Believe it or not:- DANNY GRAHAM’S goal curse in a Sunderland shirt has to lift eventually, believes Dick Advocaat. It is 27 games and counting without a Sunderland goal for Graham, who continued to draw a blank in his first start under Advocaat against Southampton last weekend, despite his significant efforts to a crucial victory for the Black Cats. Since his £5million move to the Stadium of Light in January 2013, Graham’s one and only Premier League goal came during his loan spell at Hull City, albeit he found the net six times in the Championship for Middlesbrough last season. But Sunderland head coach Advocaat insists Graham is the most clinical finisher in his squad on the training ground and is confident that the 29-year-old’s miserable drought will eventually reach a happy ending. “It was an unbelievable game from Graham against Southampton with the way he worked and how dangerous he was,” said Advocaat. “In training he’s the best goalscorer, but in the games, he’s not. “So I think that has to change! “He did not score, but he did a great job for the team.” While Graham had a hand in winning both of the penalties expertly converted by Jordi Gomez against Southampton, Sunderland were also indebted to a stoppage time save from Costel Pantilimon after the Black Cats had made a mess of clearing their lines. Pantilimon was at fault for Southampton’s equaliser when a chronic absence of communication with Sebastian Coates saw the Saints gifted a slapstick goal. But Advocaat was glad to see the Romanian redeem himself at the death when a last-gasp equaliser would have left Sunderland with one foot in the Championship. “I was not happy with the first goal, to be fair,” added Advocaat. “Against Stoke he (Pantilimon) was brilliant. “But I think he hesitated for the first goal. “If you had a body like him, I would run away if he came near me! “But in the second half he saved us at the end, so good for him and good for the team.”
Don;t see DG in training so can;t comment (no longer allowed to go since that money grabbing twat sued the club when he got hit by a wayward Cisse shot!) but I can well believe it - if you put the ball in front of goal DG will score. We don;t create enough chances. As for the rest of what Dick says - sounds almost spot on - can;t help thinking that I saw Coates look around at Pantillimon and STILL jump into him - if he'd been a forward it'd have been a foul FFS! but maybe that's just me thinking Coates is crap
Graham was excellent against Southampton and the reception he got from the fans at the end of the game will have done his confidence the world of good.. Who knows..His goal scoring drought may just come to an end this weekend..
Fair play, he was great against Southampton and dick is obviously trying to get Graham's spirit up It was still Coates mistake as far as I'm concerned, I'd drop a ball too if someone tackled me mid-air with that kind of force!
Watched it on MOTD, Pants shouted for the ball and it was his all the way. Coates musn't have heard or misunderstood him, Deco defender at fault
A definite wardrobe malfunction in the clash of Pants and Coates - Pants did shout before going for the ball. Getting back to the OP Don't let the facts get in the way of the truth...
Makes you wonder what he thinks he has to do to get his chance! Is he a bit of a lightweight? Does he need to bulk up a little?
Not at all, he's just about there. He's only two Kilos lighter than Seb and Gomez despite being shorter than both and is heavier than PVA despite being the same height. This is him for the first team against Carlisle in the cup last season. The bloke next to him is Sean O'Hanlon who's 6ft 3" and 6 kilos heavier. please log in to view this image It's just a Dick lacking his balls fella.
Dick obviously has an issue with him. Its just frustrating for the rest of us that he's not prepared to give him a chance At the same time, I can see why Dick would think that if he gave the lad a chance, as in last desperate measures in asking an U21 player to save us from relegation, that it would look just like that, desperation. And he wouldn't want that on his cv. Whereas, asking first team squad players to do their job properly, it isn't his fault if they don't.
DG has not scored goals for us, yes he lead the line well against Southampton, so imho he did 50% of his job he is paid to do very well, the other 50% of his job is to score goals, he didn't so the best mark he can get out of 10 is 5. Similarly with Gomez, he took his two penalties very well, but was not that good in general play so the best he can get is say 6/7 out of 10. We need 8/9s out of players if we are to expect to escape relegation once again, by the skin of out teeth. It would be great for DG to score a hat-trick for us on Saturday, I would love it, but I would not put money on it (mind the odds will be astronomical, so it could be worth a £10)
Dick has said the reason he's not playing him is because of the situation. Just the way it is. See what he can do next season. Last year of his contract though, something his own dad is highlighting. If he doesn't get his chance next season we'll lose him. If he gets his chance does too well his head could be turned and we could lose him for a minimal tribunal fee at the end of the season.
Does it really matter? He's already taller than Messi, Aguero, Silva, Cazorla & Sanchez and out of those only Aguero is heavier! I'd still like to see him on the bench - coming on for the last 20 minutes to run at defenders.
