Match Day Thread Pre-Season Friendly: Toronto FC Vs Sunderland A.F.C

I agree! What upsets me about these friendlies in the States however is the fact that I just don't think they do us any good, regardless of the performance. As preparation for the Premier League is concerned I just cant help feeling they are worthless. I believe we should be playing gritty little games against Championship teams, or at a push, a few Dutch or German teams, so that our players are climatised for the start of the new season. I understand that these games in America generate interest/money from over there, and that would be ok for a team who can guarantee Premier League football every season. But for us buggering off on our jollies and playing a few 'exhibition games' in a footballing climate so far away from our norm is not ideal for a potentially relegation threatened side. Get ourselves established as a comfortable mid table Premier League team, then we can think about showing off over there! Because throwing in the sort of half hearted performances that we seem to be producing at the moment, I would be surprised if they bother inviting us back, which will probably be a good thing!

 

We went to the US for financial and marketing reasons, and despite me agreeing that it hasn't done us the best of preperation, this is essential for the growth of the club.

Fair to say that the games in Portugal in the heat against technically gifted footballers are better for us as a whole, but if we can grow as a club in the US market then it's a massive cash cow. Probably need to sign a USA international who isn't feckless to maximise that side of course.

 

As dick has told us it's not about results it's about getting fit, I'm hoping that half the team that played last night are in the shop window?
It's also the right time for our 2 ageing defenders to be moved into our youth complex or something similar.
ME IM NOT WORRIED YET

 

Money (and an american owner of course) talks - there's more money in them having us in USA than going to Germany or Holland! I've also watched as few games in the American league and, to be honest, we were no less attractive (football wise) than a lot of the teams I've seen play in those games - They probably thought it was decent football

 

But its the fact that this chase for dollars could result in us having a few points less at the end of the season! Could be the difference between Premier League and Championship football. Championship football would then make the whole pre-season American adventure totally pointless. Like I said, if we were an Everton, Swansea etc I would be fine with it. But as we are a team constantly hovering over or are deep in the relegation zone I think getting things sorted out on the pitch should take priority in the short term.

 

I just don;t see how any pre-season stuff has any bearing on the season - it never has. I remember Liverpool pre-season in the 80's had some dire performances and results - but dominated the league. united under Fergie had a few awful pre-seasons and the same. It never made a difference in the past so I can;t see it making a difference now

Edit: Liverpool have won all of their pre-season games - lets see if they win the league?

Edit2: We played well and beat teams of a good level last pre-season - and had a godawful season!

 

Exactly. Chelsea lost against New York Red Bulls ffs. It means nowt.

 

jeez, some miserable sods on here! don't take these games so seriously. it's a run-out, on some over-trained legs.

if you want these performances to reflect our competitive league games in any way your expectations are unlikely to be met.

Also, As part of the defoe/altidore deal we agreed to play toronto. Who cares where our pre-season games are. At least they're against fit teams in full flow, when it's the fitness aspect we're testing, not performances, this makes sense to me.

I see the Mags bemoaning their loss against the local timber merchants, or whomever. We don't want to come across like the great deluded and unwashed now, do we?

 

Relic- we lost to Sacramento too and they are not on the same level as the MLS, we lost Bradford last year too, as did Chelsea.

Does that mean we aren't and our league, as good as substandard level American teams, and League 1 clubs?

 

I would have said jozy had he featured more fit. Had a niggling hamstring. He's had a couple of braces which makes his scoring look better, he's only scored in four games and by and large looked right out of sorts with injury, struggling to finish games. He was fit yesterday though #bottler.


No mate, I'm not going to label Sunderland third tier. It was the last fixture of the conditioning stage of the preseason program. On paper Toronto may be worse but they're half way through their season and in great ship. Sunderland are playing with legs like lead weights. I don't think people really appreciate the short term effects hot weather conditioning training, I'd struggle to get out of my chair let alone play a game of football. Everything is about carving the lads out of stone and not how style of play looks, that comes over the next couple of weeks back at home. We should see an identity developing over the last two friendlies, they'll look so much fitter too with more rest time.

I'm happy, nowt to worry about.

 

Yes it's only a friendly and come August we will (hopefully), be better but Pre season or not I think after what us fans have had to put up with the last few years, it's only natural some of us are abit worried watching the performances that mirrored last seasons this past week.
As fans all we want is a stress free season and weve all seen with our own eyes there's still alot of work to do between now and Leicester.

 

These games have always been about fitness, experiment, try the kids etc so the boss can get an assessment as to what needs to be done while there`s time to do it before the season starts.

Some reet bedwetters on here like.

 

They was no experimenting last night though mate, and Beadling was the only kid that got a chance.
The line up was basically the same as what we saw last season and stayed like that most the match.
Strangely Watmore only got a 5 min cameo role??

 

Perhaps he`s proving to Ellis that they are indeed ****e and he should get his purse out.

Must admit I expected Watmore to get a bit of a go. I was going to watch it but when it was the same gang I didn`t bother. I wanted to see the new lads.

Plenty time yet though.

 

Ill be glad when the lads are back on British soil. The whole things been a farce.
Alot of the team missed the first week of training cause of visa issues and had we been abit close to home Kaboul and Lens could've linked up with the squad earlier and played a part last night!

I hope we stay in Europe next season!

 

The visa issues is a problem that would deter me in the future that's for sure.

 

Syria is nice this time of year.

 

Dick Advocaat is looking for improvement across the board from Sunderland’s players, even if he believes their summer signings should make a difference.Despite a 2-1 victory over MLS outfit Toronto FC, Advocaat was unhappy with his side’s display and let his players know as much in the dressing room afterwards.

Advocaat had been looking for Sunderland to produce a notable upturn in their performance levels after back-to-back friendly defeats in California.

But Sunderland still looked rusty and fell behind against Toronto, before Jermain Defoe’s brace inside four second half minutes saw the Black Cats emerge victorious.

The introduction of new signings Jeremain Lens, Younes Kaboul and Sebastian Coates should improve Sunderland, while Advocaat is also looking for another couple of fresh faces.

But Advocaat says those already on the books have to show more this season, even if he acknowledges it is difficult to judge Sunderland’s progress after a draining 12-day trip to North America.

Advocaat said: “It’s not only Lens and the new signings. It is all positions that have to improve.

“We did it last year in the final nine games with six unbeaten games, three wins, three draws.

“It’s the same group, with four different players who will improve the squad. That’s good.

“But it’s difficult to explain after 12 days of training and travelling that it’s not easy.

“Some players afterwards were really knackered.”

The big positive from the Toronto victory was Defoe’s brace against his former club, as the England international opened his pre-season account.

Defoe’s four goals proved pivotal to Sunderland’s survival last season and Advocaat believes finding the net will have boosted the 32-year-old’s confidence, even if it was a non-competitive encounter.

Advocaat added: “It’s good for Defoe, but for me, it’s important that the majority of the players are getting into the right shape.

“For him, it’s great to get the two goals. It’s good for his confidence.”

 

We've got nee chance of being in Europe next season, never mind staying there

Unless we've deliberately not qualified in the past 'cos of anticipated visa issues

 

Loving super Dick saying they were 'knackered'.

#Northern