Match Day Thread Sunderland vs QPR

[SW Ranger]

Yesterday was a case of two bad teams aiming not to lose,and bringing each other down. Really poor from both sides. As others have said, I couldn't understand Dykes coming out for the second half, albeit only for the first 19 minutes...and the game was crying out for Smyth and some pace way before 84 minutes.

A frustrating watch, feel for those who made the trip, but that said...a few months ago we'd have lost this, so progress.

Feels to me (most of) this team really lacks drive and ambition. They get up for the big games but can’t be arsed for the games against lower opposition - that shows a real lack of killer instinct - and why we’re not winning those key relegation games. That really doesn’t bode well for the games against Brum, Swans, Sheffield Weds and Plymouth.

 

[Stroller]

Feels to me (most of) this team really lacks drive and ambition. They get up for the big games but can’t be arsed for the games against lower opposition - that shows a real lack of killer instinct - and why we’re not winning those key relegation games. That really doesn’t bode well for the games against Brum, Swans, Sheffield Weds and Plymouth.

Isn't this something that the manager should bear some responsibility for?

 

[SW Ranger]

Isn't this something that the manager should bear some responsibility for?

I think that’s a fair expectation Strolls. There’s also a limit as to how much he can do and how much onus is on the highly paid professional player.

We all expect our players to be professional and that they will be ‘up’ for the game week in week out - especially when it’s a battle every week. It’s notable that having brought in some fresh blood our performance (points tally) has improved (from a low point admittedly).

 

[Kilburn]

So no matches now until Good Friday? Looking at our end of season run in schedule, home to Birmingham and Sheff Wed and away to Plymouth will be key 6 pointer games against our relegation rivals. Our superior GD may just see us through when the points are so tight between everyone down there. Hopefully at the end of season we will not be one of the three nailed up there on the relegation cross as in "Life of Brian", so until then, "Always look on the bright side"!

 

[Star of David Bardsley]

I think that’s a fair expectation Strolls. There’s also a limit as to how much he can do and how much onus is on the highly paid professional player.

We all expect our players to be professional and that they will be ‘up’ for the game week in week out - especially when it’s a battle every week. It’s notable that having brought in some fresh blood our performance (points tally) has improved (from a low point admittedly).

Also worth noting what he’s brought in with next to no budget. Andersen and Hayden have been big improvements and Frey and Hodge have contributed a bit or at least more than those who left in the window.

Andre the Giant an unused sub yesterday for Brum.

 

[Flanman]

Dykes isnt and never has been a striker. When he played in Scotland he played off a main striker or out wide.

Good point, plus when he played deeper a few weeks back he was far more effective.

 

[rangercol]

My opinion changes as the performances change. A great win at Leicester and a thrilling draw against West Brom, followed by utter dross against Middlesbrough and a 0-0 yesterday in a game against a side that had lost six on the spin and was missing half its players. Of course we're better than under Ainsworth, but for me that doesn't mean that Cifuentes is absolved of any criticism when he gets is wrong.

Yes of course he isn't beyond criticism, but you said..."in Marti we trust....bollocks".
That implies that you don't think he's up to the job.
You're entitled to that opinion, but the results since he took over suggest otherwise and have been an incredible turnaround.
I think you and some others seem to think that our team of relegation threatened players should be winning every game. We are still a below average side and the championship is a ridiculously tough league.
There will be ups and downs till the end of the season and we may well get relegated, but in Marti, I do indeed trust.

 

[Star of David Bardsley]

Good point, plus when he played deeper a few weeks back he was far more effective.

It was a blessed relief he wasn’t playing like Baby Harvey after a jagerbomb but I’m not sure he was all that great.

 

[SW Ranger]

Good point, plus when he played deeper a few weeks back he was far more effective.

There is absolutely no doubt we need a finisher in and around the box; Frey is above Dykes, Armstrong us above Dykes, Dykes is OK where you want a ‘striker’ in a more defensive set-up as he’s prepared to defend, and can (that doesn’t get us goals though). With only 7 goals scored in 6 matches, it’s fair to say that’s poor and we’ve had our opportunities.
That said, our defense is doing its job relatively well. We’re up there with the top half teams with only 7 goals conceded in 6 matches.
Seems we’re a mid-table team screwed by our shocking start to the season and lack of striker ability.

 

[Sutfol]

Can’t see how Dykes could be considered for the Scotland squad based on his current form or lack of. You’d think he would be trying to impress.

 

[Stroller]

Yes of course he isn't beyond criticism, but you said..."in Marti we trust....bollocks".
That implies that you don't think he's up to the job.
You're entitled to that opinion, but the results since he took over suggest otherwise and have been an incredible turnaround.
I think you and some others seem to think that our team of relegation threatened players should be winning every game. We are still a below average side

Nobody thinks we should be winning every game. All I ask is a bit more consistency. Consistency from the manager in terms of team selection and consistency from the players in terms of performance.

 

[bobmid]

You stated recently that you were wrong about Marti and now you flip flop.
We'd already be relegated if Ainsworth was still in charge and Marti should have been brought in sooner.
He doesn't have top class players at his disposal and has done brilliantly to get us towards the top of the form table.
He does change certain players, but never the defence unless necessary, thus we are much, much harder to beat. He doesn't have a good striker, which means we'll continue to draw games we could have won.
The players definitely seem to like him and are playing for him.
He may not keep us up, but that won't be his fault.

He will keep us up Col. As you said, we would already be down by now under Ainsworth.
We are more difficult to beat and harder to score against but in a more positive way than when Ainsworth used to park the bus and lump it forwards. Yesterday was pretty poor. Some fans were asking the question of whether it should be Dykes or Frey? Neither was the consensus and the chants for Sinclair were listened to.

 

[rangercol]

Nobody thinks we should be winning every game. All I ask is a bit more consistency. Consistency from the manager in terms of team selection and consistency from the players in terms of performance.

The players aren't good enough/confident enough to do that.

 

[Star of David Bardsley]

Must be quite rare we get through a game without conceding one shot on target. Probably for the best with our goalkeeper.

 

[SW Ranger]

I was looking through the players and suddenly wondered what has happened with Elijah Dixon-Bonner. He seemed to do well, with some good forward movement, but seems to be squeezed out of any reckoning now with Hayden and Hodge coming in. Still only 22 though, but just another year left on his contract. I wonder how he’ll fit into Marti’s plans.

 

[Star of David Bardsley]

I was looking through the players and suddenly wondered what has happened with Elijah Dixon-Bonner. He seemed to do well, with some good forward movement, but seems to be squeezed out of any reckoning now with Hayden and Hodge coming in. Still only 22 though, but just another year left on his contract. I wonder how he’ll fit into Marti’s plans.

I expect they’ll offer him another year but he’s well behind Hayden, Field and Colback. With Hodge coming in he might have been good for a loan.

 

[SW Ranger]

I expect they’ll offer him another year but he’s well behind Hayden, Field and Colback. With Hodge coming in he might have been good for a loan.

True, but they have a lot of years on him. Feels like this coaching team might be able to get more out of him. Loan would have been a good option for him to develop in the second half of this season.

 

[Star of David Bardsley]

True, but they have a lot of years on him. Feels like this coaching team might be able to get more out of him. Loan would have been a good option for him to develop in the second half of this season.

Yeah I don’t think he’s a dud but time isn’t really on his side after poncing about nowhere near Liverpool’s team for too long. Seems a bit soft and a L1 loan would be good for him.

 

[Woodyhoopleson]

41,000 there yesterday.

Amazing.

I heard them announce that on the stream, but from what the cameras showed, there was nothing like that. The ground holds 48k?, there were people scattered around but huge numbers of empty seats. No way was the attendance 41k.

 

[bobmid]

I heard them announce that on the stream, but from what the cameras showed, there was nothing like that. The ground holds 48k?, there were people scattered around but huge numbers of empty seats. No way was the attendance 41k.

There wasn't an atmosphere in the ground at all. It was quite bizarre.