Match Day Thread Sporting CP v Sunderland AFC - Monday 21st July 2025 - KO 20:00

Really enjoyed that again tonight

1st half was so impressive, the movement, the passing and the pressing was really good. Lacked some finesse in the final 3rd but that'll come in time. Thought enzo was the stand out in the 1st but about 5 others were very close to him.

2nd half was impressive from the positional point of view and being quick to transition to attack. I thought Browne and Neil did a good job in organising and communicating throughout that half to the young lads around him. Special mention to the 2 young full backs, thought both did really well in that 2nd half against some very good sporting players

Hopefull Rigg Reinildo and Patterson get minutes on Saturday but honestly can't wait for it

 

Think we showed some nice attacking patterns in the first half, and then defended well in the second half. Hopefully have a few more through the door by next week so we start organising good loans for some of them.

 

Shakes head in disbelief

 

Mayendas loan massively helped tho, fair enough he didn't get the minutes but it gave him a kick up the backside to get his head down and work hard.

Jones is a CM and he is highly unlikely to get many minutes there this season. There's a good chance he won't even make match day squads, so that's not going to help his development

Imo jones looks a cracking footballer but he needs minutes and I cant see him getting them with us in the PL

 

I am sweet on Zak. I think be is better than his last loan suggested. I would personally throw him in at the championship level with the right coaches.

 

I thought the whole back 4 looked canny.

 

He dosnt look out of place tonight, would certainly do a job for us if needed. He's never going to be VVD or Baresi but hes a solid, reliable centre half imo

 

I have to disagree there, he learned nothing different in my opinion …

… he could’ve just as easily wanted away.

RLB seems to have a much more dynamic thought process than what we’ve seen before. Most supporters seemed to think his season marked him out as a waste of time when you look back at the forum.

 

Really growing on me. A technician as coaches would say.

 

Top 3 most important employees.

 

will surely get another chance with a first team gig soon. We shouldn't stand in his way, no matter how important he's been.

 

We've sold 43k season tickets?

 

We should lock him indoors

 

Not always. Sometimes the best decision for development is to have them train day in day out with better players. Way too many players are dumped into lower level loans to get game time. They learn nothing relevant.

 

He learnt that he has to work hard in training to earn minutes on the pitch. I know one of the Hibs players and he said when he turned up he didn't work hard in training and just expected to get a start. He said Triantis would be 100% in training and Mayenda wasn't. Said he was a nice lad but would go through the motions when he was there.

Watmore had a poor loan there when he was with us, barely played then came back and started playing for us in the PL

Jones won't feature much, if at all in the PL. He barely played in the championship so highly unlikely to get minutes in the PL.

I agree some loan moves can massively impact players in a negative way but he will need to get minutes somehow to develop and I think he might struggle for that with us

Unless he turns into a very good fullback, which wouldn't be out the question

I do agree that RLB will judge it, and i trust him KS and FG decision on what to do with him and the others

 

Our coaches are better than those in the Championship and we play a different type of football now …

… why send our top young players off when they might well get PL minutes.

 

I thought so too. In fact I really enjoyed second half in many ways. Depth far from as bad as some think for me.

 

especially when you consider much of that was a third eleven, not a second one.

 

Felt the second half team and shape was very good, very disciplined and a backs to the wall type line up where we didnt expect to have much of the ball

 

I think he loves this gig. It is his perfect role. My perfect coaching role would be his, and I reckon he jas learned what is important.