Lee Johnson

[Disco down under]

I can't count the amount of new appointments that we all as fans have ended up saying " they need a transfer window" or "it's a rebuilding job" etc.. which is confusing because we (including me) also say that this team is good enough to get out of the league, which it is. I personally won't be accepting anything but promotion this season, either through top 2 or play-offs.

If LJ doesn't achieve that he has failed, and listening to Speakman (or reading) that was always the goal.

That said, LJ mentioned about the pressure to win the next 5 or to be promoted (I reckon he was referring to CMs 100 points nonsense) and I agree with his current plan to play it game by game because our main issues are psychological. There definitely are improvements and we are having great spells in matches, we just need the consistency that we have lacked for the last 2 seasons.

That to me is LJ's job right now and I think he can bring it, but I'm not buying into this long term job league one business as that gives him an excuse that we haven't afforded previous managers.

I want out of this league this year and a few years "rebuilding" in the championship.

With players out of contract this summer and no salary cap the timing would be perfect.

I'd agree in part. If he had the full season and didn't take us up, I'd be disappointed.

But he took over a team with a broken mentality half way through the season.

So I will start judging him properly from the start if next season. If he gets to the play-offs he has done well for me.

 

[Sunderlad]

Think that Sanderson needs to replace Power at right-back. And try Matthews in goal and then O'Nien & Scowen in the middle for Tuesday

 

[Smug in Boots]

Think that Sanderson needs to replace Power at right-back. And try Matthews in goal and then O'Nien & Scowen in the middle for Tuesday

All good teams have a solid defence and variations of style elsewhere.

Our defence was all over the place yesterday.

Blaming that on Burge doesn't quite wash with me ...

... for their first goal Power stood and watched the parry then the follow up.

 

[Sunderlad]

OK Smug, I didn't see the game yesterday. But following this on social media, he does make a lot of people nervous. I do think that Power should have a rest emoticon-0136-giggl) and give Sanderson a run out.

 

[Nig]

Gets blamed for team selection, then it comes to light that players are injured

An honest account here.

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Heading in the right direction,
We may have had a bad spell for 20 minutes in the first half that let in 2 goals, but how many times pre Johnson would we have folded after that. ?
Instead we got back at them, equalised and really should have scored more.

 

[Porterfield73]

I'm happy with the job that he's done so far, but I'm realistic enough to see that automatic promotion is probably too much of an ask , so I'll be happy with a shot at the play-offs. If we don't win those, I'm prepared for another full season down in this league, happy in the knowledge that we'll have our management team and academy set-up properly bedded in by then, and at that point I will expect to win the league outright, no excuses.

 

[cumbrianmackem]

As LJ said we could have had six, our finishing needs sharpening up all round.

 

[samwise_new]

i know highlights dont tell a full story, but from watching them i can see why so many were getting frustrated...some excellent chances created and wasted and we need to turn them into goals.

that said, it was not that long ago we were complaining about a side that created nothing for our forwards to work with so in that respect i see improvement...LJ has not had a great start in all honesty, any new manager would obviously prefer to have a fully fit squad to work with and a nice, smooth run of games yet LJ came in to basically willis out (had been a solid part of a strong defensive unit) gooch out (chipped in with goals, had some pace and directness with a lot of play going through him) hume out (probably our main attacking outlet most games) and since then has not been able to field a regular back four (any team doing well needs a solid, regular defensive line)...this was further disrupted with the covid break and more injuries.

i hoped for more if i am honest but i hope i am also astute enough to realise that things have been less than perfect for LJ and the new team, i do not think i am the only one who has noticed improvements in the team, we ALL tend to notice the mistakes that are still there (yes, i also realise we need work still), for instance, that tendency to score and 'slacken off' allowing the opposition to not just get back into the game but dominate for a while, at least now we are finding ways to get back into it and dominate the game ourselves rather than sitting there in panic mode for 2/3 of the game waiting for them to score and end with a draw...it was never a 'quick fix' and is still a work in progress but as i have stated previously, anyone who can not see improvement does not watch our games.

 

[Montysoptician]

I really like the bloke and think he will do well for us, but his team selection today was very questionable. Any reason why he didn’t have Dan Neil in the squad, and what is this persistence to play Power at right back ahead of Sanderson, or anyone else for that matter? Anyone else got anything to add?

I was wary of Johnson to begin with, his POMO's and the like made him sound like a PE Instructor who had just finished his initial training but lately I have really warmed to his honesty and passion. With the exception of four January signings he's working with someone else's players but I can see what he is about and we just need to see some results now.

 

[Billy Batts]

Think that Sanderson needs to replace Power at right-back. And try Matthews in goal and then O'Nien & Scowen in the middle for Tuesday

Agreed. And Jones has to play. Think people a bit obsessed sometimes with creativity. The main attributes you need in this league are pace, directness and energy. The more players we have on the pitch with that the better we'll be imo.
I'd go Sanderson, Willis, Wright, Volkins.
Diamond, Scowen, Onein, Jones.
Wyke with either Gooch or Mcgeady around him.

 

[Rickystixx]

I'd agree in part. If he had the full season and didn't take us up, I'd be disappointed.

But he took over a team with a broken mentality half way through the season.

So I will start judging him properly from the start if next season. If he gets to the play-offs he has done well for me.

I'm not saying it's an easy task by any stretch but look at where we are?

If this was the championship i'd agree with you completely and give him that space (I am not advocating he be sacked if he doesn't achieve promotion btw, though I will say that Jack Ross should have been) but this league is absolutely garbage and my standard of expectation from SAFC will not be lowered any more.

Not getting promoted out of this league is a failure and I'm sure LJ didn't rock up to his interview and sell them on a 7th place finish this season.

I agree the team/club is damaged but it's his job to put that right both short term and long term.

 

[rooch 3]

I'm happy with the job that he's done so far, but I'm realistic enough to see that automatic promotion is probably too much of an ask , so I'll be happy with a shot at the play-offs. If we don't win those, I'm prepared for another full season down in this league, happy in the knowledge that we'll have our management team and academy set-up properly bedded in by then, and at that point I will expect to win the league outright, no excuses.

I just can’t agree about writing this season off if we win our game in hand we are only 4 points off second with 17 games or 51 points to play for, its like saying at the beginning of a season if 2 teams take maximum points in the first two games and we lose both ours are you going to say they are the top two at the end of the season?

 

[Porterfield73]

I just can’t agree about writing this season off if we win our game in hand we are only 4 points off second with 17 games or 51 points to play for, its like saying at the beginning of a season if 2 teams take maximum points in the first two games and we lose both ours are you going to say they are the top two at the end of the season?

I respect your opinion marra, but don't forget there are teams behind us with games in hand on us as well, I just don't think we're anywhere near being the 1st or 2nd best team in this league, we were absolutely ****e for periods of yesterdays game, and the way the season is going, those 17 games are going to fly past before we know it, are we going to improve so fantastically, while a host of other teams suddenly hit a brick wall? I don't think so sadly. Its playoffs at best in my book.

 

[rooch 3]

I respect your opinion marra, but don't forget there are teams behind us with games in hand on us as well, I just don't think we're anywhere near being the 1st or 2nd best team in this league, we were absolutely ****e for periods of yesterdays game, and the way the season is going, those 17 games are going to fly past before we know it, are we going to improve so fantastically, while a host of other teams suddenly hit a brick wall? I don't think so sadly. Its playoffs at best in my book.

The play offs will be great if we are the team that’s on the up and on a run

 

[Porterfield73]

A playoff final would be bitter sweet. I've been at Wembley every time Sunderland have been there since 1973 (Inc) and to miss out because of no fans or limited numbers would be gutting, but I'd give it up now for a playoff win. Keep the Faith.

 

[flandersmackem]

Interesting thread this, gives a good insight into the thought process of many of our fans. For me, by the time this guy came in, our club had hit rock bottom, never in our entire history did we have such a weak squad, not only weak, but totally and utterly without ambition, drive, focus or direction.
He had to work with what he had to start with and because of the wage cap now, his buys/loans in the window were all restricted.
I like this guy, I think he will do well, but I hope our fans give him, Speakman and all the other new backroom staff enough of a honeymoon period to put something in place that will last, as we haven't had that at our club for quite a years now, possibly not since Drumaville/Quinn/Keane walked in.

 

[Comfy]

Whatever happens this season, hopefully a promotion one as I will never give up on the hope we will the summer is gonna be a big test for them not only LJ whatever league we’re in. I can only see a few of the OOC that are good enough for the championship resigning for us and need a lot more quality, if we don’t get promoted then I cannot see any of them resigning. I’m not judging him on promotion this year as I think parky ****ed us, I’ll judge him when he has his own squad

 

[Mav3rick]

It's hard to judge someone after so little time and being limited with funds and wages. I'm not so happy with the way our midfield is playing as it puts to much pressure on the defence. I would have loved a new experienced keeper in the window but we have what we have. With a lot of players out of contact in the summer i think that's a massive bonus.

 

[Flamin hot]

I still hope he can turn things round this season but he doesn't help himself at times. Did he really need to bring Matthews in tonight?

I know burge is poor but Matthews has been awful with some howlers this season and I really don't know why he started him

Leadbitter can't play in a midfield 2 he's far too slow I really wish he'd have faith in Dan neil who's been excellent every time he's played . I'm not sure this 2 up front is the right thing to do.

Playing power at right back is also a poor choice IMO he's just not very good its as simple as that.

 

[Dave_39]

he needs to stop being stubborn and drop the crappy 4-2-2-2 for a start