We did not perform as well as expected but from 2 - nil down we have gained a point on the team above us in second place. Whatever you think about the performance, that is a big big achievement despite not playing so badly in the first half. And we have to consider what it will be like when we start playing better!
Also, the transfer window will be closed when we play our next game, so hopefully no one will have left, and players will be fully focused. Not saying that they weren’t, but it’s a possibility.
Absolutely it was a great point and fight back no disputing that but I was concerned about the tactics and formation eg Cauley up on his own which imo caused us to go two down in first place . As I said in another thread don’t like to criticise too much as we done well but can’t help thinking we put ourselves under pressure today rather than the opposition outplaying us imo
Playing Woodrow up top on his own seemed to work over the Christmas period with our victories over Peterborough & Charlton, along with our draw at Luton.
Think it’s a great tactic myself to use against the better teams against the more physical teams like oxford we need Keifer
Woodrow needs to come towards the ball if the defender has time to nip in before it comes to him. He can't just stand there and have it nicked off him all the time.
Yeah when he was up on his own in some games he played on the shoulder with support from such a Thiam but Oxford don’t play that way so I’m surprised he played that way imo first half.
Stendel's admitted that with hindsight it was the wrong decision to change the team. He's not going to get it right every time- who does? We're a point behind Portsmouth now and realistically Sunderland need to win and draw their games in hand to go above us, so having not played well and assuming we're not going to win every game it's okay. Not great but okay.
