Some last-minute window shopping was performed at Eppleton CW ahead of the transfer deadline.Scores of scouts took a pew to watch Sunderland Under-21s' goalless draw against Chelsea, as the table-topping Black Cats added another point to their tally. But few would have sent glowing reports from a flat game, where both sides lacked precision in the final third. None of Sunderland's players disgraced themselves, centre-halves Tom Beadling and George Brady were solid, and the Black Cats as a whole were improved in the second half. Yet there were too unforced errors from those in red and white, with the better performers in Chelsea's ranks, albeit they were similarly guilty of poor execution with their final pass. Of course, with the emergency loan window opening a week after the transfer deadline, there is still a chance for Sunderland's promising youngsters to get more competitive football before the end of the campaign. For the one loanee in Sunderland's ranks though, Ola Toivonen, there was precious little to suggest that he is set for a swift recall to the first-team picture. Other than a superb chipped ball over the top which Rees Greenwood failed to control, Toivonen offered little. There was more of a contribution from fellow first-teamer Adam Matthews. Chelsea were much the better side in the opening stages, with Mikael Mandron producing an early goal-line clearance to deny Trevoh Chalobah after the centre-half had flicked on Kasey Palmer's dangerous inswinging free-kick. Sunderland again required a goal-line clearance to stay level midway through the first half when Jake Clarke-Salter's powerful header from a corner was headed away by Black Cats skipper Liam Agnew. But with Chelsea's final ball poor, Sunderland's defences held firm, despite the intricate approach play of the visitors. After Sunderland's severely limited attacking impact in the opening 45 minutes, U21 boss Andy Welsh made a change at the break with Carl Lawson replacing Martin Smith and Ethan Robson moving into his favoured central role. Immediately, there was a better balance to the side, with the the Black Cats pushed further up the field too. Both sides still lacked panache in their attacking play though. Greenwood miscontrolled on a couple of occasions when he was the wrong side of the Chelsea defence, while Mandron's attempts to barge through the Blues defence came to naught. Ethan Robson planted a free-kick into the diving arms of Chelsea keeper Bradley Collins in the last 10 minutes, but that was as close as Sunderland came. Sunderland: Stryjek, Matthews, T Robson, Agnew, Brady, Beadling, Greenwood (J Robson 90), Smith (Lawson 46), Mandron, Toivonen (Nelson 71), E Robson. Subs not used: Talbot, Casey. Booked: Smith (2), Lawson (49), Greenwood (75) Chelsea: Collins, Aina, Chalobah (Conroy 77), Clarke-Salter, Dasiva, Houghton, Dabo, Scott (Wright 71), Abraham, Palmer, MItchell. Subs not used: Baxter, Quintero, Wakefield. Booked: Aina (75) I bet he'd make Carl Robinson and Jeff Whitley look half decent. Big mistake getting this Suede in.
The thread Title! Ola has clearly spat his dummy when Dick left. **** him. His parent club doesn't want him, we don't want him, you'd think he'd be trying to impress to find a club. He'll end up on 500 quid a week back in Sweden. **** him.
He's looked effective at other clubs when I've seen him and he did alright in his first few games. It's the attitude since Dick left which I think is telling.
That 1st game, I like most on here were over ****ing joyed! Looked like a right beast, much better then we had. MUCH MUCH BETTER. Sam even picked him a couple times. Maybe home sick , not up for a fight who knows ? IMO he just ****ing quit Undoubtably a good footballer, who came to sunderland and turned to dog ****e. How the **** we do this on the regular I'll never know.
I'll be honest and say I'd never watched him before he came here. He had a decentish record in Holland but you can't really put much stock in that as the level is so poor (his record over there was worse than Jozy's. He then went to France (still poor but not quite so awful), and his record got a lot worse, and I seem to recall Rennes wanted rid. Alarm bells were ringing for me at that point. His first 30 minute cameo he looked ok (although not the world beater some on here claim), but ever since then he's been awful imo.
But he doesn't play the same position as Jozy. Such an irreverent comparison. Anyway I'm backing off. That mag twat has wound me right up and don't want to be passive aggressive with fellow poster. It's not fair.
Just like Gomez, Toivenen looks just a bit off pace for the premiership, both are neat and tidy but lack the grit needed to succeed at this level. Burdens on the wage bill, but we have supported worse for longer in recent memory. My only concern is we keep turning to them hoping for improvement when we could be giving youth its chance.
Looks like it's our league title then, half our team are out on loan or being used as cover for injuries to first team. #WalkInThePark
Maybe fella. I'm not disheartened. The progress for us has again been absolutely superb. Proud of the kids.
