So it is looking as if we have fallen at the final hurdles for automatic promotion... let's hope we stay in the play-offs and win it. I thought Diamond and Jones with Mcgeady behind Wyke was good and created chances. I would start them again. Our much vaunted defence is leaking goals especially at set pieces..LJ has to do a lot if work there. Hume to start and McLaughlin and Bailey Wright plus Sanderson then a couple of DMs in front of them.
They won’t be embarrassed though, they live for nights/days like that as it allows them to vent the anger they spend their days accumulating. It also gives them the opportunity to say “I was right all along” while they’ve spent their time on here constantly calling the team and individual players “****e”, “woeful”, a disgrace etc. I love this place, on the whole it’s full of mature, sensible posters who get their point across in a level headed reasoned way but lately it’s being infested by childish, spoiled brats who want nothing more than to derail threads with their hatred of the team and players and attention seeking posts. You know who they are because they like each other’s negative content. A Sunderland fan supports the team through good and bad, praising when we do well and criticising when we fall short of expectations. We don’t however berate the team and players in every single post. That’s not a fan. By the way, those I’m alluding to above acted the same on RTG but don’t seem to post on there now, did they get banned for ruining decent threads?
I think you’re right there, pressure leads to lack of concentration. We can only hope those teams above us are feeling the same pressure, Peterborough have succumbed to it for the last 8 seasons so fingers crossed it happens again while we learn to deal with it.
I was thinking exactly the same mate. I wonder if there's been trouble in the camp and a few have spat their dummies out. Certainly haven't played like a team for the last few games.
The defence was dismantled, only Sanderson kept his normal position, retrospect is wonderful but looking back too many changes too soon. A settled defence is paramount to success, anyway onward and upward hopefully. Why was this merged into Wigan v Sunderland, this post is about dismantling a defence with wholesale changes it mattered not who we had been playing.
Having a go at the manager after a couple of losses is ridiculous. His win percentage is excellent and we won't attract better while languishing in League One. We need to face facts. We are a club of Premier League stature. Our facilities are worthy of the Premier League. Our owner could certainly compete in the Premier League. Our new modern set up, is in line with a club with aspirations to play at the highest level. However, we are a League One Club and we have League One players and I include EVERYONE in that. Our stars are inconsistent, which is why they are not playing at a higher level, some are past their sell by date. Yes, we have 1 or 2 promising young players, but none of them have done anything at a higher level yet. With our new regime in charge, I fully expect this will be addressed in the summer and that's why I look forward to next season, whatever division we are in.
Hands up if you want a couple of big, athletic, box to box midfielders! (Only for the past 5 seasons)
Just watched LJ's post match comments, thought he was honest... about the players not performing, although nothing about his own need to practice set pieces defending
The keeper doesn't help this. I think Johnston recognised this but we all saw what happened with Matthews
He said we need to make sure teams don’t just find out that they can waste time and rely on a couple of set pieces. Pretty much admitting set pieces were the issue. up until recently,I’m pretty sure we were best in our league against set pieces. Showed it on a few of our games (goals conceded from set pieces) so my guess is he has worked hard on them. Can’t work on the pressure or nerves on a training pitch IMO
That would be a real shame mate. In these strange times you're thread has become part of the match day ritual Sets the scene brilliantly. There are some great knowledgeable posters on here and I for one love the crack it generates. I think the last couple of games have been a bit of a kick in the b**ls for people Lot of knee jerk reaction (me included) probably out of frustration mainly. In the cold light of day things tend to get back on track. KTF mate. Not blowing smoke up you're arse but the matchday thread would be a great miss
This dip also coincides with the story about £60 million to spend next season if we go up etc. I could imagine it having an impact mentally on some players who are out of contract and who have mortgages to pay but who currently don't have a clue where they will be contractually in a months time.
Players knew they were playing for contracts before that announcement, so, I think that statement has little effect on the squad.
I know where I want some of them to be and it’s nowhere near Sunderland and I thought that before the last 2 games.
Exactly, they all new he was a billionaire when he came in so was no shock to hear he had money to spend.