfield and up front. Someone like Xhaka is utterly vital. I can't ever remember him being an athletic footballer really, not a man with pace to burn. But he is always where you need him, which is how I like to judge a midfielder, and his presence and leadership is more or less half of his value in his role here.

 

Exactly, I was impressed with Diouf 1st half - felt he had some success (Hume and Talbi did a good job on him tho) but 2nd half they just stopped him completely

Talbi still needs to improve his movement in the final 3rd but that'll come - he works so hard and is technically very good

 

Link to the goals notregion blocked

https://www.whufc.com/video/player/...&section=6ca42eaf-56cc-41b1-922e-60531cb1b429

 

I actually felt that the crowds reaction to our first goal of the new season was so fantastic that our team were slightly shocked emotionally. It took a few minutes before they fully recovered. It certainly has given them an understanding how passionate our support can be. That could bring them even closer as a team.
It was a fantastic day.

 

There was an ambulance at the back of the North stand with its flashers going when I came out. Frodo Baggins must have been kicking off

 

Question....was the second half down to a Reggie masterclass in tweaking things or more down to the enforced sub when Sleet went off.?
Not suggesting Sleet wasn't decent.

 

I never saw a mix of snow and rain today

 

80% Reggie
20 the sub

 

Was gonna say the same, weather looked great

 

I would say a bit of both. I thought Seelt did well against their front players but THAT ball up to Mayenda for the first goal was a joy to behold. That would've have happened if he was still on the pitch

 

How good was that?

 

Always been crap at spelling

 

Blame predictive text, works for me all the time