Totally understand those points. But the main job of a full back is to defend. Yet TAA is a far worse defender than most championship full backs! Yet a lot think he’s the best rb there is. Eye of the beholder comes to mind. Gooch’s team contribution far outweighs his failings up top IMO
Yeah he grafts but he's not scoring or assisting. I want that to be his number one objective when playing in a forward position, not defending. This season he hasn't been doing that enough. We seen the difference yesterday when Dajuku was unleashed, he showed that attack can and should be used as the best form of defence. We were pinned back most of that second half with Bolton dominating. Once Dajuku started to run at them that allowed our players to start pushing forward and the pressure on the defence was relieved. Of course they'll be times when we need everybody back defending but generally I'd prefer to see us keep encouraging our wingers to push forward and run at the opposition rather than talk about their defending capabilities. We aren't scoring enough. Stewart was isolated yesterday and nobody was anywhere near him when he did receive the ball upfront. I want our wingers to be up and around him to receive the ball to go on and create chances or to get their shots off.
Haven’t seen the game yetbut my parents went. My dad (who is possibly one of the most negative there is) said the subs invited Bolton on! Exactly the opposite of what you say!! (Trust me, I’d believe you first as my dad says this all the time. It feels like he’s desperate for us to concede to be proven right!!!)
What is it with these managers "We're newly-promoted and people forget that because we're Bolton. But against the top teams we've been more than competitive and I think their manager would be honest and say they've got away with one there."
It’s that tunnel vision. It’ll be that “We had loads of chances” but completely ignores that Sunderland had as many as good (if not better)
Something along the lines of 'It was a tight game, both sides had good chances, but I think on the balance of play, if we equalised, there would have been no complaints.' Would have sufficed.