Firstly ... I have no issue with Sunderland playing defensively at home ... Thats their business but it confirms my view that I dont want MON as our next manager...wouldnt want to pay to see that at WHL next season. Secondly I think it was a point won rather than 2 lost. Thirdly I hope Chelsea used up all their luck v Wigan. Fourthly ... Balotelli.... Finally how does a club spend 300 plus million and turn up to get a nil nil when they need a win...as much as we needed the gooners to lose at least football won out!
Well, in fairness, MoN understands that Spurs have a far better squad technically so he knew what he had to do to ensure that Sunderland could get a point. I know that on very few occasions would any Spurs fan want the manager to set his team up for a point, but HR (or KB) did it against Liverpool and he was praised. It is a very negative tactic, especially at home, but I can't see MoN employing the same tactics if he had a squad with the ability that Spurs has. It wouldn't make sense. Spurs can and should be approaching (at least) every home game to win, be it against Man Utd, Everton, Norwich or Wolves. Sunderland have to work to their strengths, and if that meant stifling Spurs's play and only working on the counter, then so be it. I would be happy to see MoN take charge at Spurs. Look at the turnaround he has had with Sunderland. You cannot say that it is not impressive!
Absolutely no way! He's great at getting an average squad to punch above its weight, but we have an excellent squad, and it needs a manager that can bring the best out in it. I really cannot see that MON is that man. I'd rather have Pardew than MON. Hell! I'd rather have Moyes than MON.
I didn't like Sunderland's negative defensive set up, but what disgusted me was their fouling, cynical brand of anti-football. I wouldn't want O'Neill anywhere near the Lane as he is one of the leading devotees of anti-football, see his Leicester team as another prime example. He might do better for us, but on principle I don't want someone like that as our manager. Re the weekend overall, so far it's been horrible with West Ham, Chelasea and Arsenal all winning. I just hope things turn better for us, and my personal prejudices , today.
He did do an impressive job at Villa though. What was it? 2 or 3 6th place finishes in a row. I know that Villa tailed off at the end and that should not be ignored, but again, look what happened to Villa after he left. They dropped in form considerably. I would love to see Moyes at WHL. He is a terrific manager who makes what looks to be an average squad play very very well as a unit. He is an honest bloke and a fantastic manager. My only issue with him is that if he is given the funds that Spurs can offer, would he know what to do with it? He's so used to working on a shoe string budget that he might be out of his depth with so much money. But, there is no evidence to suggest that would be the case. Pardew has also been a very good manager and its clear he takes no cr*p from his squad and is a very shrewd businessman. But my brother is a Newcastle fan so I want to see them do well, and if that means not unsettling Pardew, then so be it.
Sorry mate, but you have got to be joking!! I will let others go into the detail as to why this should never happen but in response to your review of Saturday, you cannot compare us going to Klanfield with a depleted squad when we are still pushing for the PL (as we were then) and Sunderland with f**k all either to play for or to lose AT HOME!! MON - NO WAY!!
Forgetting Sunderland for a moment (easy to do,) our inability to break down stubborn defences needs to be worked on. The teams above us face this practically every week and for the most part break the opposition down. We rely on teams to play open fooball to give us the space to play in. If teams keep it tight, we seem to be devoid of answers...
