I knew tonight would be a tough night, but I didn't know we would play so dam sh**e. I am going to give my analysis of the match, where we stand as a team, and what next for Bruce. Now firstly, I don't blame Bruce for his team selection, I mean come on how many of you would change a team that just won 4-0?? I certainly wouldn't.... So this is not Bruce's fault. I feel sorry for him, that the team played so badly... However what I DO blame him for is not changing it at half time. We could all see from the first half Sess was not having a good game, and we had to go 4-4-2. This may have worked, as Bendtner was dropping deep every time because Sess is just not a striker to help link up play. To Bendnter, how good does this guy look? With a good partner I reckon he can bang a few goals in. He was the only positive out of a poor performance. His touch was excellent, and if it wasn't for a good save he would have opened his account. Now tonight showed us a lot of things, which I think Bruce MUST address for Saturday. Firstly, Mignolet is a good prospect, but not number 1 now. He was poor today, very poor in fact, and has been poor all season. You may think this is harsh as he is only 22, but being number 1 you cannot be making mistakes. He made quite a few tonight, a few against Stoke. He handling his poor and needs working on. His positioning is off, he parries too much and was lucky he didn't parry a shot tonight straight to them. Westwood in goal next for me. Our defence needs looking at. O'Shea and Brown, not a problem with them. Solid, O'Shea was a bit off, but its only his 3rd game.. the problem is Bramble and Richardson. Bramble has a mare tonight, and I don't want him in a Sunderland shirt anytime soon. Turner is a MUCH better defender. Bramble got turned, was slow, did not read the game and was out of position for the 1st. With Richardson, I don't blame him..he can't help being played at LB...but Bruce needs to learn he isn't a LB. Midfield needs looking at too, was dreadful. Only bright spark was Vaughan, who I really like atm. Elmo was he usual self, poor, can't do his man and can't cross (although had 1 decent cross)..while Bardsley is out, play him at RB. Now to Gardner..was he playing??? Didn't see or hear of him much...only had 1 shot which was well over. Now with Larsen, decent game but he isn't a LM....clearly a RM..hmm Bruce sort this out?? Our Strikers are worrying me, mainly because Sess is playing there and he was woeful and is not a striker...he can't shoot and was not in it today. Bendtner...see above. ********************************* Where to next?? Well we have WBA next at home. Nothing more than 3 points, or Bruce will be sacked. How can Bruce avoid this predicament... play a team that can win, and players in the right position. Surely by now he has learnt Sess is not a striker..surely now he has learnt Richardson is not a LB... I saw that Short was at the match....he is not going to be happy, and I can imagine serious questions being asked.. A team that I feel can beat WBA on Saturday would be... ..............Westwood............... Elmo....Turner...Brown...O'Shea Larsen...Gard...Vaughan...Richo .......Bendtner...Wickham....... However, looking at that team it still looks weaker than last season...and thats the strongest I feel we can put out. I think that reflects on Bruce. I feel Bruce has 1 game left..... If there is a low attendance on Saturday (which I think there will be) then Short surely will look at this as well..
Can't help but feel your manager handicaps your side before they take the field with some bizarre selections. I honestly couldn't see the fuss with Gardner. He scored goals last year but you needed some culture to balance the grit. He'll run up and down all day long but is limited with the ball. This leads to a lack of quality ball to key players like Sessegnon and Larrsson. The service to the front guys was abysmal and the lack of energy and creative spark glaring. You had plenty of ball but couldn't pass it quick and crisp to make inroads. He strengthened certain areas well but the 4 I thought were needed were a left back (left footed), a ball playing central midfield player, maybe some competition for Richardson on the left, and a quality striker or two. He persists playing Richardson left back when Stevie Wonder can see the lad is all at sea. The problems regularly come from his side and he is targeted week on week. Covering your centre halfs arse is one of the single most important aspects of full back play, he doesn't understand it because he is a wide player/central midfielder. As you have suggested the obvious solution short term would be to move O'Shea. I've said Richardson left for a while but maybe central would be better with Sessegnon left. You need energy in there. I like Cattermole but my mackem mates say he is short of form. Vaughan seems to the better of him Gardner so I suppose that would be the choice. I think a more aggressive approach is better. ..............Westwood............... Elmo........Turner..........Brown........O'Shea Larsen...Cattermole......Richardson...Sessegnon .......Bendtner...Dong...... You could of course play a diamond with a narrower midfield with Cattermole sitting and Sess pushed on. Both are balanced and give you so many more tactical options mid match if you get caught short in midfield. I think the Korean kid is clever and would allow Bendtner to give you a central presence with his movement around him. I also think he mobile enough with sound technique and could drop deeper when needed. As I say I don't know form etc well enough but just on paper that looks more cohesive. I think he is a horrible tactician Bruce and thinks too much about the oppo or simply struggles to see his own players strengths.
Bruce is clueless, how is he in management?! So many things to criticise, NEVER learns from mistakes, NEVER do we look a threat from corners, yet everytime we concede a corner it looks like they'll score. TWO YEARS AND NO LEFT SIDED PLAYER SIGNED FFS!!! How obvious is our problem on the left? God. So much time to replace Bent.. not done, says Gyan wanted to leave for a while.. wait until the last day possible and get a loan, who will most likely leave at the end of the season. Also and this really boils my blood, Connor Wickham was going to be 'eased in' he only plays with 20 minutes to go when we need a goal? Wtf? Surely he'd be under less pressure if he started? I mean a cup would be a good opportunity, right? Of course not Wickham is a striker, who plays strikers in cup games against a Championship team? Are you crazy we might score a goal! But no 20 minutes under a lot of pressure is easing him in. Which brings me on to my next point, subs what use is it making a sub when the game is lost? It's useless ALSO why bring on a striker and play him lm?? Wtf? And I could write more, please Bruce, leave. PLEASE!!!
