Match Day Thread Sunderland v Oldham Athletic – Wednesday 1st December 2021 - KO 19:00

None of them proved tonight they should be playing first team footy. Time to sign some older heads with experience in January.

 

It's was practically the under 23s team mate, you get prem under 23 teams getting beat 4/5-0 in this competition, saying it's embarrassing is way over the top

 

I believe some of them have real promise , others not so.

 

It’s not instilling me with confidence for the rest of the season I must say. Don’t expect anything special from this squad now.

 

Not going to have a go at the young lads good luck to them.
But Johnson really worries me. He isn't learning at all
When the hell is he going to address our tactical problems in midfield. Same every game no matter who we play
wide open in the middle just let teams over run us. Then hope we will score on the counter attack.
No wonder we have had a few hidings the amount of possession and chances we allow every team we play to have.
Shouldn't really judge on that game let see what Saturday brings but that wasn't just awful
It was the same old awful.

 

For me, Younger was class and Harris got on on Saturday. Alves seems to have improved on past performances with his defensive clearances.

 

Under 23s team and it doesn't fill you with confidence for the rest of the season?

 

Bit of a weird setup wasn't it? Was it Dajaku and O'Brien at WB? I didn't get it.

 

This for me

 

We thought we had a good deep squad... tonight showed that's not true.

Recruitment in January assumes more importance

 

Well if that's our only defeat this month I'll be very happy.
Glass half full that's me.

 

the biggest thing to stand out for me was the crap passing, we start to build up towards goal then give the ball away cheaply, this must be addressed

 

Couldn't work out aob position, he seemed to be sitting deep centrally first half but was then moved second half... Think Collins or frankie alluded that LJ wanted to give Dajaku more time, agree with that, still developing.

 

We have lost games recently by being roughed up a bit and being a bit half-hearted...

Tonight we were not roughed up but had a distinct lack of passion and will to win...

 

Nope, doesn’t seem to be any urgency. These players wanting to break into the first team squad? It’s not going to happen with performances like that. So I expect nothing extraordinary from this squad of players. Surely we want any given 11 to show up regardless of the opposition and the competition?

 

You watch a lot of the U23 marra?

 

Old thing I would say it was alot of changes from Oldham too. Also LJ talks about culture and progress at all levels, specifically u23. That clearly wasn't there. Not one of those are ready for first team. Not one.

 

Who voted for the away win then?

 

Younger and Harris for me marra.

 

Roker Report Player Ratings:

Lee Burge: 6/10
Was solid tonight, made some good saves and did nothing wrong. Even had a short but not fruitful spell up front right at the end.
Frederik Alves: 6/10
Should have done better with a header late on but was largely untroubled defensively and looked comfortable in midfield in the final 15 minutes.
Arbenit Xhemajli: 6/10
Making a first team appearance in 14 months, Xhemajli strolled through the game and looked fit enough to be in contention if needed.
Oliver Younger: 6/10
Younger has probably been our most consistent player in this competition this season and that didn’t change here, defended well and had his work cut out in the first half with miles of space for Oldham on their right.
Sam Wilding: 5/10
Neat and tidy in midfield as he looked to provide the back three some protection, did not provide much with the ball but did his job well enough.
Cieran Dunne: 3/10
Looked all at sea for most of the game, with Oldham exploiting space in behind him. Has only recently returned from a long-term injury but a game to forget for Dunne, at fault for the goal, although almost made up for it with his last touch but forced a good save from the goalkeeper.
Leon Dajaku: 4/10
Looked unsure of whether to go forward or keep his position at wing-back for most of the first half, did put a couple of useful crosses in but did not look confident at RWB.
Elliot Embleton: 5/10
Started lively, playing a couple of good balls for both Harris and Kimpioka that created chances but then struggled to stay at that level and subbed at half-time.
Aiden O’Brien: 4/10
Started the game in central midfield and looked OK but we needed more from the senior professional tonight. Moved into a more attacking role late on but made no impact at all.
Benji Kimpioka: 7/10
Easily our most dangerous player, on the few occasions we managed to get him the ball in advanced positions. Probably should have had a couple of goals early on but took too long with the first and then put the second chance into the side netting when well placed.
Will Harris: 5/10
Hard-working effort up front but looked frustrated for long periods. Curled one effort wide with his left foot in the first half after a good ball by Embleton but that was as much service as he received.
Subs
Ethan Kachosa: 5/10
Came on and put a shift in at right back, looked like a more natural defender than Dajaku. Overplayed a few times, maybe trying too hard, and was almost caught out very late on with Burge up front but managed to use his pace to nullify the chance.
Stephen Wearne: 5/10
Had one shot blocked late on and one good free kick put right on the head of Alves but that chance was wasted by the West Ham loanee. Like most of the side struggled going forward.
Tyrese Dyce: 5/10
Came on with 20 minutes or so to go and thought he did better in his cameo at left back than Dunne had beforehand. He also put in a great cross that really should have been attacked more.

Man of the Match: Benji Kimpioka
Not much happened for Sunderland tonight, we really struggled going forward but most of the bright spots came at the feet of Kimpioka. Did not always make the right decision but for most of the game was the only player likely to make something happen.