I know I am a little late with this as it is now Tuesday and the game was on Saturday but thought I would share my thoughts on the weekends game. Saturday was the first game I have been able to make it to so far this season and was a very enjoyable one to go to at that. Before the game I would have been happy with a draw and after the first 20 minutes I thought we looked poor and Sunderland looked the likely winners. But football is a funny game sometimes and we got the goal after finally putting together a good passing move, plus some questionable keeping and this seemed to ignite the side and they were great after that point. For me before the goal both teams looked a little sloppy but they looked most likely to go on and win it, to me we looked a little weak against some of the stronger lads they had, and we struggled to hold on to the ball. After the goal though we looked really good, the goal clearly knocked the stuffing out of them and they never looked like scoring at all, they were dreadful. Was very impressed with us, for me the standouts were Williams (My MOTM by a mile), Hammill, Potts, McCarthy (signing of the summer for me) and Lindsay. Although Lindsay had a few shaky moments like the yellow card incident, He won everything in the air and showed great class on the ball. The pass he played to Hammill for the second goal was amazing. I also thought Jackson was good too, I have often been quick to criticise him but thought he had a very good game alongside Lindsay. Really gave me great optimism for the season and think playing like that we could easily match last years finish. We still have key players to come back like Izzy and we have the likes of Cavare and McGeehan still to come in too. For the last few days of the window I would just like to see 2/3 more come in and 1/2 out. We need to sell Yids as if he is not going to sign a new deal we need to cash in now so we actually get a fee for him. We need a another striker (will most likely be McBurnie). But for me my main priority would be another left footed left back. I know we have Fryers due back soon but we need cover for him ideally. I don't think Pearson seems a bad player but he certainly is not a left back IMO. If we had cash available too a experienced holding mid would be useful too but my main aim would be a second left back.
I agree with all of that apart from one bit. This idea that Sunderland battered us in the first 20 minutes, which I've read in quite a lot of posts. Am I the only one who saw us come storming forward in the first 5 - 10 mins or so? They hardly got out of their half, and our performance had the fans singing. Then they got a grip and dominated possession for 10 - 15 mins, but they hardly had a shot. Then we scored and the rest is history.
I watched it yesterday. For the first five minutes or so we were on top. After that til we scored we had to just contain them as they took control. That being said I thought we kept a good shape and worked hard and limited them.
I never said they battered us, I just think like most they looked the better side for the first 20 mins. We did have a good spell as you say very early in the game but then they seemed to take control and looked most likely to win until the first goal went in.
I think given the turnover of players & taking into account that we've been without Isgrove & McGeehan & then you've got Thiam & Lindsay who've barely featured & another striker in McBurnie still to join I would've been happy with 6 points from a possible 15. I think we'll get better as the season goes on & I was a bit worried we might end up bottom after a few games after so much change.
To be where we are after 5 games is better than expected. As you say we will get better too as the season so lots to look forward to I think
Agree Stahlrost. I thought we were all attacking and am struggling to see how they dominated during that spell.
Agree with most of that. The first twenty minutes we struggled to keep hold of the ball. We looked nervous at the back, Pearson especially. They had more of the possession, but they didn't really do anything with it. I don't think Davies was really troubled, but with how frail we looked, you could see it coming. Once we got the goal, the game totally changed. The Sunderland player's heads immediately dropped, and I couldn't see us losing it after that. I had my doubts about Williams before the game, but he was fantastic. For me, he was the man of the match, but I'm pleased for Potts as he did play well, and he seems to be the one taking a lot of criticism.
Williams was very very impressive for me. That was the first time I had seen him play and he was the best player on the pitch for me. I had seen some people calling for him to be dropped on here but if he keeps up that level of performance he will be a key player for us. Also as you say, was good to see Potts have a good game. He should have had a goal to his name too but he fluffed the header chance he got
That statement that they battered us came from Red Rain - having watched the full match replay yesterday I would definitely take issue with that. They may have had plenty of the ball but for me it was all about their fans singing louder rather than their team playing better. It was one of those games when you think "let's just score and shut them up". We did that and the more it went on the better we got. There was exquisite passing and strong tackling from all of our lads to go with the superb goals. Best comedy moment was Hammill getting flattened by their number three and then doing the handspring to get to his feet. Brilliant stuff, as was the mutual respect showed by both players throughout- lots of hand shaking and backslapping. Great to see. It was one of the most enjoyable experiences I've had watching match replays APART from the lack of commentary. The sooner we get that back the better. Matt and Andy's coverage would have made it perfect.
