http://www.journallive.co.uk/safc/safc-news/2013/02/12/martin-o-neill-tops-premier-league-record-of-sunderland-managers-61634-32791371/#ixzz2KgBR9CzG It's not pretty right now most of the time but its highly effective and given the support, patience, a couple of seasons and the right tools, he will change that too imo. This bloke is the real deal.
I don't need to read anything I know he is the right man he has steady the the ship brought in better player we will move on and up give the man time remember we have been a yo yo club since the 50s he will get it right now lets move on and try and get some silver where
Not me, infact I don't think that many fans do want MON to go. Most of us chirp up after a few losses when morale is low but deep down, we know MON needs time to continue building the squad. As with all things in life, there will be a few hardcore mentalists that flow against the tide irrespective of whatever is occuring. I only hope that we start playing attacking football next season.
Don't want him to go, (he's nee Peter Reid mind for entertaining football) he's deserves time. I find his style of play boring, and so far fairly in-effective, but he has vast knowledge and experience, and has earned the right to be given time to make it work.. But football is a ruthless game, run by money men, so he will have to deliver something sometime... Another season, we should all have a better idea.
He's definitely the right.man for us right now. Im getting tired of the "he's blind how can't he see we need to go 4-4-2" crap. Nobody plays 4-4-2 these days and if we did wed get smashed. If wed gone 4-4-2 on Saturday Arsenal would have been out of sight by half time. look at the 3 best teams in Europe; Barcelona, don't play 4-4-2 Man Utd don't play 4-4-2 Rooney plays deep behind RVP Bayern Munich, Mario Gomez can't get on the pitch because Mandzukic is on fire
Nobody knows if we would have been smashed or not because it never happened. At the end of the day, we picked up nada points playing 4-5-1 (against 10 men). As with all 4-4-2 systems there is room for one striker to play deeper than the other, however with the bias toward attack as opposed to midfield work. Sessegnon is unable to play the deep striker role in a 4-5-1 so 4-4-2 (Bias toward attack with DG) is a stronger gameplan IMO. When most people say we wish to see 4-4-2, they are referring to two out and out strikers one of which may play deeper than the other. Sessegnon is a midfielder, end of story.
Well it aint upfront so the only option is out wide... Sessegnon isn't suited to centre midfield so I can only see one position for him. If indeed MON plays him in that obvious position, we will soon be able to answer the question of whether Sessegnon is capable of playing in a team environment, once and for all. As with many things in life, we often never have the opportunity to see how things will work out (once and for all). I suspect that we won't see Sessegnon playing out wide with two out and out strikers and in years to come, we will all be argueing about "What Sessegnon could have achieved out wide".
And if these teams played without a keeper, do you think that we should be doing that too? We need to play in a way that gets the best out of what we have. MON has throughout his career got teams playing at a level greater than their players would suggest. If this takes time to happen here, like others have said, he has earned the chance to achieve this. Especially when you compare him to our other managers. Its a marathon not a sprint.
Like I have always said, players win matches not formations. I trust MoN to bring the right players to fit his system and tactical instincts and in another 6 months we wont even be discussing the formations. We are not in danger of being relegated this season imo. Even if we only limp along we will pick up 8 or 9 more points, which will give us 37 or 38 points in total. We are currently averaging 1.11 points a game so we would have to totally collapse not to do so. Reading in 3rd bottom with 23 points currently will have to exceed their current points per game from 0.88 to 1.07 just to match that, as will Wigan 0.8 to 1.14 and QPR 0.65 to 1.42 per game. So, Martin will plotting his summer recruitment, safe in the knowledge as he can be that we will be in the EPL again next season. Another window and we will have another 2 or 3 new faces again + Rose hopefully and a far better pacier team. Then we can really judge the football we play. However, one thing is undoubted now, his record is untouchable so far as far as points and it was 2 to 3 seasons before we saw the free flowing football from Reidy's era? Up to that point the football was utter ****e (watch premier passions those who are too young).
No doubt in my mind MoN is the man for the job. He needs a little time tho' turning a club around isn't a quick fix..but he will do it. As fans all we can do is get behind whatever team he puts out. Just remember how long its taken Moyes to get Everton a recognised top team..he had a few close calls with relegation in the early days..
Reading have averaged 1.75 points since Christmas per game. That run rate will see them stay up comfortably and they have the fixtures to do it. I had a bet on Reading staying up in November (they finish seasons well historically) so there's probably a bit of optimism in my method! QPR since dodgy Arry took over have averaged 0.92 points per game, and 0.87 ppg since Christmas - I gave them a fighting chance if they turned Swansea over, but they got whipped like a bunch of little girls, if they were an animal they'd have been put to sleep after that game, season done, 20th. Sunderland have no danger for me, you've got enough fixtures to pick up points and shouldn't even be talking about relegation. Norwich could get dragged into it.
MON knows the game inside out. He knows there are too many championship players at the club, he knows there is a lack of pace in midfield and he knows what is needed to progress. All he needs is time ....and patience.
So with Norwich on the same number of points having played the same number of games. SAFC have to play 4 big games against Norwich having to play 3 big games. Sunderland - Chelsea, Man C, Man U and Spurs compared to Norwich - Arsenal, Man C and Man U. Both teams to play to Everton, both teams to play Southampton, both teams to play Stoke, both teams to play Villa, both teams to play West Brom, both teams to play each other and yet SAFC have no talk of relegation however Norwich could be dragged into it?
Ok, if you're going to look at it literally on paper without taking form on board, let's disregard the fact that Norwich haven't won a game in 2013. In the last 12 games you've won 5 they've won 2. They're 17th in the form guide, picking up 4 points from the last 18 available. 11 points from 36. Relegation form. You're 14th in the form guide, 7 points from your last 18 available. 16 points from 36. Comfortably survive form. I can only make my judgements on form, I'm not Mystic Meg and if it was as easy as looking at fixtures and predicting results then I'd be rich enough to get somebody else to write this. In my opinion, you'll be fine and Norwich COULD get dragged into it.
One thing about form, it changes. That is why the form horse that everybody backs at the races loses from time to time as you know, otherwise all the punters would be millionaires and the bookies would be out of business. Comparing 14th and 7 points or 17th and 4 points in the form league is neither here nor there as far as I can see. Infact, one game could be all it takes to 'level out' that form. Viewing the fixtures, we have 4 games against all of the current champions league positions, wheras Norwich have 2. The 'form' could quite easily be tipped on it's head bearing in mind the fixture list. I don't see how you are able to determine that SAFC have no grounds for speaking of relegation yet Norwich could be dragged in although I'll be more than happy if you are correct. I think that the next 4 games for SAFC will define the season and I believe we will stop up but we are far from clear of any relegation concerns as of today.
Not strictly true. Form generally gives you a good idea on where the horse will finish. If it's won every race like Frankel then there's a good chance you'll get paid for an each way bet. If I look at Norwich's form and say they're going to finish 19th for certain, then I am shooting in the dark. If I look at Norwich's current form and say "They could get dragged into it", then I have good grounds to say this because CURRENTLY, they're showing no signs of rediscovering any decent form. If and when they do have an upturn in form, the fact that I've said "Could get dragged into it", with 'Could' being the operative word, doesn't mean I was wrong if they never get dragged into it. It's just a prediction and of course you COULD get dragged into it as well but I don't see enough evidence in either your results, your morale, your team's body language, your fans or your form most importantly to believe you will. After a quick look at your results for this season I see one game that I'd have had you down for as a banker to win and you lost, that was against Villa at home. You just don't look like a team in desperate trouble, so I think you're comfortable as things stand.
