Steve against an Arsenal team thats main problem has been it's defence you need to attack them, this is what I was expecting Steve, to have a go at them and try and rattle them, not because I'm a over expectant Sunderland fan with top 4 ambitions Steve but because it was our best chance of success! Imagine my face when I saw the team sheet Steve, it was like I'd just opened a Christmas Present from my loved one and it was a steaming turd Steve! Imagine that.
Nevermind Steve I put that behind me and thought Steve will have them fired up, with a stirling team talk to get in their faces, harry, first to the ball, win the 50/50's but no Steve we left gaping holes in the midfield and at the back. They scored in 30 seconds Steve! Did you see it, I know, I had to rub my eyes too.
Anyone can make a bad start Steve but I knew we'd come back at them, but no Steve it didn't happen we sat back at 1-0 down, we defended poorly, the 6 midfielders you played didn't particularly mark anyone rather they stood 10 yards of them and allowed them to run the show, it was a horror show Steve, we were in for a right battering! We carried some luck though, despite our endless misplaced passes, our lack of running into space and supporting the 4 foot target man that Mig kept punting the ball up too. Arsenal missed chances and Seb smashed a beauty into the top corner to get us back in the game. Now Steve at this point I actually managed a cheer. Despite the turgid display that was ruining an otherwise peaceful Sunday. We had lucked out and were through no real effort or game plan back in the game.
I thought now was the time Steve, Arsenal had gone to peices, they had lost confience we were creating chances, I thought Steves going to change this, he's seen we can go for this but no Steve I was kidding myself wasn't I, you had a different plan Steve a very different plan, more defending Steve, you know your players and they must love chasing a ball around Steve. I bet in training after a wild shot flies by the post (like in the live games Steve) all the players go chasing after the ball as they love chasing it so much!
Steve you stated in your interview "when you don't put your big chances away just before half time your going to struggle". This is my biggest bug bear Steve so prick your lugs back, Had you not played with two holding midfielders, Cattermole who is ineffective in games at the moment and not played Colback who is equally as bad and had strikers in the box in Wi and Wickham (who are no doubt being paid handsomely ) perhaps they may have scored because that's what they are good at Steve! That is why they play up front because they score goals! Defensive midfielders rarely do Steve perhaps you could look up a few figure of goals to games ratios for say Gary Lineker and David Batty, it may help you understand Steve that we didn't go two up because we didn't have any goalscorers on the pitch.
Nevermind Steve, it was half time, we were back in the game, we could have somehow been winning the game despite your inept management. I imagined your team talk Steve, "Lads these are there for the taking, I'm bringing a forward on" but no the lads most have revolted in the dressing room. No boss we need to defend more they must have said. We like booting the ball to their centre backs, it's fun watching the little fella getting out jumped by people twice his height. You must have pressed on Steve "Lad get around Sess' support him, get forward. Sess you ned a bit of help up there". Did Sess demand to be left upfront alone? What happened Steve why were we so negative again. Surely you didn't tell the lads to chase shadows for as long as possible in the second half Steve did you, you didn't say just keep it going lads..........you did didn't you Steve.
So out we came for the second half and we went straight on the defensive Steve! I was so confident that Sunderland were not going to Score and Arsenal were that I had a shower during the second half Steve, A bloody shower Steve. I've never been so despondant Steve as a Sunderland supporter that during a Sunderland match I stopped watching it and had a shower. You can't imagine how happy I was Steve to see we were still drawing when I returned. A turn up for the books and no mistake!
Elmo was struggling Steve, he always does away from home, Despite Arsenal changing fullbacks he managed to be in two players pockets!! I knew you'd cange it Steve and you didn't let me down. Dong was coming on, I honestly thought you were going for it Steve but no Steve you weren't going for it, you took Seb off, that's right our only real hope of getting a winner from a lucky free kick, you always taking him off Steve? Irrespective of how he or anyone else is playing? Why is that Steve. OK so who do you bring on you bring on Wi Steve (a striker - yes Steve this is good) but no Steve you have to go and play him on the left and leave the left winger up front Steve. Is this too difficult for you Steve? How about popping the striker up front.
Finally our luck ran out Steve and Arsenal got a deserved winner for there ernest 80% possession thanks to our hapless passing.
How long have you been in football Steve, didn't you used to play in teams that were attacking and won games. A team where players were played in the correct positions? Maybe you could try that Steve......Steve..............STEVE............STTTEEEEVVVEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!
Nevermind Steve I put that behind me and thought Steve will have them fired up, with a stirling team talk to get in their faces, harry, first to the ball, win the 50/50's but no Steve we left gaping holes in the midfield and at the back. They scored in 30 seconds Steve! Did you see it, I know, I had to rub my eyes too.
Anyone can make a bad start Steve but I knew we'd come back at them, but no Steve it didn't happen we sat back at 1-0 down, we defended poorly, the 6 midfielders you played didn't particularly mark anyone rather they stood 10 yards of them and allowed them to run the show, it was a horror show Steve, we were in for a right battering! We carried some luck though, despite our endless misplaced passes, our lack of running into space and supporting the 4 foot target man that Mig kept punting the ball up too. Arsenal missed chances and Seb smashed a beauty into the top corner to get us back in the game. Now Steve at this point I actually managed a cheer. Despite the turgid display that was ruining an otherwise peaceful Sunday. We had lucked out and were through no real effort or game plan back in the game.
I thought now was the time Steve, Arsenal had gone to peices, they had lost confience we were creating chances, I thought Steves going to change this, he's seen we can go for this but no Steve I was kidding myself wasn't I, you had a different plan Steve a very different plan, more defending Steve, you know your players and they must love chasing a ball around Steve. I bet in training after a wild shot flies by the post (like in the live games Steve) all the players go chasing after the ball as they love chasing it so much!
Steve you stated in your interview "when you don't put your big chances away just before half time your going to struggle". This is my biggest bug bear Steve so prick your lugs back, Had you not played with two holding midfielders, Cattermole who is ineffective in games at the moment and not played Colback who is equally as bad and had strikers in the box in Wi and Wickham (who are no doubt being paid handsomely ) perhaps they may have scored because that's what they are good at Steve! That is why they play up front because they score goals! Defensive midfielders rarely do Steve perhaps you could look up a few figure of goals to games ratios for say Gary Lineker and David Batty, it may help you understand Steve that we didn't go two up because we didn't have any goalscorers on the pitch.
Nevermind Steve, it was half time, we were back in the game, we could have somehow been winning the game despite your inept management. I imagined your team talk Steve, "Lads these are there for the taking, I'm bringing a forward on" but no the lads most have revolted in the dressing room. No boss we need to defend more they must have said. We like booting the ball to their centre backs, it's fun watching the little fella getting out jumped by people twice his height. You must have pressed on Steve "Lad get around Sess' support him, get forward. Sess you ned a bit of help up there". Did Sess demand to be left upfront alone? What happened Steve why were we so negative again. Surely you didn't tell the lads to chase shadows for as long as possible in the second half Steve did you, you didn't say just keep it going lads..........you did didn't you Steve.
So out we came for the second half and we went straight on the defensive Steve! I was so confident that Sunderland were not going to Score and Arsenal were that I had a shower during the second half Steve, A bloody shower Steve. I've never been so despondant Steve as a Sunderland supporter that during a Sunderland match I stopped watching it and had a shower. You can't imagine how happy I was Steve to see we were still drawing when I returned. A turn up for the books and no mistake!
Elmo was struggling Steve, he always does away from home, Despite Arsenal changing fullbacks he managed to be in two players pockets!! I knew you'd cange it Steve and you didn't let me down. Dong was coming on, I honestly thought you were going for it Steve but no Steve you weren't going for it, you took Seb off, that's right our only real hope of getting a winner from a lucky free kick, you always taking him off Steve? Irrespective of how he or anyone else is playing? Why is that Steve. OK so who do you bring on you bring on Wi Steve (a striker - yes Steve this is good) but no Steve you have to go and play him on the left and leave the left winger up front Steve. Is this too difficult for you Steve? How about popping the striker up front.
Finally our luck ran out Steve and Arsenal got a deserved winner for there ernest 80% possession thanks to our hapless passing.
How long have you been in football Steve, didn't you used to play in teams that were attacking and won games. A team where players were played in the correct positions? Maybe you could try that Steve......Steve..............STEVE............STTTEEEEVVVEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!
