Match Day Thread Sunderland AFC v Blackburn Rovers FC– Boxing Day 26th December 2022 - KO 12:30

I assumed we did lose it but wasn't sure. I didn't remember the teams swapping ends.

 

Come on then, anyone miss the 2nd goal?

 

The missus did! She was in the toilet and heard the pub go up!

 

Great teamwork for Simms’ goal. Not quite scintillating football but the players really fought for every scrap and just kept managing to get a toe in to knock it on to their mate. We’ve got a really tight knit bunch.

 

Exactly, there's been many times we couldn't even manage that over the last few years ...

... I may be wrong but, as you said, the players seem really together.

 

Right, I’ll admit it. I was wrong about Luke O’Nien. What a ****ing lad. Absolutely superb. We’d be ****ed without him. I admit it.

 

You can tell they are togethed from some of rhe videos the club put out. Could you imagine some recent players doing it?

 

He had a hell of a game today

 

Cracking today and it's more confirmation his best position is in the back line. Plays so much better when he can see it in front of him.

His desire is unbelievable.

 

Nah stayed to the end and it was right in front of me.

Thought it was scrappy at first but in replay it was class play from Simms

 

I’ll hold my hands up too, thought he’d never cut it at this level fast becoming my favourite player

 

He has been a rock in defence. Most got the hump when he was CM. Much better in the back line.

 

Also a great clip of him singing wise men say at full time doing the rounds on Twitter

 

Many players would've got the hump if they were plugging gaps all over the pitch.

 

Very very true. Under LJ he pushed to be a CM though. For me, he isn't suited to play there. Cracker in defence.

 

Well it's more confirmation that he's at least a championship level player, as far as I'm concerned if we needed him in midfield in this team with those players around him he'd do well. He was never as bad in midfield as some made out.

No need to move him out of defence though when he's playing so well there and we've got loads of young midfield talent to bring through. He's needed more there.

 

He is. I didn't like him in CM at all. Not clean enough on the ball.

But anyway. At the back he is a bit of a monster. Athletic and combative.

 

Not wanting to be negative here but if Pritch had been fit today he would have been in the starting 11. And quite rightly so but who would have been left out and would it have been such a good performance? All hypothetical I know but quite possibly we have found a winning formula by accident.
Away from home as teams attack we are probably better suited even more.
Just a thought. Nothing more.

 

Technically I think he is superb. He just hasn't got the energy LND has. But he can still score goals

 

Ballard looks a wee but rusty but he's made a massive difference at the back - I forgot how good he is on the ball too

Just a shame Batth is out