Hello fellow Sunderland aficionados.
Been a couple of weeks since I left any messages or joined in with debates so hopefully I havenââ¬â¢t missed too much and Iââ¬â¢m not replicating previous posts. Family and work commitments come first of course.
Missed the build up to the Stoke game and thankfully the aftermath of the hugely disappointing result at the Britannia and hopefully the recriminations were not too over the top. We are still a young team and a team not firing fully yet. However, I really thought we would have at least gained another away point, or even won the game and to be fair some of our passing and movement was fantastic. We scored another 2 goals and Richardson is coming of age in a red & white top. So much so, that all our concerns about not bringing in a short term striking option have been replaced by concerns over some of our defending.
I donââ¬â¢t know if any of you have already said this or agree but for me, Nedum isnââ¬â¢t a natural full back and for me, would be best utilised as an out and out central defender. The occasions I have seen him there he has been the best header of the ball we have and that was definitely missing on Saturday.
Bardiniho is galloping away with the Player of the Season award and looks as good at left back as any player has for maybe 10 years, so perhaps itââ¬â¢s a right back we should be looking for not a left back in the summer. Big John looked very ring rusty and can only add to the defence as he gets match fit but we certainly still lack a commanding figure in the heart of the defence in my opinion. Mensah would be that figure when he is fit enough.
I thought Asamoah was awesome again on Saturday though. We really will have a huge battle on our hands to keep hold of him this summer and for the foreseeable future and we will have to offer European football to make our proposition an attractive one. His link with a solid opening affair from Sully Muntari and the ever improving and exciting Stephane Sessegnon (is he a tricky little bugger or what) could be vital in the coming weeks. Sessegnon has the kind of tricks and pace to scare the living shoite out of lesser defenses and I can see him winning penalties and free kicks galore, as defenders dive in.
I thought we played ever so well as a team again on Saturday but the winning goal from the 'Brazillianesque' Stoke City team (if thatââ¬â¢s what Bruce served up week in week out I'd stop going to the game and thatââ¬â¢s not an idle threat) was not a surprise, if massively disappointing. We played football all day and ran rings around them and if there is even one single fan who still regrets selling that useless waste of space Jones after his abject performance on Saturday (he cant even get fired up to get back at Brucie) then they need to stick a size 9 boot up there own arse. That said, we really have to be much better at the set pieces and I'm afraid Stoke are not the only team to cause us problems at set pieces this season.
However, if we play the same game against Spurs I fancy us to win and this time, there isnââ¬â¢t Judas to miss the penalties either. If we play the same way for the rest of the season, we will accumulate more that we concede between now and May 22nd.
I still maintain we are on course for our best ever year in the EPL and that a European place (albeit maybe in 7th place) is still on. We need two of the top 4 to compete in the FA Cup (and qualify for the Champs League) and Arsenal to win the League Cup (runner up in the League Cup donââ¬â¢t get automatic European spot) and 7th place will qualify as far as I am being advised.
I see so much promise and football in our team to feel confident of our future. No sweat.
PS - I have to mention the craas game v Arsenal. Well done for a remarkable comeback. You canââ¬â¢t say otherwise but we are still above you and you should still know your place.
FTM.
Been a couple of weeks since I left any messages or joined in with debates so hopefully I havenââ¬â¢t missed too much and Iââ¬â¢m not replicating previous posts. Family and work commitments come first of course.
Missed the build up to the Stoke game and thankfully the aftermath of the hugely disappointing result at the Britannia and hopefully the recriminations were not too over the top. We are still a young team and a team not firing fully yet. However, I really thought we would have at least gained another away point, or even won the game and to be fair some of our passing and movement was fantastic. We scored another 2 goals and Richardson is coming of age in a red & white top. So much so, that all our concerns about not bringing in a short term striking option have been replaced by concerns over some of our defending.
I donââ¬â¢t know if any of you have already said this or agree but for me, Nedum isnââ¬â¢t a natural full back and for me, would be best utilised as an out and out central defender. The occasions I have seen him there he has been the best header of the ball we have and that was definitely missing on Saturday.
Bardiniho is galloping away with the Player of the Season award and looks as good at left back as any player has for maybe 10 years, so perhaps itââ¬â¢s a right back we should be looking for not a left back in the summer. Big John looked very ring rusty and can only add to the defence as he gets match fit but we certainly still lack a commanding figure in the heart of the defence in my opinion. Mensah would be that figure when he is fit enough.
I thought Asamoah was awesome again on Saturday though. We really will have a huge battle on our hands to keep hold of him this summer and for the foreseeable future and we will have to offer European football to make our proposition an attractive one. His link with a solid opening affair from Sully Muntari and the ever improving and exciting Stephane Sessegnon (is he a tricky little bugger or what) could be vital in the coming weeks. Sessegnon has the kind of tricks and pace to scare the living shoite out of lesser defenses and I can see him winning penalties and free kicks galore, as defenders dive in.
I thought we played ever so well as a team again on Saturday but the winning goal from the 'Brazillianesque' Stoke City team (if thatââ¬â¢s what Bruce served up week in week out I'd stop going to the game and thatââ¬â¢s not an idle threat) was not a surprise, if massively disappointing. We played football all day and ran rings around them and if there is even one single fan who still regrets selling that useless waste of space Jones after his abject performance on Saturday (he cant even get fired up to get back at Brucie) then they need to stick a size 9 boot up there own arse. That said, we really have to be much better at the set pieces and I'm afraid Stoke are not the only team to cause us problems at set pieces this season.
However, if we play the same game against Spurs I fancy us to win and this time, there isnââ¬â¢t Judas to miss the penalties either. If we play the same way for the rest of the season, we will accumulate more that we concede between now and May 22nd.
I still maintain we are on course for our best ever year in the EPL and that a European place (albeit maybe in 7th place) is still on. We need two of the top 4 to compete in the FA Cup (and qualify for the Champs League) and Arsenal to win the League Cup (runner up in the League Cup donââ¬â¢t get automatic European spot) and 7th place will qualify as far as I am being advised.
I see so much promise and football in our team to feel confident of our future. No sweat.
PS - I have to mention the craas game v Arsenal. Well done for a remarkable comeback. You canââ¬â¢t say otherwise but we are still above you and you should still know your place.
FTM.
