By GARY FOSTER Published on Monday 13 February 2012 13:14 SO Sunderlandâs unbeaten home run under Martin OâNeill has come to an end. The Wearsiders 2-1 defeat at the hands of Arsenal was their first loss in seven games at the Stadium of Light. The Black Cats turnaround under Martin OâNeill has been nothing short of remarkable. His tactics, style of play and formations have brought instant success, and have seen the red and whites climb into the top half of the Premier League table. Iâm a great admirer of OâNeill and he deserves every credit for the impact he has had since taking over at Sunderland. However, I do think he got his tactics slightly wrong on Saturday. Those sentiments will no doubt be seen as sacrilege among certain sections of the red and whiteâs support, but nonetheless I feel the Black Cats may have missed a trick against the Gunners. Had Thierry Henry not rounded off his second coming to the Premier League with an injury-time strike, then I would have been happy to concede that once again OâNeill had judged it right. But Henryâs 92nd minute goal secured all three points for Arsene Wengerâs side, when it looked like the hosts had done enough to earn a share of the spoils. The Wearsiders had defended valiantly for large parts of the clash, only to lose out at the death. That, however, is the risk you run when you sit back and invite a team as good as Arsenal to attack you. Donât get me wrong, OâNeillâs counter-attacking tactic has worked on almost every occasion since he took the helm at Sunderland â a very similar style of play brought its rewards as they claimed a 1-0 home win over league leaders Manchester City at the Stadium of Light. But you have to take the rough with the smooth, and when you play on the break, thereâs always a chance you may get caught out. Sunderland defended far too deep on Saturday â at times they had 11 men in their own half as they looked to stifle the Gunners. Cats Eye: Stoke Boss Tony Pulis Must Be Warned Over David Meyler âCheatâ Label Fraizer Campbell, who has been in great form in front of goal since his return, was asked to operate wide on the right with Stephane Sessegnon playing as the sole striker. The reason for Campbellâs deployment on the wing, was, of course, to deal with the threat of Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain marauding down Arsenalâs left. That worked a treat, but it meant that the Black Cats had to sacrifice some of their own attacking impetus. During the spells that Sunderland did manage to get on the front foot, they did cause Arsenal problems. But OâNeillâs decision to pack the midfield and for his side to sit back, meant they were few and far between. Of course, you could argue that had they been much more adventurous going forward Arsenal may have cut them to shreds. However, when they took the lead â somewhat fortuitously after Per Mertesackerâs slip â they could have took the game to the visitors far more. An equaliser minutes later meant that the Black Cats were once again forced to defend deep while looking to break. In the end, that made it more difficult for them to clear their lines, and with time running out, Henry struck. Iâm not expecting OâNeill to change his tactics after one result, particularly when it has brought such positive results in the past. But maybe thereâs an argument for attack sometimes being the best form of the defence. Perhaps the Wearsiders should keep that in mind when the Gunners return for their FA Cup clash this weekend.
I wonder if some of the Sunderland players enjoy playing that sort of tactic. I mean a win is a win, but you gotta wonder if some of the more attack-minded players like Sessegnon particularly enjoy it, being the blokes doing it on the pitch.
Sess certainly doesn't mind. It's the odd game when we play like that, the tougher games; I have no problem with it at all. Sessengon was recently quoted saying that MON has given him more attacking freedom, and tbf he didn't have his best game on the weekend.
Good to know that a journo for a local rag (not even national) knows more about football than MON and, believes that for the last 2 minutes of the game got his tactics wrong, take note Martin.
when you're playing superior opposition it's correct to play this way imo, stops you getting beat 5-0
Low blow! Well the article just made it sound like you guys play that tactic all the time. I ain't watched enough Sunderland games to know otherwise really.
Sess gets more of the ball this way anyway, as when we look for the out ball, Sess has usually dropped deeper, giving him time and space on the ball. I get the impression he loves this.
For such an authoritative authority on all things Sunderland Iâm sure most on here would concur with me that they find such a statement hard to believe.
With any luck then when you’re old enough to leave home you might just get a job if you could shut up long enough not to put the interviewer to sleep.
When you're old enough to leave home you might be able to put a sentence together better than a 15 year old.
As your article states you haven't watched enough of Sunderland games, so why do you run to OUR board and offer ****e articles, do us all a favour CHAPPEDARSE, Sling your hook and f**k off. Your comments are not wanted on this board. The two smilies just about sum you up.
Arrogant youngsters like Chafed Arse don't have the attitude to hold down a steady job as they invariably get found out. I've always said that if you can last 3 months you'll end up doing 3 years. I seem to have done quite well actually, considering the obstacles life has served me during my life to achieve then what I have in over 15 years in business. Maybe not the worst but defiantly one of the more deluded.
