Cabral looks like a cracking signing! He might need some work on his shooting, but at least he is willing to have a go. He bossed the midfield. Biggest positive for me was the new signings didnt look lost at all considering this was the 1st premier league game for most of them. Looks like all of them who played today could make it at this level. this says it all imo Fulham defender Aaron Hughes: "We'll take a clean sheet all day long. We'd have been happy with a 0-0 draw. "We knew they'd come out and have a go but we withstood that. It was always going to be a tough start but makes it extra pleasing for us." and thats what they set out to get
Sorry, but I cant agree with that. Sess didnt perform cos Fulham give him the space. AJ, Sess nor Giac could break them down effectively. We cant rely on one player to do it all every game, cos the opposition will set out to smother our best players. Sess was the most fouled player of the premier league last year, without counting the fouls that weren't given,and that tells a story all by itself. Fulham set out to choke our game style and it worked. The team need to learn to cope with those kind of tactics. Hell, maybe Sess shouldnt play in games where the opposition set out to defend a get the goalless draw, but that is why we have a squad of players. Different horses different courses and all that. But Sess cant be blamed for that.
30 odd years of seeing the same old story. we are no where near the standard of 2001, where are the wingers?, why was no players bursting through the defence ?, Fulham will be the weakest attacking team to come here and they get three easy points, the balls in were rubbish and the shooting amature, the Spurs game was a one off. And where will our first win come from now?.
**** off you absolute cock I don't remember you being man for man better than us in April last year? 0-3 ring any bells?
Well......1-0 loss, not what we want but I for one feel that there are positives from the performance. 1. We now have a right back who looks like a right back. 2. AJ looks up for it and ready to put in a shift. 3. Cabral shows all the signs of being the class we have been lacking in the middle. 4. The shape of the team was far more balanced than last season. 5. We kept the ball and had more possession than the opposing team(when's the last time we did that) 6. We have signed a CLASS Italian full international, who on today's performance, is the next level that we have all been looking for. Ok, so we have some problems(no goals, soft goal,etc) but as much as I feel gutted that we lost, I see signs that perhaps, just perhaps we have the personnel to move forward. Two or three more in (left back please), Fletch back and I see the future is bright....the future is Red and White.
What a bunch of F---ING negative supporters did any of you watch the game if you get the chance you will see that it was totally dominated by one team constantly attacking Fulham in one game have used up all of their luck for the season I would suggest a lot of you start to support Newcastle where you will find a lot more of your type
After watching yesterdays game and thought about it, I am more pleased than I thought I would be after a defeat. We actually have flair players who are not frightened to have a shot, to make a pass. We also now have a team who runs themselves into the ground, something I haven't seem at Sunderland for a long time. I reckon by the time Fetcher comes back, we will have a more cutting edge to our team up front, shame about Catts falling out of favour, as he would have made the difference yesterday, It was crying out for a combative midfielder to take the game by the scruff of the neck. I think we looked a little lightweight (Altidore apart) some of our players can be brushed off the ball fairly easily, but all in all given the fact this is only the 4th game this squad has acutally played together, I thought we did ok. I mentioned on an earlier thread by the middle of September we will know what kind of season we can look forward to. I just hope these next 2 games bring something for us..as our fixture list doesn't look too kind to us running up to Xmas.
I honestly thought that if we had scored in the first half when we were so well on top, we would have went on to win comfortably..
My only disappointment from that game (apart from the result) was sess, he looked like he wanted to be away
Made my point regarding Sess. And have to agree with Cest. (Or rather he agree with me) There's no place in that side for him. One game in or not, scape goat or not, He's weak as piss as a forward, he will now get in the way of our winger when he moves wide. My mate said put him in Larssons position (we don't like Larsson) but again he's weak as piss, so where does he play? For me, if he stays, has to be from the bench. so better he goes and get a proper number 10/ playmaker/ striker. Because Sess is none of those.
Positives are we are not bottom of the league and we will improve, Fulham looked a different team from last season their fragile defence has toughened up where as ours still looks shaky especially at set pieces. Can't fault any of the players it was just one of those days we tried and failed it happens and, hopefully we will learn from it.
Overall a more balanced team ,unimpressed with larsson in the team but that will more than likely change soon, back post header from a taller player should be a like for like size thing imo . With the teams coming up to play perhaps a bit more defensive coaching and marking sessions might be needed , it seems its based on moving forward which is fantastic ,its what we all wanted, but we should not forget the basic duties when defending. slightly deflated but can see once again its going to be a roller coaster looking at the fixtures coming up , its not been kind.
Wasn't there rumours of him heading out to the middle-east today? Based on that performance I'd say cash in. Not that I'm against him, but too hot and cold for me.