I was at the game and thought he was pretty poor, but have read other peoples comments since and some seem to say he played well which baffled me a bit. Now first off I want to make it clear that I like the lad, but I think he should be no more than a squad player from now on, he's had a decent run in the team now but I'm beginning to think he limits our play a bit. Sure his passing is neat and tidy, but it's always sideways or backwards, he doesn't offer a goal threat gets and outmuscled regularly. Today in the first half he was caught in possession a few times and we were lucky not to be punished. Second half was a slight improvement, but in the last twenty minutes when he was taken off I thought we looked a lot better. I think either Catts, Meyler or Gardner should partner Vaughan from now on although I do hope Jack can add something to his game and prove me wrong. This is just my opinion of course and I'm sure there's other who disagree. Your thoughts?
I didnt think he had a great game but im happy he is in the squad and will get better, i will be really interested to see how the midfield will be arranged for Spurs, tough game that! Really dissapointed by O'Shea, terrible game and Brown looked shakey at times. I know we need a striker but i honestly think MON will concerntrate on fixing up the defence over the next two months, i always feel we look shakey!
2 games in a row I have been disappointed in Colback and I like the lad. He seems to think he has more time than he actually has and ends up rushing passes.
This is true for quite a lot of our players at times, O'Shea, Colback, Bardsley and Ricco all take their time on the ball and when picking a pass, it makes our build up play slow and predictable plus easy to defend at times.
Don’t knock Colback, he had a decent game, he does a lot of work when we haven’t got the ball, he’s a spoiler and won a few battles in the middle, but I would hope Cattermole plays alongside someone more creative such as Vaughan next week. Cattermole and Colback should never play together in a midfield four probably not in a five either they are both combative rather than creative.
These stats from the match are interesting......... from @EPLIndex EPL Index twitter #SAFC 2 #Rovers 1 - FT Stats Top Passer: SAFC: Bardsley 76 Rovers: Dunn - 43 Most Accurate: SAFC: Colback - 91% Rovers: Formica - 89%
To be brutally honest, if we stick with players like Colback we'll be struggling in the EPL, I'd keep him as a squad player for the time being but i really think our midfield is the worst in the league, no pace, no creativity but thankfully we have Larsson who can cross a ball (He's the one positive in the middle of the park) Colback is good at passing the ball sideways and he actually does get forward a couple of times a game but no with the commitment of someone who's going to get on the end of a cross into the box. Quicker Meylers back to full fitness and hopefully manages to get back to form the better as we are crying out for some one with a bit of strength and a good pair of lungs in the midfield.
I thought Colback was excellent today? Cant ecen begin to understand what game you lads have been watching in all honesty. The team set up was quite openly attack minded, with Richardson, Vaughan, Sessegnon and Larsson all forward thinking players. Someone had to stay home and watch the kids and Colbacks work rate and tackling today was epic. Its always these 'water carrier' sorts of players that dont get the praise the deserve - I beleive it was Zidane who christened Deschamps with that title but in doing so, he said without them nothing is possible. Colback grafted his arse off thos afternoon and let the others do the offensive stuff. He was no kid out there today but a real man and I put him higher than Catts, Meyler and Gardener in that role. He absolutely gave everything for the cause today, until his legs ran out of steam and I actually had him down as my motm. I know football is all about opinions but I have to say this one is way, waty off mark - in my opinon of course. Lol
I don't know how you can say he was excellent Cest, I thought he was poor but maybe I'm being a little harsh. Funny how one person sees something so completely different to another.
They are the ones that catch our eye mate. Especially when an easy pass is on. That is one of my biggest bugbears with Ricco far too many misplaced easy passes.
i thought he was his usual self, i.e. average. only passes sideways or backwards, is neat and tidy but doesn't offer all that much. vaughan was twice the player he was today, as he offered a threat. whenever colback got the ball, you knew at best it was going sideways, and at worst, he'd forget he was in a competitive match and get caught in possession. i am not his biggest fan, and strongly believe we have better options in centre mid. he's a young lad though, and his work rate is good, so i'm definitely not saying he'll never come good and that we should get rid.
I think one thing we can agree on is how bad O'Shea was today, distribution was beyond awful. Also was anyone else surprised when Wickham started? Didn't have a clue he was fit myself.
Listened to Martin O'Neil's interview,and he praised both Colback and Wickham...surely he knows better than fans on this forum!!He was full of praise for all the lads,when he was interviewed by Collymore.
agree, I thought he worked really hard, especially in the first half when it was all a bit scrappy and someone had to get stuck in.
And you always get things 100% right in life kidda? It must be great being perfect mate. My assessment on Colback is how I saw it. He worked harder than any other Sunderland player out there today and just because he didn't smash a 25 yard shot or took a blistering free kick he is criticised. Both Larsson and Vaughan were guilty of wasting possession today as well as Collback but they are heroes for scoring and Collback is somehow a liability for not. I dont think thats a fair reflection of the lads contribution today and will say it how I see it.
