Rival watch

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Sunderland started very physically and seemed to have dragged Leicester into a bit of a kick fest of a match at the moment.
Leicester refusing to be intimidated by Sunderland's approach and are matching them physically.
Sunderland's passing is truly atrocious
 
Sunderland started very physically and seemed to have dragged Leicester into a bit of a kick fest of a match at the moment.
Leicester refusing to be intimidated by Sunderland's approach and are matching them physically.
Sunderland's passing is truly atrocious
Their passing's poor, but I think that their set-up up front's what's causing it.
Trying to play direct balls into Defoe is lunacy.
 
You are not suggesting that their manager is clueless are you <laugh>
Allardyce generally knows what he's doing, even if I don't like watching much of it.
He plays direct football most of the time and picks players that suit it.
Defoe's happy to play off a bigger front man, but Borini's not that man.
Both of them would probably be more effective with a target man alongside them.

I'd also suggest that both of his fullbacks are actually wingbacks.
Yedlin and van Aanholt are both happy going forward and will run a lot, but can't defend.
 
Allardyce generally knows what he's doing, even if I don't like watching much of it.
He plays direct football most of the time and picks players that suit it.
Defoe's happy to play off a bigger front man, but Borini's not that man.
Both of them would probably be more effective with a target man alongside them.

I'd also suggest that both of his fullbacks are actually wingbacks.
Yedlin and van Aanholt are both happy going forward and will run a lot, but can't defend.

He screwed up tactically against us at whl too.
Don't understand Yedlin ... looks clueless defending whenever I have seen him.
Agree re Defoe too
 
I thought Sunderland have done well.

I also wonder how much the change in referee standards this season has enabled the Leicester surge. I really don't believe that much of their current heavy tackling would have been allowed last season. Not just Leicester of course, the whole league looks much more like it did 30 years ago with aggressive play much more prominent. Even our Deli Alli would have been carded more IMO.

The game standards have definitely changed this season, I'm sure of that.
 
I thought Sunderland have done well.

I also wonder how much the change in referee standards this season has enabled the Leicester surge. I really don't believe that much of their current heavy tackling would have been allowed last season. Not just Leicester of course, the whole league looks much more like it did 30 years ago with aggressive play much more prominent. Even our Deli Alli would have been carded more IMO.

The game standards have definitely changed this season, I'm sure of that.
Genuine question, do you think that's a bad thing? In my opinion it's got far too soft in recent years and almost got to a point where it's non contact. I think it's good it's becoming a bit more contact allowed again, adds more spice to games and less cards. It should also let games flow motr
 
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I thought Sunderland have done well.

I also wonder how much the change in referee standards this season has enabled the Leicester surge. I really don't believe that much of their current heavy tackling would have been allowed last season. Not just Leicester of course, the whole league looks much more like it did 30 years ago with aggressive play much more prominent. Even our Deli Alli would have been carded more IMO.

The game standards have definitely changed this season, I'm sure of that.
Keepers still get far too much protection.