That sentence pretty much sums up where our season will go. First half had quite a few positives, second quite a few negatives. I'm not too disheartened, in all honesty. I think that first half team with Catts, Khari & Ndong in for Watmore, Gooch & Rodwell will do well IMO.
If you could roll that team out for every game you'd possibly have a great season, but injuries and suspensions will always play a part. That's why depth is important, something you're not blessed with unfortunately.
Criticising individual performances and styles counts for nothing if they are the only players available for selection and for all their failings this game was all about just about how cruel or lucky the game can be. Lucky rebounds into the path of of an attacker, inch perfect crosses when much of the previous ones had been cleared easily and for me that is not bad defending just plain bad luck. Had Khazri been more committed and PvA more aware then possibly no first goal which as we all know is just about paramount in today,s game. File it under experience and move on. Things ain't as bad as this results shows.
The club taking some ****. But then nice little things like this happens to someone. It maybe a small gesture. But i bet he was made up. Well done SAFC.
Didn't see the game and I'm not going to read through 14 pages of this thread. I got a glimpse of how the match went by a news report on the radio. I don't understand how Khazri is fit (and scoring) for his country, but he's to fat and unfit to be starting for Sunderland. Why the **** is Moyes persisting with Duncan Watmore? I'm still pissed off with his defeatist attitude and he's just had his arse well and truly handed to him, in respect to his first transfer window, compared to Big Sams transfer window. We need more experience and less youth, on the pitch. Well done and thank you to Everton for their 200k donation. Fantastic gesture It's going to take Moyes a while yet, until we see him get the best out of his team. I don't believe he's helping himself to achieve that, (see above) though.
all of this, dude. honestly, it was a tough watch, but not the toughest i've sat thru. 1st half was fine if a little disjointed with no real clear chances. 2nd half we capitulated after conceding the first goal. ref was a disgrace with some of his decisions (no surprises there; it happens every game). Gooch did well, Rodwell wasn't too bad. 'bodji made some great interceptions and Kirchhoff was a massive calming influence - until he tired. if lens was dropped (and subsequently sold/loaned) because of his work rate then januzaj should have his contract cancelled - i've never seen a more entitled player in a sunderland shirt. did nothing for the team and will be moyes' undoing if he persists with him. watmore is lucky there's paint on the pitch or he'd never know where he was. chuffed khazri finally made it onto the pitch but not at the expense of gooch; the only attacking midfielder with any presence about him. defence can't talk to each other thanks to language barriers - in stark contrast with everton who i could hear at the back of the east stand. a lot of work is needed if we're to survive this year. great gesture from everton for the young lad, tho why our club couldn't even announce what was going on i have no idea. 5 minutes in and everybody's up and applauding - no one around us knew why.
I thought Januzaj had his best game in a sunderland shirt. Absolutely everything went through him. 88% passing accuracy btw, when was the last time we had forward player retaining the ball and using it well? We can play higher up the pitch with him in the team and look decent. He created 3 chances as well. He had a good game imo.
Get Kirchkoff match fit and Khazri, get Catts back in there and we'll be fine mate, no worries. You could literally see Jan fading very fast in the second half and when he did we crumbled big style and with no Catts to defend the defense we were pretty much there for the taking.
Understandably rusty was Jan, he's quality though, just needs some game time. I think we've got a decent starting 11, the lack of depth is going to be the issue.
He looked like he was in a free role behind Defoe, but drifted left and right, when necessary, he just didn't get the support. He still needs to learn to shout, be more vocal and make his team mates listen to him for stuff like that, he can't expect everything to be done for him in that sense, he has to speak up. I think he may be dropped for your next game though, as you might set up very defensively.
I thought Januzaj was kept quiet by a great pairing Monday but he was certainly trying, and he unquestionably has quality.
Yeah Gooch looked good. Januszaj just looks too lightweight for this league... a la Ryan Mason for Spurs last season. Maybe decent footballer but just half a yard off the pace and 10 kgs of muscle lightweight. More concerning is Kone looked disinterested. Maybe he'll come around but central defence still should be a major concern. He looked like the typical mercenary, Khazri too. Came in, made huge effort, hoping to be picked up by a bigger club. Scum. Also Rodwell..not premier league quality. Having such lack of quality in middle of the park... always spells relegation fight.Look at us with Colback and..hell i can't even remember who we played, I blanked it out. And here's me thinking Colback might at least be a small step up from Rodwell, at least his concentration is better. For Everton Moyes made fantastic trades, so the club should definitely back him.
With respect mate one of Januzaj's best attributes is his strength, he's got a baby face so I can see why you'd make the assumption but he's by no means too weak for this league.
Kone looked disinterested? Januzij to lightweight and half a yard off the pace? Rodwell played well till we went behind but every bodies head dropped at which point nobody covered themselves in glory. I reckon your assessment is all over the shop personally.
I though Januzaj was very good first half - best player for us IMO! Thought Gooch did OK but nothing flash - goes to show how different angels show different games though!
