I suppose we are paying Stewart for what... using our physio's? Luckily, fingers crossed he has not been required...we would have been better if we brought in a CB!
To be fair mate, they've done pretty well in a 3. It's just when you add McFadzean into the mix that we've come unstuck.
What a waste of space that Stewart is. Ridiculous signing an injured player, LJ needs to admit he’s ****ed up.
Grant Leadbitter will be absent after dislocating his shoulder against Crewe, and Johnson does not expect any of Sunderland's injured players to return this evening. Defender Tom Flanagan has suffered a slight setback in his recovery from the calf injury he picked up at the beginning of February, while striker Ross Stewart - who joined the club in January - is still not ready to make his debut as he continues to work his way back to fitness following a hamstring problem. Johnson said: "Tom has got a deferred injury. He broke his foot and that caused him to run differently, that led to the calf injury, and now compensating for his calf he has now felt his hip flexor. He's like the man who swallowed the bird to catch the spider to catch the fly!" "Ross is training and doing everything fine, but he just needs to be confident that he is over the injury. "It's not a mental thing, it's definitely physical. - there's something just nipping him. It's not bad, it's just an ache, and that might suggest it hasn't quite fully healed yet." "He was the kind of player I could have done with bringing on against Crewe, a player who flicks the ball on and then runs and catches it." "Bailey is really trying to get back fit for the week leading up to the EFL Trophy final."
Wright should be back for the Tranmere game and Flanagan at the weekend hopefully. If we can keep them fit, that back line should be adequate to get us over the line Personally, I'd be playing Flanagan at LB once everyone is fit. Burge McLaughlin Wright Sanderson Flanagan Scowen Power Jones Maguire McGeady Wyke You can rotate that line of 3 behind Wyke as and when. Winchester in for Maguire where games are tighter. We have plenty of options in the squad thankfully
Hopefully the squad will be able to cover all the remaining games without too many square pegs being used
Although we are stretched at the back can any team in the division match our forwards. We have a number of players who can score inc Wyke, McGeady, Gucchi, Jones, McGuire etc. If they score 1 we score 2. I can see us outscoring any team. Absolute doddle.
It is funny that for the last year or so it has been the defence that has been lauded, now it is the attacking play. Amazing what a change in mentality of manager can bring. I still think we have the making of a solid back line, just need to avoid any more injuries.
Just listened to it. The end about the Lewis Morgan thing shows how things can get distorted. He is so right about if we cannot beat Accrington (no disrespect) should they be on the pitch wearing the shirt. The kicking the boot incident and bouncing off a team mates head. I bet he sh*t himself at that age haha. Always thought Oshea would be a canny drinker mind. Nice to hear them relaxed and obviously enjoying being interviewed and getting his side across.
He wasn't brought in as an immediate replacement ... ... he may not have played yet if he'd been fit.
I knew he wasnt an instant replacement but would have been nice to have that other option again if he had been on the bench.
Thing is though, Johnson specifically said he won't be bringing players in that aren't fit or injured, mistakes this club have made in the past, we need them to hit the ground running.... Stewart has been here a month and hasn't kicked a ball yet.
Centre back seemed to be covered at the time, he got rid of two centre forwards thats why he brought in another. Pity it was a crocked one though.