Sunderland v The Saints - 11th Feb 2017

8 Likes

Having watched the game back today, a word for Romeu who absolutely bossed their midfield yesterday. He was everywhere, at one point he came from his position just over the halfway line to win the ball on the edge of their box when it wasn’t even his challenge to make. When he plays like that, he’s absolutely unstoppable.

I reckon that 3 in midfield is our best selection as well. Hopefully they all stay fit and motivated for the final!

12 Likes

I can understand the thinking behind taking Gabbiadini off too.

ā€œDid you see that? We’ve actually got someone who can score goals again! Get him orf before some bastard crocks him ahead of the finalā€.

4 Likes

Maya and Virgil?

Reminds me of a Jack Dee joke about Middlesbrough’s time on the edge.

They lost two cup finals, got relegated, and to cap it all off, had to go back home to Middlesbrough. I hope they got a hot meal.

2 Likes

That was great fun!!! :lou_wink_2:

No idea, so i’ll go for Tadic and Gardos. Same age i believe.

Clasie and Gabbi ?

Bertrand and Gabbi. Ryan cleared off the line from Gabbi in a 2-1 win for England apparently.

7 Likes

A shout out to Shane Long as well.

Thats four goals in the last 6 games and he hasn’t even started all of those. When you consider the terrible first half a season he’s had, it says something about him, that he hasn’t let his head drop and is once again proving the doubters (including myself) wrong.

9 Likes

I’m pretty sure most of those goals (exception of the last minute scrap against Norwich) have come in a counter attacking move. That is his strength and he is great when we play that way, especially late in the game or when the opposition are chasing and tiring. That was why it was a good decision to bring him on yesterday at 2-0. His pace and workrate gives the opposition something to think about when they’d rather be pushing on.

In all honesty Sunderland had downed tools at the 3-0 point and were a shambles.

The problem Long had in the earlier part of the season is that we weren’t attacking quickly enough and we weren’t playing to his strengths. He is effective in those situations but his overall lack of goal scoring instinct means he is ineffective in games we are dominating possession and the opposition are sitting in deep.

For me, the number of games and the rotation policy did not help Long or Rodriguez. It meant that Long wasn’t selected for games on a tactical basis or for games where his skill set would be utilised. He simply played against whoever because Rodriguez played the previous game! That also didn’t help Rodriguez because he’d score a goal and then be rested, never building up any real momentum.

With Gabbiadini, so far, we seem to have found some nice balance and a greedy goalscorer. More mobile and skilful than Austin. Both could probably play in the same side though. ā€œInteresting possibilitiesā€ indeed…

That said, Long has his worth as an impact sub or in the games where we are going to be dominated by the opposition. That is quite clear.

What is less clear is where Rodriguez now fits in. I don’t recall Puel ever playing him wide left so must only really be considering him for a CF role.

12 Likes

Shane Long in the team/squad…impact sub is a must for me…the man busts a gut for the mighty Saints.

Star man :smile:

Totally agree with the above post :smile: :smile:

4 Likes

A good point Simon and judging by Jays reaction yesterday, something he is very conscious of himself

No doubt he’ll still have a part to play this season but provided Gabbiadini stays fit it will most likely be a bit part.

Saying that, I’ve read a few posts and an Adam Leitch article claiming we reverted to a 4-2-3-1 yesterday. Jay could happily fit in to that system should he be called upon. We may even see the best of him again. This would mean leaving out Redmond though and we all know how impossible Claude finds that prospect!

As you all know by now, I’ve been calling for a return to this for quite some time! I must admit though, it still looked like 4-3-3 to me. Although Tadic did spend quite a lot of time centrally.

If it indeed was 4-2-3-1 then we kept a clean sheet and scored the most goals in a game this season… who’d have thought! Ha

I like the option of having both Boufal and Tadic alternating from left/right to the central no.10 position as the game suits.Both top class players who will cause many teams major problems for the remainder of the season and into next.

I would still have Long and Gabba as our main strikers…Long more often than not as impact sub…depending on the opposition .

Hopefully we can hold onto JayRod…as I think he still has a lot to offer our squad…Looks like he will be off in the summer???

Redmond is a much more valuable player than given credit by some of our supporters…big things to come from Simms and we have a great attacking group…Messi would be a useful aquisition :wink:

Claude may have to look at the extra CB and MF player and we could have a great squad next season.

COYS :laughing:

6 Likes

@simon-says

Gabbiadini and Austin could be a dream partnership. Austin, although slow, is very intelligent with his movement and demands close attention. With Gabbiadinis speed and agility, they could be a nightmare for opposition defences. Add Tadic, Boufal, Redmond, Long and Rodriguez playing in any formation you like and we have some good possibilities.

@old-ottery

Agree about Redmond. He works very hard. A lot still to learn, but looks very willing and more importantly very gifted.

The same words fit Simms. I’d love to see him get some playing time in the final.

4 Likes

No speaka da lingo mate…

Bodes well for what he could do when he understands the rest of his team mates!

They look to have goals in their side with the £15m addition of Gabbiadini, who is keeping Long and Jay Rodriguez out of the starting line-up and has scored three times in his two appearances.

Winger Nathan Redmond said: 'We’ve seen straightaway that his finishing is top-drawer — that’s his big strength, but he can come in and link the game as well.

'Obviously he’s struggling with the language barrier, but we have an Italian physio here who does a lot of the translating and he’s picked up a few English phrases already.

ā€˜He’s still tactically aware and understood what we wanted to do here. Three goals in two games is a great return and the language of football is universal. If you go abroad and start kicking a ball around, people understand. He’s hit the ground running.’

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-4217808/Sunderland-head-New-York-relegation-battle-ahead.html#ixzz4YXvlEJ6q
Follow us: @MailOnline on Twitter | DailyMail on Facebook

Perhaps he is doing so well because he doesn’t understand ā€œpass it back to Fraseā€ yet.

5 Likes

Oh god I can imagine the kind of ā€œEnglish phrasesā€ they’ve taught him in the dressing room.

Just like my old mate’s German pen-pal…greeting him off the Cross-Channel ferry with his parents in close attendance…

ā€œHello Nick you old Cunt!ā€ holding out his hand in greeting. :lou_facepalm_2:

4 Likes