Birthday today, took my lad to the match (he's 6) so we had a great day! Couple of points from me. Bridge - I thought he was showing signs of a great partnership with Mcclean (not sure how bad his injury is) He seems composed on the ball and looks good going forward. He adds to our attacking options and I thought the two of them looked really good today. I'm still not sold on him defensively though.He didn't have much to do today, sadly to me he does look like he is made out of glass. Excellent descision by MON to bring him in though, a very good understudy to Richardson who can dislodge him from the team. I just hope one of the is fit for Tuesday, otherwise it's Colback at leftback. The Greek - looks excellent in the air. I worry about his pace on the floor though. Especially when our other centre half lacks pace too! I thought both our centre halfs played well today and I beleive that QPR have a better strike partnership than Everton. Colback - since O'Neill has come to the club he seems to have improved and stepped up a level, another excellent game today - Difficult to drop him for Catt's on Tuesday. He does give us real strength in depth. Gardner - I just think we look great on the right when he's our right back. Would be tempted to play him on the right and drop Larrson for the cup game. Gardner just has a bit more pace. He's not bad from a set peice either! Vaughan - perhaps the most underrated player today. Was all over the pitch, got an assist. Still defended well. Mcclean - What QPR were thinking to only leave the fullback to mark him. Anyone knows you have to double up on the lad. For me he just keeps getting better, QPR allowed him to run at their fullback today and paid the price. He was involved in every goal. I LOVE THIS LAD. He is as brave as a Lion! He will always run at a fullback and attack them. What's more he always goes at them full pace, it must be a hard day to play against him. Yes he is raw and half the time he does lose the ball half the time (this will change with experience) but the best thing about him is he goes again and he beats them half the time and things happen. Their are not many good left wingers in the Prem and I honestly think we have s great one! Not only is he packed full of pace, skill, raw power and strong but he works so hard for the team and can tackle. Sess - Great to see him back. I love to watch Sess run at people, he is so exciting. His game is getting better and he can finish too! Some lovely touches today and skill and flair! Worth the admission fee alone! Bendtner - Now I know he annoys a lot of Sunderland fans and I think I know why. He doesn't tackle, he rarely put's himself in harms way but I honestly think he knows he is made of glass. He still needs to bust more of a gut to get into the box, however when he brings the ball down and holds it up and brings others into the game he does ooze class. In my honest opinion we are a better side with him in it as he can hold up the ball and give the team respite and a good spring board to get forward. However one of the reasons Bendter looked good today was that Fraiser Campbell did half his job for him when he came on. I love Campbell too! He is so enthusiastic and it's infectuous! He was making the runs into the box that Bendter should have been making, getting on the shoulders of the last man and coming in from the wing whilst doing his wingers duty too! (Keep him out of our 18 yard box though!). The lad worked so hard today and I thought he deserved a goal. So a good result, never seemed in doubt. My main concern was the key injuries we picked up today. I really want us to beat Everton and we need our best team to do it! I think MON has a tough selection for Everton and some players are going to feel hard done by on Tuesday.
Excellent post, agree with all your points. One of the best things about the MON era so far is that nomatter who is absent, we seem to have cover players who are willing and able to fill in, whereas previously any absentees would be a cause for major concern. Happy birthday mate!
The last time Sunderland played on my birthday was the Milk Cup final against norwich, spent most of that day crying! I was only 8! I'm sure they must have played on my birthday since. That one bloody hurt though! Agreed ANZHI, everytime we seemto suffer a key injury someone has stepped up to the plate! Brilliant.
