We play well, we play bad, we play in patches but we always win and TBH are starting to just look like we will win, however we play. On Saturday we take on Arsenal, a game that would certainly be a,"Well if we get a lucky point I will be overjoyed" not long ago, not now for me. Yes I know all about the early days, it will be hard, lets not get carried away, well, you know what, lets get carried away. For more years than I care to remember I have suffered the Sunderland syndrome, yes but, well we knew what to expect, we are Sunderland, the lads tried hard, always next year, we always cock it up, maybe its time to change. I go into Saturdays game expecting to win, whatever MON has infected the players with, I think I may have caught it, I expect to win, if Arsenal score first, I still expect to win. I know we will not win every game but I expect to, no more coming away feling that we did our best, I'm proud of hoe we lost, I want to come away pissed off if we lose, Marty will be, the players will be and I want to be. I'm starting to enjoy this success idea, will still be a nervous wreck in March when we play the mags, but I still expect us to win.
First trip up to the SoL in yonks on Saturday. 3 points in the bag and a huuuuge sesh in the town afterwards! Ha'way The Lads
Bizzarely I think we could have more success /play better against Arsenal than Boro. Boro did a very good job of closing down the centre channels, and keeping Sess and Campbell quiet. The one or 2 time Sess or Campbell did get away from their markers, is when we scored or came very close to it. Their full backs (i really liked the lad Bennet, cracking player from what I saw last night) also kept it tight at the back. Arsenal will play a more open game, which in turn will give Sess and Campbell more space. btw, Sess looked to be limping a little at the end, anybody hear anything? Plus, we know have our secret weapon - Turner. just tell him to bulldoze their centre backs and Arsenal will crumble. Seriously, did MON tell him to get into Boro's penalty box or was he just playing the offside rule really far up the pitch???? Talking about Turner, I hope he doesnt spoon any more clearances up in the air against Arsenal, Van Persie will not be forgiving. 4-3 to the lads, and 3 points in the the bag.
I do not expect to win on Saturday but I hope we do. 120 minutes last night and a lot the lads looked knackered, especially Jack and Seb. I also hope Sess is not injured. Boro sat back and thereby nullified our counter attacking play and the speed of Frazier and Sess also can Jamsie use his right foot now and again. The following week the Gonners will have played amid week game in Europe so I think we will have a better chance to win in the cup game.
Good post, and I agree. We do look better against better teams, the flipside being if we do counter against Arsenal and lose it, Theo and AOC can cause massive problems. I'm uncomfortable with any of our CB's on RVP, despite our superb away record, and think that Bardo should maybe have a role in handling him, Bardo is generally excellent at man-marking.
Yeah syd, expecting to win is the attitude we need. I remember Lawrie Reilly, the great Hibs and Scotland centre-forward, telling Jimmy Armfield that the 'famous five' (Hibs forward line) went onto the field expecting to win every game (and very nearly did!). They calmly just went about their everyday business of demolishing teams. Easy-peasy. I'm not bothered how we do it. If you look back, the '80s Liverpool team had not a few off-days, but still won. Man. U. were second best for 88 minutes in their Euro final, but got two late goals - and won. I agree with Dan that last night meant nothing. Cup games against a lower league team are always difficult. It's a cup final to them and they'll raise their game, pack their defence, etc. Cup games and league games have no bearing on each other. Arsenal? Win, simple as.
So Syd if we play boring football, you aren't going to threaten to not go to the next match? We definitely need our strongest defence out, as previously I would have been worried about RVP as their main man. Oxo has been a revelation and will need watching closely. McClean's defensive capabilities will be sorely tested by Theo. I fancy a score draw personally but do think we can nick it. If Turner plays Arsenal win.