How about I prove how little I know about football by giving you my view of whatâs happening, why Iâm over the moon at what Bruce is doing and why it makes me excited about next season. I start by admitting that if it does not work, and nothing is guaranteed, we could be in for a hard season and many will be calling for Bruceâs head, but if it does work?? For a few years now we have had 2 major problems IMO, yes I know w have had many more than 2 but 2 major ones that have had me leave games saying, oh well, they tried I suppose. The two problems actually blend into one problem, getting the ball from our box to their box to create chances. Option one is to kick the ball long, hoof ball people call it but its an important part of the game and is by far the main way of getting into play from the goalkeeper, either from hands or goal kick. All to often the ball goes long, is won by the defender then comes straight back. Gyan and Bent are poor at winning and holding the ball, Jones was good at winning on his day but to many off days so the problem stayed. In Wickham we in theory have the answer, a big powerful player who can win and direct the ball and who can hold the ball. Forget his age and look at his physical attributes, I think we may see a lot more of Mr Wickham than many think. Because we could not affectifly carry out the long ball we tried the far more affective short ball and decided to pass our way out, far, far to often to no avail. Catts occasionly could do it but its not his thing, Hendo tried to do it but all to often the ball went sideways. Steed could hold the ball and run with the ball and Richardson was hit and miss. Only in Colback did I see a glimpse of a possible answer. In Larssen and hopefully Gardner we get the building bricks that could start to solve this problem and who knows who we will be adding to the mix. So we may well be about to see a new type of Sunderland, maybe Bruce was looking and listening after all and maybe with his signings so far he has a plan A and plan B sorted in one day and maybe we can even have both plans on the field at the same time. Am I way out, you tell me.
I dont think you can just pick one and stick with it.... In my opinion you have to be able to change and adapt the tactics depending on the opponent and how the game is going. Last season we didnt see that. Far too often Brucie seemed to just try the same thing again and again to no avail. if he wanted us to play long ball one saturday then regardless of whether it was working or not thats what we did. In Wickham we have the kind of player who offers us a bit of strength up front. Which is a bonus. Not since quinny have we had someone who could knock the ball down for the other striker as well as score some goals. In Sess, we have a player who can pass aswell as get past a player, with another player like him we would be back in the days of Magic Johnston and Nicky Summerbee. We dont have to pick option A or option B, we can use them both to great effect, and hopefully have a bloody good season
that's what i love about you Syd, out of the blue and hit us with this, so i cant tell if you have been at the happy baccy, pissed or serious, but options to mix it up a bit are always good.
Its been obvious to me since Bruce took over he is trying to get the players to pass then ball and keep possession. As Syd says we have not quite had the team to do it all the time, when the first 11 were fit we were ok but when we started getting injuries things fell apart. In Sess and Larson we have 2 players who are excellent on the ball and can pass accurately over a large distance. Gardener will get into the box to support the attack, (something Hendo rarely did). In Whickam we have a player who will scare defenders and take the attention off Gyan, when that happens Gyan is extremely dangerous, if he gets 1 on 1 with the last man he usually makes something happen.
Elmo was the only useful outlet for the long ball, and the mig could find his head. If he plays in goal a tall c/f will get the service to feed Gyan.
Its the strentgh in depth we seem to be building and the strong bench and starting 11. Some way to go but after a slow start things are taking shape.
so annoyed wigan wanted him last season and the price they had to pay was £4m and DW whouldnt pay it
Sorry Wigan but............ [video=youtube;YKn6h2x5IcY]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YKn6h2x5IcY[/video]
Syd after all the years of let downs, this coming season, I am going to be the ultimate pessimist, still downbeat from last season, and before you bright young things rear up, Ive had over 51 years of not great seasons, your **** may well be to come, although I sincerely hope not, the reason for the tenner was simple, I could influence SAFC to win a game, because when I bet on them they lose. so lets try something different, I am in a no lose situation, SAFC do well I lose a large bacardi and coke, with a small beer. on the other hand SAFC let me down again, and I can make some dosh, no substitute, but it will help. but remain open to being convinced on Conner, hope he can take the step up, would like the Man U disposeables, to stay in Salford, would like Vaughn to have propper talks. now thats my upbeat reply, after this, back to Glass half full, and doom and gloom.
Problem is bill I could never live my life like that, never could and never will. I have had more than my fair share of kicks, can suffer from very, very black depressions, been pissed on many times but always, always get back up and look for positives. If I had not I swear I would be dead now. I cant abide negatives.
**** it Syd me too, but trying it the other way now, cant be any worse can it? at least I can say to myself, in delusion, I knew it.
