You may well be correct about preparation mate. What I would say is the players cant get a free ride. The events of this week have allowed them to be anonymous in the aftermath of a horrendous result. Whatever your preparation or formation, as a competitive sportsman you need to show much more than they did. You cannot let it go from 4 to 6 in my opinion, if you have any professional pride or mental strength. The manager takes the blame for these heavy defeats, and that has always been the way, but a number of those players have been on the pitch for them. I was no professional footballer, but I played for a long time, at times a reasonable level, and it would not have happened, players would have policed themselves. I look at them and ask who is grabbing each other by the throat and demanding more in the dressing room?
I've never tried sado-masochism, but this is pushing the boundaries of depravity to the absolute limit! What a week it's been since last weeks debacle. Two very good additions to the team and potentially someone who can come in to properly organise our defence. I'm sure we'll get a really positive response from the players in front of a crowd that will be absolutely buzzing. If Pritchard is fit, then he should play as he makes us tick. Expect to see us go for it tomorrow and win comfortably without the need to go gung-ho. A clean sheet would be encouraging too. Most important is 3 points and I'll be happy with anything from 2-0 upwards. After their midweek drubbing, I think if we get an early goal they'll panic, thinking here we go again and the floodgates will open. Just play to our potential and we'll open them up at will. This is the start of a new era. We have the team to dismantle anyone and once we sort the defensive shape out we'll start racking up the points. I reckon 90 will be enough. Brilliant match thread as usual RTB. Thank You and Haway The Lads!!!
Again great thread @RTB I'm going for the same score line as on the 27th Dec 3-0 (Stewartx2, Defoe) Could be more if we get an early lead. Just want these to play with the shackles off.
Looking at the seating plan, the only place to get two seats together now is in the North Stand, all the other block look to have only singles available.
Sunderland 8 -0 Doncaster Stewart 3' Pritchard 8' Stewart 44' Stewart 45+1' Roberts 60' Stewart 66' Defoe 80' Defoe 90+3'
Fook off, only just seen it, too busy trying to keep up with the new manager thread and I think I've got that long covid
Braver man than me Clocky, I always watch the full 90 on Sunday afternoon but I just couldn't face that one, I watched the highlights and that was bad enough
Slim consolation I know but the scoreline and the highlights somewhat flattered Bolton, not saying we deserved anything, far from it, but to be fair to the players (I wont use the word team), they never stopped trying.
Great thread really can’t wait for 3 o’clock and kickoff time I’ll plum for a 3-0 win for the lads defo winner after he comes on at 70 mins
Team news: No further injury concerns are expected as of Friday morning among the squad since last weekend, with Bailey Wright expected to be sidelined for approximately another week. Aiden McGeady, Luke O’Nien and Lee Burge remain out as they continue their recoveries, with Jack Clarke and Patrick Roberts in the frame having built match fitness at Bolton last time out. Despite a lack of immediate match sharpness, Defoe is expected to be involved in the matchday 18 for the Black Cats on his return.
Excellent, assume that Dodds has spoken to the media but maybe our media team are all too busy doing something else....
