Match Day Thread Sunderland AFC v Millwall FC – Saturday 20th April 2024 - KO 15:00

I'll be surprised if Nobby Styles doesn't replace Dan Neil for the last three games (if Dan isn't available, of course).

 

Roberts has one if the best first touches I have seen at Sunderland. This alone sets him apart from most in the team in that respect and as with any player he requires support. This season I think he has struggled by being isolated on the wing with little to no support as Hume has often been utilised as an inverted midfielder (especially earlier in the season)not an overlapping fullback(last year he overlapped and you had Amad as well). So whilst I will not argue he has had a poor season is it not better to ask why there was such a change in form instead of dragging players who have obvious abilities down.

 

Feel like i'm just repeating myself now but what actual abilities does he have that positively affect games more than Ba, who most including myself don't particularly rate that highly?

While I agree the systems we've played this season have negatively impacted multiple players, players who have serious quality still show it. If you need arguably the best player in the league (Amad) alongside you to perform well that would suggest you aren't actually that good.

Look at how he negatively impacts recent games. Blackburn was one of the worst individual performances i've seen in a SAFC shirt. Against Bristol City, Leeds and WBA he came on for a 16 y/o playing out of position and each time it completely killed any threat we had on the right side.

Rigg, Ba, Aouchiche all deserve minutes ahead of Roberts.

 

When on form(not recently) he drags our team forward and usually occupies a couple of opposition defenders and i would imagine full backs are wary of his undoubted skill and think two steps back rather than forwards

 

Just not true though. His carrying numbers are good, average compared to Clarke and other top wingers in the league though, and considering he loses the ball on around half of his dribbles I don't think anyone is wary of him. Ba can do all of these things with added goal threat and Ba isn't exactly good.

 

So you are saying when playing well you’ve never seen Robert’s doubled up on and defences back peddling?

 

No i'm not saying that. I'm asking what he brings to the team right now. Which is what matters.

 

Fair enough,right now nowt,but when playing well in the current squad in my opinion has to start

 

The opposition are frightened of him

 

It looks like Dodds is taking this game seriously and wants to win but, sadly for us, on the back of a clean sheet.

Having said that I'm sure we'd all be happier with a 1-0 win than a 3-2 defeat so, perhaps he has a point.

It looks like we're set for another 40,000 plus ticket sale which may be our last season of that, for a while, due to the amount saying they're not renewing SC's ... Millwall will bring their usual poor effort of up to 1,000. They never bring many here, in fact their away support is usually poor unless it's a London club or a televised game.

On this basis that the team won't be changed much, from West Brom, I'm going for another 1-0 ...

... hopefully Roberts with the goal, he could be a real asset, next season, if he gets back to the form he's capable of.

 

We’ll have good support next year I’ve no doubt about it.

As for Saturday, Dodds has got them playing in a way they’re comfortable with so carry on and deliver the 1-0 win as far as I’m concerned.

 

Looks like we're going with a back 4 on Saturday, which I think might be a mistake because Millwall are very direct with their long ball game.

There's going to be a lot of aerial duels too, so I can see Jobe dropping back into midfield, with Dack, Hemir or Burstow up front.

 

If it's a back 4 and Neil is injured, something like;

Patto
Hume O'Nien Ballard Alese
Ekwah Styles
Ba Rigg Clarke
Hemir

is how I would line up. I know Hemir hasn't done much but we need to play him and he'd at least have a bit of physicality up against Cooper.

 

Hemir has to play, before the end of the season, imo ...

... for lots of reasons.

 

Hemir's got all the attributes to do well. He's got to go out and graft though. I'd rather have him than Burstow who's arguably shown even less despite a much bigger reputation.

 

It was just a tiny thing but Hemir came on against Leeds and straight away won a long ball, not sure we'd done that at any time this season.

Needs to prove himself and the only real way of doing so is by forcing himself into the 11 and keeping the shirt.

I think i'd rather someone from the crowd than Burstow playing.

 

I'd keep 3 at the back I like it for us. If Neil's out the defence will definitely need protecting but even if he's fine I'd stick with it.

 

Thankfully Styles has proved to be effective although even Danny Collins had no idea where he was playing at West Brom, neither did I tbh ...

... he'd be my replacement as things stand with O'Nien as second choice.