Sunderland home thread

[cashman]

Originally Posted by Inspector Morse

Barlaser while being a more talented player has underperformed for us.
If he'd fulfilled expectations we would not be resorting to an undercooked Conneely.

Seamus is the only midfielder we have who can be relied on to keep some shape.
I don't mind if Seamus can't pass forward: that's not his job. He's there to screen the defence, win the ball and give it to the better players.

Not a great ball winner i think, plus an under performing kid is better in my view, we certainly played much better second half or did yeh miss that? Also we had a damn good defender a few years back who was played too much when not fit didn't do him any favours or do yeh not remember that?

[Lord Love Rocket]

Which he's not done in either of his both games back has he ?

[yonmon]

Originally Posted by Inspector Morse

Barlaser while being a more talented player has underperformed for us.
If he'd fulfilled expectations we would not be resorting to an undercooked Conneely.

Seamus is the only midfielder we have who can be relied on to keep some shape.
I don't mind if Seamus can't pass forward: that's not his job. He's there to screen the defence, win the ball and give it to the better players.

Our Captain ( ?).. Is unfortunately injured and it shows. But when fit his skill levels appear to be far below those of most midfield players of other teams who have visited THE WHAM this season, and perhaps this is the reason why his contribution to a game appears to be limited.
Unfortunately this applies to the other midfielders in the squad, defending is at a premium, and finding and making a telling pass is seldom seen in a game. This in my humble opinion is one of the major factors affecting the current lack of success and more importantly POINTS at this concerning time in our season.
However, the status quo is unlikely to change at all so my fervent hope is that one or more of our midfield can find that something extra which will change the outcome of one or more of the remaining games !.. it really does rest on their shoulders to shield the defence and feed the right pass to Billy and Paul. A bridge too far ?..I hope not !.

But what do I know ?.. so JC and JB work YOUR magic.. please !!

KTF.. ON STANLEY ON TO GREATER THINGS !.

[cashman]

For me we aint had a better Midfielder played for stanley since Matty Crooks. For me next season we certainly need one of those at least, a striker, and a keeper, its fine saying our lad is good, but his distribution is chronic, thought Sunderland could possibly have got 2 or 3 more last night through his poor distribution in fact we were lucky they didn't in my view.

[andyd]

Originally Posted by cashman

For me we aint had a better Midfielder played for stanley since Matty Crooks. For me next season we certainly need one of those at least, a striker, and a keeper, its fine saying our lad is good, but his distribution is chronic, thought Sunderland could possibly have got 2 or 3 more last night through his poor distribution in fact we were lucky they didn't in my view.

Agree with you Cashy on Crooks and our need for a midfielder and striker as for the keeper as far as his goalkeeping is concerned he looks quite good and with games under his belt could improve his distribution Maxted isn't a bad backup so unless we go for 3 senior keepers not a priority in my opinion other plenty of other I might add positions need improvement and quality regardless of what league we participate in next season.

[cashman]

How old is the keeper? dont look a kid to me therefore if he aint his distribution should be up to scratch have just looked he is 25. no kid at all.

[accyfan21]

The set piece deliveries are a bit worrying for me, that was our biggest threat in League 2 and at the start of the season and now they are none existent! We have tall players like Ross, Callum, Ben and Mark say yet we don’t even pass the ball near them?
Also think JC has to take some reponsibility for the starting positioning of Callum and Janoi, they usually play the opposite and no wonder Callum hardly got a touch of the ball, he’s a right footer. Whenever he did get the ball he could not attack as Sunderland sussed him out straight away, no left foot so would just cut inside on his right and their RB had that option covered straight away.
A few positives to take from second half so onwards and upwards for the remaining matches

[Lord Stiffupperlip]

Last night proved only one thing - Sunderland are too good for League 1
On the subject of our midfield, whatever happened to Liam Nolan?
I always thought young Liam was a quick thinking, cultured midfielder, always trying to make that telling pass forward.
More importantly, he actually wanted the ball & was always looking for space to receive it.
His continued absence still puzzles me.

[Lost in Cornwall]

Just looked at the figures for agents fees. Sunderland spent just under £3 million, we spent £4815. Says it all really. You can only get so far with effort and the budget we've got. Hopefully we can pick up 6 points from the next 3 games and look forward to another season in League 1.

[monkey hanger]

Originally Posted by Lord Stiffupperlip;1226561
On the subject of our midfield, whatever happened to Liam Nolan?
I always thought young Liam was a quick thinking, cultured midfielder, always trying to make that telling pass forward.
More importantly, he actually [I

wanted[/I] the ball & was always looking for space to receive it.
His continued absence still puzzles me.

been thinking the same. was similar to seamus last season and thought he,d push on to play in his position. if not injured it certainly puzzles me why he,s not in the squad unless his face doesn,t fit or a disruptive influence.

[yonmon]

[QUOTE=monkey hanger;1226569or a disruptive influence.[/QUOTE]

MH... Perhaps a disruptive influence in the shape of Liam Nolan. or anyone else of a disruptive nature might not be a bad thing ?. Just might shake up the other midfielders a little bit in the lethargic comfort zones they seem to have created for themselves. Perhaps a 'disruptive ' character on-field might also prove to be a more capable Captain / Vice Captain than the duo currently filling these positions ?.
On the other hand a disruptive influence within the squad might destroy the camaraderie which seems to exist within it,. But once again my thoughts are turning into suppositories ( damn that predictive text ! ) Suppositions was what I was going to say !. Time for my midday Medication and Nap ?.

ON STANLEY ...ON TO GREATER THINGS !

[cashman]

As the object is SUrvival then Nolan cant be any worse than whats playing midfield at this time?

[monkey hanger]

clarke, mcconville,barlaser and finley our best 4 midfielders at the club for me but all are better going forward than defending and thats before they pick up cautions when they do defend.

[Twenty Eight]

Originally Posted by monkey hanger

clarke, mcconville,barlaser and finley our best 4 midfielders at the club for me but all are better going forward than defending and thats before they pick up cautions when they do defend.

Agreed mate - but as you rightly point out none of them has an out and out defensive gene.
Jordan has come on leaps and bounds in that respect and maybe just maybe his absence from the starting line up has exposed Johnson's weakness because Sousa ain't going to battle back as an example.
Football teams are about balance and we are totally imbalanced.
No left footers and no defensive anchor man. Players playing out of position etc etc.
Brought in two left backs ........ where are they ?
Wood least said the better and Gibson I can only think still struggling health wise.

[Spartacus2nd]

I think we've missed Anderton far more than anticipated