Predictable as clockwork - My thoughts on the Sunderland game

Colo was dominant first half, won every header etc. not his fault the ref made a huge clanger.

 

Colo has more than enough faults these days without adding on more. I thought he was unlucky this time out and thought he was playing ok today. Plenty of times that challenge would have been seen as good defending.

 

The only stat that matters. 3-0.

 

Not a good sign to lose 3-0 against a **** side even if you were the better team.
You are conceding more than two goals a game and will go down unless you tighten up.
Take away the Norwich game and you have scored six goals in nine matches which is also relegation form.
Could be three from the bottom five already to go down.

 

No arguments on that point. The history books will only record the scoreline, as will the league table which is all that matters. I do think we turned up and gave you a proper game for once, even if we did have to go a bit gung-ho in the second half and play three at the back.

 

I thought our performance was good and continuing the encouraging attacking play from the last few games. The defence overall looked in control too for the most part. Bizarre game to come out 3-0 losers when we dominated, even with 10 men, but that's football. Fair play to Sunderland for getting the 2nd and 3rd but I doubt they would have scored at all if it wasn't for a dodgy penalty and us having chase the game with 10 men. Us not scoring was just combination of a couple of good saves from Pantilimon and a bit of bad luck that it never fell kindly for us in their box - just one of those days. We had plenty of chances so I'm encouraged by that as we weren't doing that earlier in the season and last season as well. Most importantly they put in a proper shift after bottling derbies in the past.

Looking forward to seeing how we defend without Colo in the side. He's just not up to the job these days.

 

It wasn't even a sending off, just too blokes coming together and imo not even a ****ing pen!

 

Look ive had a bit time to settle down and reflect... And it was a ****in penalty, the prick barged into the mackem player in the box.. A coming together?, re-watch please, Colo blatantly barges the player out the way... Somebody said this may have been waved away by another ref, but it wasnt, it was a heated derby, the ref was nervous, Colo gave away a penalty by knocking a player over in the box.. Maybe back in the late 80s this 'challenge' would of been applauded.

 

Good for you but I have a different opinion. Don't tell me what I should be thinking. I can make up my own ****ing mind thanks.

 

BRS, im not telling you what to think and yes of course opinions make this wonderful game so interesting.. We shouldnt have been beaten tday, so regardless of it being Colo, the ref, the keeper or any other possible reason, we'll look at the positives and move on.. However, answer this.. Come January, who would you not be arsed to see leave and where would you strengthen?

 

I don't know mate. I'm pissed off. I haven't been this pissed off for a long time. Something about this one really rubbed me up the wrong way. Apologies for being ****ty.

We need serious reinforcements come Jan. Look I love Colo but I know this is and should be his last season. We need a commanding CB. Also a LB and another forward and perhaps move Cisse on.

 

It seems to me every time we foul its either a yellow or a straight red

Not even joking

 

Maybe it was because we looked so dominant early on, I really thought after the first 15 mins we were walking this.. We have been frail at the back for a long time now.. Yes the pen was soft for some, defensive players will say no pen, attackers will disagree and blame will be placed all over... No apology needed, you are pissed off like many and allowed, no should, be ranting and giving your opinion! Its tough times for us fans, but whats new!

I honestly think we'll be alright this season, we show signs of a decent team.

Now I demand you go think about our next fixture!!

 

Starting to sound like qpr fans last season saying we are playing well and losing week in weekout.

We lost

 

Aye but the game was changed on one event, the pen/sending off! The performance was solid before that, and IMO was a mayyer of time before we scored.

 

Colo is shaping up to be the worst defender we have. Yes, I'm including Williamson.

I've said it in every single thread his name is mentioned im: Tiote is the most usless midfielder I've seen in a long time. He had one mediocre season Arsenal's name was mentioned & he became a fan favourite. He's been utter ****e since then and will not improve. Not only should he be nowhere near a confirmed starting 11 place, he should in training fighting for a bench position. I weep, WEEP when I see that useless **** on the team sheet.

Colo as the captain & most experienced player we have should of been more than aware of what to do in that situation. Smashing into him like that was possibly the worst option of the all the one he had available. Take the armband off him, drop him for a couple games. He needs a wake up call, can't **** off to Argentina before the season chat up a couple clubs & expect to sit in our team as the captain doing **** all for anyone around him. Worse captain than Owen.

 

The thing that hit me was that when Colo got sent off I realised we had no leaders whatsoever. I think I'd prefer a natural leader as a person in the team rather than a player that plays in a specific position.

Personally didn't think it was a penalty, it was shoulder to shoulder and if it was at the other end it wouldn't be a foul so why would it be in our box. The fans gave Sundarland that penalty, not necessarily the referee.

 

Tiote simply doesn't look fit at all. He was embarrassingly slow against Norwich last week, but if he was fit and in form then he's exactly what our midfield needs. If he can't get back to that level I think we need someone brought in to play DM. Colback and Anita give the back 4 no protection and you ideally wouldn't want Wijnaldum playing alongside either one of them which is where he should be playing, in CM.

Agree on Colo as captain. Wijnaldum captained PSV to the Eredivisie title last season and would be the first name on the team sheet at the moment so it should be him. Comes across as a leader in interviews and on the pitch. Colo should never have been made captain in the first place, which I said at the time.

 

Colback should have been leading the charge in your dressing room at half time. He's the local lad. The one who knows what it's aboutabout, knows both clubs. He should have been screaming at his teammates about refusing to get beat, put a stop to the run of defeats and the setting of a new record.
It's shocking that players can't emulate the fans and get themselves fired up with a no surrender attitude especially when they've been hard done by some debatable officiating.
Both sets of players and supporters need to adopt a siege mentality if we're to survive this season.

 

Jack is quite reserved. Being critical of him for that is unfaie