I'm not having a go at anyone, we just lost a game to a far better team but it struck me tonight that no matter what my hopes and dreams are for life as a sunderland fan, I'm destined for failure and heartache. A near full house, lots of expectation, the chance to ignite a new generation of fans with a Wembley fixture and they woefully under performed and bottled the occasion. How many times do they do that? Different manager and regime but same old Sunderland. We just cant handle the big occasion. MoN has worked wonders turning this relegation haunted squad into a top 10, FA Cup quarter final team in his 4 months but tonight the elastic band snapped and the wheels came off big time, as it all went horribly, horribly wrong. At no point were we in the game tonight and Everton out thought and out fought us at every turn. Congratulations to them and I sincerely hope they go on and lift the trophy. That said Marty has got to explain those substitutions again as at one point, I thought Steve Bruce had come back, or at least decided to make the subs himself. Very strange decisions IMO and smacked of desperation a bit to try and do something. Ah well, the dream is over again. Getting used to these regular disappointments now, after all, this must be my 476th since 1974. Lol See you all at the next game lads.
Like the last line says yes I will be there at the next game but tonight is the worst for a long long time. C'est you say "woefully under performed". let me translate that into laymen terms or industrial language as some may call it. yes Everton were good but we were utter utter f*cking w*nk. I also think i am being polite there. Hope the players read this and are totally ashamed of themselves. We were f*cking terrified of that big curly haired belgian tw*t. Everton probably didnt even break sweat.
The subs were a strange one, however Gardner has played well at RB, Bardo would do a job a CB IMO. He brought Vaughan on for his passing - how would MON have predicated he was going to score an OG. You have to remember this is not his squad, it is still Bruce's, and IMO it will be a very different squad next season. I honestly anticipate about 3 or 4 of those starting 11 playing in MON starting 11. I can see McClean, Mignolet, Brown & O'Shea. I can't see anybody else getting into the starting 11 next season. Unfortunately for us it is going to be a massive out with the old and in with the new during pre-season. I'm glad we got to the 1/4 finals, however remember where we were 4 months ago....17th - with the same players. MON can only get so much out of half decent players. That IMO.
When Martin O'Neill took charge I was uncertain that he would be able to achieve anything other than a bottom 6 finish with the squad assembled by Bruce. I expected nothing other than a bitter relegation battle however, we are already safe and had a decent little cup run aswell. That is far more than I expected so retrospectively speaking, I'm happy with the progress for this season.
We lacked so many things tonight.......pace, tactical awareness, passion etc etc. I am also at a loss at what happened to Larson and Gardener..the pair of them cannot pass water at the moment..they don't have a clue. as Cest say...it goes with the territory being a Sunderland fan...total, undiluted..disappointment. I am gutted
Enjoyed the ride but tonight we were beaten by a much better team, well-organised and disciplined, with a forward who knew where the goal was. Hope Everton go on win the cup. Typical Sunderland. They build you up and then bring you down rather sharpish. Not really time for recriminations but I do think we play better when Cattermole isn't in the team. Tonight he was charging around and lost any chance of getting into rhthym. Apart from our goalie I don't think anyone covered themselves in glory. Ah well the dream is over for this year. Roll on next year. Can we concencentrate on the League now? Off to Man City, that'll be a breeze....
Hopefully our season doesn't taper off to a 14th place position. Just as it was last season, theres barely anything seperating 8th-14th this season so in terms of progress it doesn't make much difference where we finish, just like last season. Financially, the difference between 8th-14th is about £5 million. MON has 8 games to tinker with this squad in order to determine who ought to be retained and who ought to be shown the door.
I doubt Gardner and Cattermole would be happy with a place on the bench at SAFC. Don't wish to be harsh on any of the players however I'm not sure Gardner is upto the task of playing week in week out for SAFC and he has 8 games remaining this season to show us what he is all about.
Great post from Cest a decent balanced view. The players bottled it tonight and so did the manager. Colback should have started and he should have bought Campbell on for Bendtner. I was like the 5-1 all over again. Our big problem is we are excellent on the counter attack but when teams go 1 or 2 up we don't have an answer. We needs striker that much is clear. We are also desperately missing Brown, Oshea and dare I say Bramble. I would even have Killa above Turner and Kyiarkos. Well done Everton and well done David Moyes, again proving he is the best manger in the EPl.
I understand what your saying, but Bruce kind of bought for the crack without making calculated transfers. I do think the team needs an overhaul. The reason being some of the players are not up to scratch. For eg Larsson. Agreed he is mint at taking free-kicks, but for me he is not a RM. We need a McClean but on the right, and this is what MON prefers. I can see a few going, including Cattermole, with O'Shea being made captain in the summer. I think Colback is much preferred, and TBH I am starting to like him. I'm not saying get rid of everyone, but some of them won't stay for the bench. I think he will 100% get a new CM, ST, LB and RM. I also think Sess will go.
Well guess i made the correct choice in my choice as to where to view the game....Coyote dancers seemed to make it difficult to concentrate on the game.. Gutted but not suprised at the result............ Some tough games coming up, time for some to stand up and be counted.... Yes i do have a hangover.
