My first pop at Marty

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Counter-attack with good passers-out and good receivers (Becham/Giggs) can be a lethal tactic. Can't comment on today's game but once McClean and Johnson get their games up to speed then we can take off. Just need a bit more cohesion when settled team is produced.

Early days yet but woill take draws rather than losses.
 
Counter-attack with good passers-out and good receivers (Becham/Giggs) can be a lethal tactic. Can't comment on today's game but once McClean and Johnson get their games up to speed then we can take off. Just need a bit more cohesion when settled team is produced.

Early days yet but woill take draws rather than losses.[/QUOTE

I think the above is the main positive for you guys and to me shows the sign of a club in progression (this is a genuine post and not meant in a patronising manner). Would Sunderland teams of the past turned defeats in to draws and draws in to wins? I'm thinking of the Liverpool game when I ask that question and today's match going by the comments on this thread (I didn't see your game, currently waiting patiently for MOTD).

You now have Fletcher that can seemingly get a goal out of nothing, his conversion rate since joining you is great. Him along with Johnson mean that in games where you are below par you can actually steal a point or even all three points from on moment of magic. It's still early days, we've got Cisse and Cabaye currently under performing and you have Sess and McClean.

I'm rambling a bit here but my point is good teams grind out points when they don't always deserve them, we did that a few times last year and you have shown signs of that this season even though AJ has been injured and some of your better players are yet to start playing so to speak. I'd be quietly encouraged if I was you guys.
 
I must admit O'neill surprises me a bit with his tactics.

I'm not trying to start a fire here, but he's not this godlike manager like some of you make him out to be.

He's great, his record shows it, but you shouldn't sit back and play negative after 1-0.

He seems to want to play attacking until you go 1-0 up, then hope for a 2nd goal on the break.
 
Fluked 4 points this season and yet some say Newcastle are lucky <doh>

Hardly fluked 4pts, they're a good team defensively, but 4pts is what they deserve for their campaign so far.

5pts is probably more than we deserve so far, based on our pants performances, but we have the quality to win when we're ****.
 
Hardly fluked 4pts, they're a good team defensively, but 4pts is what they deserve for their campaign so far.

5pts is probably more than we deserve so far, based on our pants performances, but we have the quality to win when we're ****.

Arsenal battered them 90% of the game, Swansea even battered them when down to ten men, Liverpool battered them all game, and judging by the comments it was the same story today. They have about a quarter of the shots their opponents do in every game, they have prospered from ****e opposition finishing and everything Fletcher touches turning to gold. Keep playing the way they are and it can't last.
 
Hardly fluked 4pts, they're a good team defensively, but 4pts is what they deserve for their campaign so far.

5pts is probably more than we deserve so far, based on our pants performances, but we have the quality to win when we're ****.

Arsenal battered them 90% of the game, Swansea even battered them when down to ten men, Liverpool battered them all game, and judging by the comments it was the same story today. They have about a quarter of the shots their opponents do in every game, they have prospered from ****e opposition finishing and everything Fletcher touches turning to gold. Keep playing the way they are and it can't last.


<laugh> you don't sound bitter at all.

Stop looking for bites.
 
Just finished watching a cracking game between Barcelona and Granada. Granada played a counter attack game and with a bit more calmness could have had more than a goal or two. Eventually Barcelona won 2-0 but only in the last 3 minutes with stunning goals.

If counter attack is to be the strategy then it is crucial that McClean and Johnson perform. Once MON has the players available then it will be the time to judge.
 
Sorry I am late to the party guys. While I agree with Cest's inital post I would like to remind you all that I said this would be the way we would play under MON. Living down here in Villa land I had to put up with Villa fans making the same complaints about his style. BUT he did lead them to 6th in the EPL on more than one occasion.

MON is our manager and like it or not he is going to play he way so we need to get behind the team and give them our 100% support and hope MOB knows what he is doing.

Look on the bright side we are un beaten this season so far.

Me personally I would like to see Gardner in the middle of the park with Catts. I think he looks to go forward instead of sideways and backwards.