Where has it gane wrong

Where/ when did it all go wrong? The blackpool game where we hammered them 0-2? The Mugs? Bent leaving? Our new midfield? From being a team that could hold their heads up, and challenge anyone, to a no-team, just 11 people (can’t say players) running around like headless chickens.
A sad day, but we had that against a lacklustre Liverpool, who were there for the taking. No tactics no game plan….nothing! Where has the team spirit gone, this is Sunderland for heavens sake, they should be sweating blood,……………but no, no-one seems to give a toss, the so called superstars will be on their way very soon if this continues. Where is S.Bruce? he should be there encouraging, cajouling, giving kicks up their collective backsides.
We were brilliant at the start of the season……………….Where has it all gone wrong?

 

to much ****ing about with the midfield, the so called new superstars and a certain henderson, have failed to deliver,
injuries? every club has them so thats a poor excuse, it just shows the SQUAD is not deep enough,
we have some top top players but unfortunately dont seem to gel as a team,
where as some clubs at the moment with lesser players are showing pride and commitment therefore playing as a team

 

We WERE playing as a team, with movement, commitment, passing, crossing the ball, but to me, the last 5or 6 games, we have been as bad as we were with Roy Kean. No-one wants to commit....leave it to someone else. No leadership on the field and it actually looks like very little off it.

 

new midfield, why..

Before Bent left many of us knew he was under threat with Gyan and Welbeck scoring then Richardson.

Poor defending yes but a lot of poor defending caused by poor midfield leaving them exposed.

Bardo and Steed caused problems and created chances and space down left and gave outlet to defender and CM.
Ned and Elmo did the same on the right.

No goals for ages but how many chances have been set up from midfield?

Dont need wholesale changes, just midfiled, drop Muntari replace with Steed for a start.

 

Keep Henderson and Muntari on the bench or at the very least keep Henderson on the bench, play Steed and Bolo or Steed and Elmo.

 

We have missed Catts and obviously lack of goals from Bent, but apart from Sunday I don't think we've played too badly. Chelsea we did ok, Spurs we deserved something and against Stoke too.

Sunday was the only game I've seen where we have been ripped apart.

 

Hate to say this lads, but I've been calling for Henderson to be dropped since xmas. The lad just isn't good enough man. Elmo should be playing, he wins everything in the air and takes people on. Catts in the middle with Sess pushing forward a little. Diamond formation. Extra DEF when needed. Its not rocket science brucey.

 

Strikes me Elmo got the hook when he was starting to look the part and his delivery was improving.

I say he needs to go back in there for sure.

His pace is a massive, wasted asset as well, we are slow as **** down the channels.

The issue with Steed, for all his great touches and ball retention, he does NOTHING with the ball, doesn't assist, doesn't score.

 

Good article Norway so 5 from me, our first Crisis was injuries to key players, and the squad strength in depth not good enough to step up to the plate, i feel it all stemmed from midfield, Jordan if we can see surely he can so why persist and play him, some of our best matches have been played with Bolo in the side, and for all his faults Richardson is better than Muntari, Mensa has lost the plot, and Anton fails to deceive a Sunderland supporter. having said that we are still a better team on paper than we were a year ago.

So the crux of the problem, we look at Hodgson and Liverpool, then Daglish and Liverpool, team transformed. and they sign two players and they are nearly back into Europe with Hodgson at the wheel i couldn't see this happening.

I have deferred judgment till now but i feel in my heart, that Brucie is not the man to take us to the next stage, hope improved wrong but i feel time is running out for him now.

 

Times running out for Bruce now Roger ??? Eh? Thought SAFC had never had it so good- not long ago heading into Europe, great chairman, great owners, and a good manager. 3 months later and he's running out of time! Are you by any chance from a similar school of thought as a fat cockney bloke who sells dodgy trainers??
Come on man you have got to be joking?

 

Nope i see Brucie is top notch in some areas but ****e in others, tactical awareness, and motivational skills his biggest shortcomings

 

Injuries, a bad run of fixtures, losing our top goalscorer and adjusting to a new system... All factor in pretty highly to me. There's plenty of games in that run of fixtures we'd have lost with or without a full squad.

To belittle his motivational skills & tactical awareness are an absolute joke. Bruce picked up the team from the 5-1 SJP massacre to go to a new style, and pick up 12 points form the next 7. Co-incidentally we have 7 games left now, against easier opposition. If we can pick up at least 10, we'll be firmly nestled in the top half, and our highest finish in the football league since Reid's finest hours.

Everyone just stop panicking. Things are nowhere near as bad as you think.

 

Bruce and SAFC took a big gamble by selling DBent in the Jan transfer window and not getting a replacement in. The gamble, it appears, is not coming off. EU dreams are gone, top 10 will do for me now. Hopefully higher than the mags, but I don't see it happenining. Certs not if this run continues.

 

still doesn't get away from the fact we have not won a game with the new look midfield

 

It doesn't, but there's still time and points to play for. The sky is not falling.

 

Rog- the shortcomings you mention regarding Brucies management skills i.e. tactics and motivation. To me they are the key ingredients any good manager must posess. What is he good at then? I don't think he's a bad amnager but he's probably still got a lot to learn but this is what you get with some former players/managers

 

read my comment on Liverpool with and without Hodgson, he is not a bad manager but he could not bring out the best in the team, and does any of our guys think Brucie is good tactically

 

We are not panicking but the sky could fall in, not saying it will, i would still be behind the lads if we were in the championship, but everyone still has the right to voice their concerns.

 

Management,,,, set pieces of which we have none,,,,,, no spirit,,,,,, the list can go on as long as you like. Give Martin o N, The budget that Brucie has had, wonder what would have happened. and as a youngan supported SUNDERLAND.

 

Spot on Bill.
All we have ever wanted and needed are nearly in place, a good Owner, chairman, ground, youth academy, traning facilities we just need the right man at the wheel, and as a lot have said before me is this the one, only time and results will tell