The boy just rang me before he headed for his liquid supper. Reckons loads of shots on target. Two good goals from McC. Loads of crosses from both brilliant wingers. Loads of possession. Couple of scares from Morecambe. Soft bookings. Saha looking very good when he came on. Also reckons Colback was immense and our best player. Could have been a big banana skin this one, as we were so far above Morecambe in the leagues. Onwards and upwards.
Similar reports, my marra said Johnson was buzzing allover the park, and says he looked absolutely delighted in the shirt. Says McLean looked gutted to get the hook as he was ripping into them, and looked likely to get a hat-trick. He also said that Colback ran the game, effortlesly. Decent, solid result, that's all you want from these games, SAFC.com reckons Fletch, Saha & McLean got massive ovations during the subs, nice to see Saha not being overlooked, could be a very astute signing, and arguably, if he can get Connor & Ji on track, he could actually be the most important long term!
Just watched McCleans goals on SSN. Top class header from perfect AJ corner. Second goal top class pass from AJ to McCleans feet, where he showed some lovely skill under pressure edge of the box, to take a very good shot for his goal. And some on here were overreacting after one mediocre game, saying we should be looking for someone to put pressure on the lad!!!!!!!! please log in to view this image
MM the boy didn't know why McClean got booked but reckons MON was just being cautious taking him and Catts off on yellows. Just tried to ring him to ask how Fletcher did, little sod has turned his phone off.
To be fair mate, it IS good that people put him under pressure. He's a cracking raw talent, but he's unfinished, he needs pushed to make sure he doesn't slack off, and that he reaches his potential. He's a weapon, but sometimes he's easy to read, I love the lad mind, love direct, no ****ing about players.
I bloody love DeCanio, just seen him on SSN calling a player over and literally giving him a kick up the arse. It worked they stuffed Stoke 4-3 .
Jimmy got booked for a studs up challenge, but he did get the ball. Re him improving his game, I noticed him taking the ball on his right foot a couple of times (and scored with it!) so maybe he has taken advice and is learning to vary his play. Adam Johnson will be a great teacher in that respect. He looked sooooo good tonight! Fletcher had one good chance that I remember and a few half chances, but looked like he needs games to me. No worries though he was taking up good positions and to be fair I thought Morecambe's defence did quite well (although we never really got into second gear) Sess was also buzzing around and I liked the look of Saha too. Official attendance was 22,871 but it looked more than that to me. Great credit to Morecambe fans who sang all night long, supporting their team. They really helped to make for a good atmosphere.
McClean may be coming under the Steve Guppy influence (was at Leicester and Wycome with MON) he was a LW with a great right foot shot. Once he went inside defenders they could not close him down.
Yes, he played in behind Fletcher, linking really well with McClean and Johnson, as well as Larsson and Colback (who really was excellent tonight too).
Yes of course. I remember Steve Guppy as a player, and had forgotten he was working as a coach with us now. This can only be good if Jimmy is prepared to take lessons on board and show improvement so quickly.
From Capitalonecup.co.uk http://www.capitalonecup.co.uk/news...-morecambe-339795.aspx?pageView=full#anchored McClean cleans up James McClean reminded debutant Adam Johnson he is not the only winger on Wearside as Sunderland eased past Morecambe 2-0 and into the Capital One Cup third round draw. The Republic of Ireland international claimed a double either side of the break, both goals assisted by the former Manchester City man, who shone in his first outing for his new club. McClean headed home Johnson's 24th minute corner at the near post and then fired coolly past keeper Barry Roche from his 65th minute cross to end the npower League 2 side's lingering hopes of a fightback. There was a first Black Cats appearance too for striker Steve Fletcher, who like Johnson arrived at the Stadium of Light on Friday as owner Ellis Short sanctioned a ￡20million-plus spending spree. It was a confident display from a Sunderland side which missed out on Barclays Premier League action at the weekend as a result on unseasonable weather in the north east. However, a crowd of 22,871 was treated to an encouraging team display which promised much more to come during the season ahead. Morecambe boss Jim Bentley will have been delighted with the effort put in by his players, but it rarely looked like being their night. Opposite number Martin O'Neill freely admitted his mission for the summer was to add an attacking threat to his side, and his line-up tonight could hardly have been more progressive. Johnson lined up on the right as McClean continued on the left, but with midfielders Craig Gardner and Jack Colback operating as full-backs, there was a wealth of support for lone striker Fletcher and Stephane Sessegnon, who lined up just behind the Scot. But while Johnson and Fletcher were perhaps the main focus, it was Gardner and Colback who were first to make an impression as, largely able to abandon their defensive duties, they attacked at will. Indeed, it was they who produced the first two meaningful efforts of the tie, Colback forcing a good block from Roche after running on to Fletcher's 20th minute lay-off before Gardner tested Roche at his near post seconds later. Morecambe had in the meantime enjoyed an encouraging spell during which Lewis Alessandra, Andrew Wright and Robbie Threlfall had all taken aim at goal, although none came close to forcing keeper Keiren Westwood to fear for his clean sheet. But as the half wore on, Johnson in particular started to make an impression, at times switching flanks with McClean and always providing the kind of threat in which O'Neill invested so heavily. As an England international and Premier League title winner, he would have been expected to make light work of a League 2 defence, but buoyed by the adoration of a crowd thrilled at his capture, he sliced into the Shrimps with genuine relish. His first telling contribution was to deliver a 24th minute corner perfectly to the near post for McClean to head home the opener, but thereafter, he tormented Threlfall and whoever tried to help the full-back to contain him. Roche had to be at his best to beat away the winger's driven right-foot attempt five minutes before the break, and was relieved to see his free-kick sail over his crossbar three minutes later. Johnson also provided Sebastian Larsson, lining up in the middle to accommodate he and McClean out wide, with a headed opportunity on the stroke of half-time, and the visitors returned to the dressing room knowing they were still in the contest, but only just. Sunderland returned determined to kill the tie off as quickly as possible, pinning the League Two side back deep inside their own half. Despite defending deep and in numbers, Morecambe were managing to hold on without great difficulty, and their hopes might have increased markedly with 13 minutes of the second half played. Alessandra was given time and space on the edge of the box to thump a right-foot shot towards goal, and Westwood was mightily relieved to see it only just pass his far post at full-stretch. The visitors, with Danny Carlton and Kevin Ellison having replaced Richard Brodie and Izak Reid, pressed forward in the hunt for an equaliser, but just as quickly as they hopes had been raised, they were dashed. Once again, it was Johnson and McClean who did the damage, the Englishman picking out his Irish counterpart inside the box and watching him deftly move the ball out of his feet before firing past Roche with 65 minutes played. The former Derry City midfielder might have completed a fine hat-trick with 17 minutes remaining, but saw his right-foot shot from distance fly inches high and wide. Substitute Louis Saha forced an injury-time save from Roche with a close-range header, but his side was already home and dry.
Westwood - Never had a thing to do but his distribution and kicking was good all night Gardner - Looked solid and defended very well, 2nd half started to link up more upfield and also did that very well. O'Shea - Breezed through the game, never looked troubled. Bramble - Looked solid and very composed on the ball Colback - (MOTM) Very good defending, looked really good linking up with McClean and then Johnson later on in the game, his running, passing and vision took me by surprise tonight. England player in the making. Johnson - Great debut, loves twisting and turning when running at defenders and got both assists. Cattermole - Won the midfield battle breaking everything down but his distribution was very poor tonight. Larsson - Tried the CM role and for me it didn't work, in patches looked good when we were going forward but you could see he was a bit lost when tracking back while Morecambe were attacking. McClean - Excellent performance, non-stop all night, 2 very well taking goals. Sessegnon - Was brilliant tonight and buzzing all over the park looking to create things, played just off Fletcher and looks very dangerous. Fletcher - Thought he was supposed to win everything in the air? Didn't win a friggin thing lol, never looked dangerous but i'm putting this down to no pre-season or competitive games. The jury is still out. Meyler - Replaced Cattermole and done his job very well and was nice and tidy with his passing. Campbell - Replaced McClean and didn't do anything of note, might be time for him to go? Saha - Replaced Fletcher and looked very lively when he came on, good hold up play and looked very threatning when running at defenders. Overall a good professional performance and we never looked in any real danger, Larsson didn't work in midfield, some of Cattermoles passing was very poor, Sessegnon and Johnson linked up very well and they look like they will cause even the best teams problems (very excited by them). Colback shocked me, he has really come on loads and looked a very good player indeed, can never remember Henderson showing that sort of class before. By the way the attendance did look a good 30 thousand so i'm surprised it was that low.
Can I just say.l the way the ref went on re the bookings you'd have thought we were playing Man U! McClean went in studs up and won the ball. Mrecambe player did EXACTLY the same just before Catts yellow and we didn't even get a free kick! Kicked Johnsons legs from under him, not even a talking to. Ref was ****e tonight.mluckily didn't ruin the game but our 2 bookings were ridiculous! Impressed with the way the team played. Passing the ball out from the back. Colback and Cattermole were both excellent. Meyler cannot do the Cattermole job on tonight's performance. Nowhere near IMO. We missed Catts when he went off. AJ was excellent as was McClean. Fletcher looked ok but not fully match fit. The futures bright
Cattermole did have a good game and i'm a big fan if his but you have to admit some of his passing was terrible tonight?
Equally you ave to admit some of it was excellent he played some lovely passes out to the wings and, when he missed hs target, he gave throw ins away rather than setting up a counter for the oppo. He misplaced 3 or 4 passes tonight I believe but was successful with 6 passes over 35m. 60% accuracy on long passes but his passing was terrible?? He's developing his game and becoming a footballer rather than just the midfield It's a pity that when Catts misplaces a pass everyone remembers it vividly, regardless of the passes he out in before or after,mbut if Sessegnon does the same no-one remembers.
