I don't think Woods is a bad player, he just doesn't work well next to Seri. But we already knew that from earlier in the season. As Brady said earlier in the thread, if we want to go for the play-offs we have to take risks, why not play the 11 we know can play well, why not risk early subs to change the game? I do think we got quite unlucky, they scored with a deflection right after we did and that halted our momentum. Then they got their 2nd right as we were bringing 2 subs on, but that's the margins at this level. We deserved to lose.
issue is Tetteh is not match fit, Ebowei is not match fit, Tufan can't last more than 30 mins (which is a joke & he should have gone in Jan) Woods is an average player, Longman is an average player, Slater is an average player
i just think we are going to see a slide down the table as we play teams around us, we have dropped points to some poor poor sides, fact.
And picked up points against some good ones, i.e. we've played in the Championship. 3 losses in 14 ffs. 3 draws, two losses against sides above us under Rosie, hardly cause for the carry on you're giving it. We probably deserve to finish anywhere from 9-14th this season and that's how we're looking in the games played.
Finishing top half this season would be a great achievement. But tonight was way way way off that level and it infuriates me that the likes of Slumberland are where they are without spending big money, other than on that Clarke who Spurs had their pants down for. I think come the summer there will be massive changes in personnel.. what we dont have, unless Traore is it, is someone with a killer pass.. and someone who's prepared to take a card and flatten someone..
Think we look really flat and very dour. Will have a more informed assessment come the end of the season jusy not fully aboard the Rosie train like many others, out performing shota with the players we have isn’t exactly the yardstick of success…
Frustrating watch. We looked tired all over the field, especially Christie, who doesnt seem to be able to cut two games in a week. Norwich didn't give us a second and as result Seri couldn't get involved at all, meaning the front two had nothing to work with. Norwich bullied us from the first to the last minute and won every second ball. Subs didn't change much either. So the team who wanted it more won quite easily in the end. Long, long journey home for the fans. We've had better nights.
Second best all over the park. Frustrating as we never looked like stringing more than a couple of passes together and rarely threatened. The goal aside I can't think of another moment of any note, attacking wise. Tetteh was disappointing, as was Estupinan. The subs didn't really have any impact. Ebiowei just didn't look ready to play at this standard yet. Ingram didn't do a lot wrong but I suspect that he'll be the scapegoat here and Darlow will come in on Saturday.
Mate's a Norwich season ticket holder and he's messaged me to say that was their best performance of the season at home.....**** happens, half those players have played in the prem, they were on it tonight. We move on.
This is the point though, Sunderland have kept a core together and developed them and complemented them with astute signings and loan additions like Diallo. We tried to throw the baby out with the bathwater and are surprised we don't automatically have the same chemistry. It's why three-ish managers in succession have played the core of the League One promotion so much (despite the despairing wails of some) as they at least have understanding and chemistry even if they're technically poorer than some of our signings. I'm sure we'll see some more movement in the transfer market in the summer and with another pre-season should see a stronger and more consistent core. Players like Christie, Seri, Pelkas, Tetteh all developing into good players for us.
I never want to see Seri and Woods pairing again. It just doesn't work. Was like men vs boys today, they had pace and strength all over the park, something we're seriously lacking.
This. We went to Sheff U and took it up to them and only lost 1-0 in what was praised as the best travelling performance at their place. Tonight we looked off it and Norwich were switched on following two losses and needing to bounce back. We caught them at the wrong time and they're a quality side on their day. **** happens, it isn't the end of the world.
Yet throwing the baby out with the bathwater leaves us far better off than 19th - and the 19th flattered us - would have been 20th without points deductions.
Criticised him on Saturday but we desperately missed Doc's energy in the middle today. It is highlighting our lack of variety in the middle as we needed to rotate the squad to keep it fresh. The starting 11 probably is what cost us not to mention some below par performances from some of the usual big hitters. Regroup and change some things and we will be fine but the last 2 games highlighted its a mid table finish for us most likely
