Sam Allardyce has recalled Turkish star Emre, Aussie striker Mark Viduka and Czech defender David Rozehnal for the derby clash at the Stadium of Light today.
Nicky Butt (suspended), Jose Enrique and Claudio Cacapa are the players who make way, and it looks like Charles N’Zogbia will operate at left-back in place of Enrique.
Alan Smith drops back into midfield where he is joined by Emre, Joey Barton and James Milner. Michael Owen will be captain for the day, as Geremi again starts on the bench and Michael will be partnered by Mark Viduka in attack. Still no place, even on the bench, for Shola Ameobi, a local Newcastle lad.
It looks like Smith will be out on the right wing and Milner out left, with two attacking midfielders in Barton and Emre - looks like a strange team to us. Not much defensive strength in midfield - wasn’t that one of our faults last week?
For Sunderland, former Newcastle player Michael Chopra starts up front alongside Kenwyne Jones, and Carlos Edwards also returns to the Sunderland side following injury.
TEAMS
Sunderland: Craig Gordon, Nyron Nosworthy, Ian Harte, Danny Higginbottom, Paul McShane, Grant Leadbitter, Ross Wallace, Dickson Etuhu, Carlos Edwards, Michael Chopra, Kenwyne Jones
Subs: Anthony Stokes, Liam Miller, Darren Ward, Danny Collins, David Connolly
Newcastle: Steve Harper, Steven Taylor, Charles N’Zogbia, Abdoulaye Faye, David Rozehnal, James Milner, Alan Smith, Emre, Joey Barton, Michael Owen, Mark Viduka
Subs: Jose Enrique, Oba Martins, Geremi, Habib Beye, Fraser Forster
Referee: M Atkinson
Attendance:Â 48.000 sell out
142 responses so far ↓
1 Pete // Nov 10, 2007 at 13:26
lets f****ing kill em
2 nightfall // Nov 10, 2007 at 13:28
http://eurosport.yahoo.com/pollresult.html
3 nightfall // Nov 10, 2007 at 13:32
sorry…wrong link: “Who has been the worst signing of the season?” vote and check the results…
http://eurosport.yahoo.com/football/
4 nightfall // Nov 10, 2007 at 13:37
wtf is sam doing? n’zogbia as LB? smith as AMR? “the Bull” not playing? and smith our captain? wtf?!
5 Ed Harrison // Nov 10, 2007 at 13:41
Maybe Smith will start in central midfield with Emre out on some wing??
6 nightfall // Nov 10, 2007 at 13:42
emre is to slow to play on the wing
7 ToonKing // Nov 10, 2007 at 13:43
I think your mistaken Ed
, Emre will be on the left and Milner on the right with Smithy and Joey in the middle. And that’s one though center middfield for the scum to get past.
3-0. …….whit out even breakin’ a sweat.
8 Ed Harrison // Nov 10, 2007 at 13:45
Look like Smith and Barton are midfield with Alan playing defensive midfield.
9 Ed Harrison // Nov 10, 2007 at 13:46
toonking - looks like you’re right - boy I feel nervous.
10 Ed Harrison // Nov 10, 2007 at 13:47
back at HT with report - HOWAY THE LADS!!!!!!
11 Bobby Ollox // Nov 10, 2007 at 13:56
Not playing with much cohesion , but at least we have taken the sting out of the game, crowd quietening down.
12 Obafan // Nov 10, 2007 at 13:58
A few comments IMO;
positives: no Enrique, Emre starts
negatives: Taylor plays, Beye on the bench, Smith on the pitch and Oba again on the bench
We need Oba to score goals, what does BS have against him; I don’t understand it? And Smith is playing all the time without producing anything good in all those games (favourite of Ashlay that’s the reason why he always plays)…
13 Steve_48 // Nov 10, 2007 at 14:00
Bobby, let the adrenaline subside, first 10-15 will be scrappy at best
14 Bobby Ollox // Nov 10, 2007 at 14:02
where the hell was our right back there ?
15 Hog // Nov 10, 2007 at 14:03
TV ANTS NOT WORKING!! HOW CAN I WATCH?!
16 Obafan // Nov 10, 2007 at 14:05
First attempt on goal. Where the f**ck was Taylor, that was the guy he has to mark. Get him of the pitch, man, he will make a mistake again that will cost us a goal; I’m sure of it.
17 Hadrian // Nov 10, 2007 at 14:06
bobby , i was screaming the same thing .
was that the mackems left back or left mid with the shot ?
18 Steve_48 // Nov 10, 2007 at 14:06
@ Hog - Any proxy settings in there? Close all other running applications as well
19 Obafan // Nov 10, 2007 at 14:07
Tv ants works by me. Fantastic tackle by Faye.
20 Steve_48 // Nov 10, 2007 at 14:07
Great thru ball to Owen, shame about his timing there, defo 0-1
21 ObaFan2 // Nov 10, 2007 at 14:09
Hard first 20 mins
channel 2 TVAnts best so far
http://myp2p.eu/broadcast.php?matchid=1808&part=sports
22 Hadrian // Nov 10, 2007 at 14:10
playing some nicer football along the ground aswell , losing possesion abit , but thats gotta be down to time together .
i like smith when he plays one touch football , but out on the wide that seems daft , he’s not got much of a cross on him .
we seem up for it , lets just hope for no more mistakes , havent been confident all week comming in to this . hope im proved wrong .
23 Bobby Ollox // Nov 10, 2007 at 14:11
Get him sent off - he cant talk to the ref like that ! pop eyed little turncoat get.
24 ObaFan2 // Nov 10, 2007 at 14:13
lol @ Chopra played Zog
25 sparetheman // Nov 10, 2007 at 14:15
What’s this obsession Allardyce has with playing Smith out of position? For the life of me, I can’t understand it.
26 Bobby Ollox // Nov 10, 2007 at 14:16
Four players on Jones to bring him down- I think he looks dangerous
27 Bobby Ollox // Nov 10, 2007 at 14:17
this is it
28 Obafan // Nov 10, 2007 at 14:18
Owen should have took that one on the volley, fantastic ball in by the Zog.
29 Craig Allen // Nov 10, 2007 at 14:18
I don’t like the look of this lineup …
30 ObaFan2 // Nov 10, 2007 at 14:19
Yeah Jones been a good find by Keane
Zog been best for us in 30 mins
31 Hadrian // Nov 10, 2007 at 14:19
the more i see of zoggy the more its looking like he could be one of the world class greats in a couple of years , skill , strength , great passing and crossing , lovely long range shot and steady enough finishing ….. why the hell is he at left back ?
if its to catch the mackems offguard and let him push up its working i suppose .
32 Bobby Ollox // Nov 10, 2007 at 14:19
yaaaaaaaaaaaahhh
33 ObaFan2 // Nov 10, 2007 at 14:22
We’ve actually defended, shame we’ve had 2
34 Steve_48 // Nov 10, 2007 at 14:24
Taylor is a fish outa water at RB, too many mistakes already, not even tracking back with the unwashed left hand side players running bloody riot
35 Hog // Nov 10, 2007 at 14:29
73% Possesion Sunderland’s. Not Good.
36 Eve // Nov 10, 2007 at 14:30
Oh God. At this rate Sunderland will score first.
37 Steve_48 // Nov 10, 2007 at 14:31
@Hog: That was only the last 5 minutes man, still need this more on the turf that in the air for me, then our ability to feed into the box will overcome
38 Dalston // Nov 10, 2007 at 14:32
midfield, midfield, our problem has always been in the midfield, all the players look confused, no shape, lots of frustration.
39 Hadrian // Nov 10, 2007 at 14:33
that 73% flatters the mackems really , dont like speaking to soon tho so ill give my judgement on the lads after the match .
40 ObaFan2 // Nov 10, 2007 at 14:35
Faye n Zog been best in a hard derby game.
better play by toon than in recent games
41 wsq // Nov 10, 2007 at 14:36
I hate this long ball shiteeeee! Get the futching ball down and play football!
What’s wrong with CLOSING DOWN ON THE OPPONENT! Why is no one CLOSING DOWN! It’s SIMPLE! CLOSE DOWN!!! BIG SAM % FOOTBALL SUCKS!
% FOOTBALL SUCKS!
HIT THE BALL UP THE BALL COMES BACK NO WONDER THE DEFENCE IS IN TATTERS!
42 yemozone // Nov 10, 2007 at 14:37
how can i watch this match online
43 Eve // Nov 10, 2007 at 14:37
OMG there’s no shape, the only reason we’re not loosing is cause Sunderland haven’t been able to finish.
44 Steve_48 // Nov 10, 2007 at 14:37
I’ll take 0-0 at half time, some changes needed now for 2nd half, Oba on , take something outa midfield and push up
45 ABS // Nov 10, 2007 at 14:37
BS’s team selection just makes no sense, midfield’s not holding up and we’re getting bombarded from all sides. Defenders playing out of position, attack not getting going; possession almost non-existent. WOW!!!!
46 Hammy // Nov 10, 2007 at 14:38
Tight first half, Harps looks solid, (touch wood) Zog doing well, Owen looking half interested. I think there is only gonna be one goal in this….which way though?
47 wsq // Nov 10, 2007 at 14:39
BETTER PLAY!!!??? HAHA… BULL SHITEE. We will concede in the first 5 mins if we continue playing like this!
THERE”S NO BALANCE IN THE TEAM! NO BALANCE. VIDUKA CAN”T GET THE BALL DOWN LIKE SHEARER.
48 zogy14 // Nov 10, 2007 at 14:39
We got know shape in midfield,barton has no pace what so ever,milner cnt play left mid and emre hasnt seen the ball.JUST GET BACK TO MILNER EMRE SMITH AND ZOGGERS ON THE LEFT.The midfield is so packed we need to undo them by getting width.I would rather we attacked them rather than defend.I know its early in big sam reign but this football is utter shit!!
49 Hadrian // Nov 10, 2007 at 14:39
yeah i was gonna say that obafan2 , harper has also gave shay a run for his money . the football from us at times has been better than alot of our games , and the defence is looking good . faye is a one man army at the back today aswell , he was unlucky to get that yellow , we cant afford for him to start being cautious.
i’ll admit i smiled at joey’s horrible tackle there , but im sure it would have been different had the ref saw that , looked like a red to me .
50 Hammy // Nov 10, 2007 at 14:40
wsq…I hope you haven’t got any weapons close at hand mate…….
you sound like a right nutter.
51 wsq // Nov 10, 2007 at 14:40
ALAN SMITH IN THE HOLE! STUPID!!!! EVERYONE IS LOSING THEIR MAN IN MARKING!!
HOW can u defend properly if u don’t mark ure man!!! SUNDERLAND SHOULD BE 3-0 UP!!! FOR GOD SAKE!
WHAT REPETITIVE TRAINING DO THEY DO! WANK*NG?
52 Eve // Nov 10, 2007 at 14:41
Either 1 of 2 things will happen in the second half, either we’ll get our act in order or everything will fall apart. So far no one really is playing well, Harper had to make one save that’s it, Sunderland’s finishing has been poor but sooner or later if it keeps going like this they’ll find the back of the net.
53 Bobby Ollox // Nov 10, 2007 at 14:41
Their needs to be a change in defense - tighten up at right back where we seem weak- and bring on Enrique for Barton to let Zog move to midfield. There is no link up from defense to attack - see if that makes some service to the front
If not then Martins on at 60 minutes for Viduka.
54 wsq // Nov 10, 2007 at 14:41
HOW MANY TIMES HAVE U SEEN OPPONENTS TRYING TO SHOOT FROM 30 YARDS OUT!!! NO ONE IS CLOSING DOWN!! YEA I NEED A GUN TO INTIMIDATE THESE PLAYERS TO CLSOE PPL DOWN!
55 Hammy // Nov 10, 2007 at 14:42
Aye Joey’s nut splitting tackle…….ooouuucchhhhh!!
might not have heard the last of that….
56 zogy14 // Nov 10, 2007 at 14:43
Milner has been shoking this season ,looks like hes lost a yard of pace,maybe conferidance down.Cant wait till duffers get back,when is he back?
57 ObaFan2 // Nov 10, 2007 at 14:43
lol wsq why do you bother?
It’s a derby@ Sunderland, hard fought and yes we’ve been lucky but still well in it.
58 Dragoner // Nov 10, 2007 at 14:44
we are playing awful football, taylor is awful at rb, and zog and rozenhal aren’t tracking back quick enough. why are we not closing them down, an easier way to stop jones would be to stop them from crossing, rather than gettin 3 people on him at all times leaving other scum players with free headers etc
59 Eve // Nov 10, 2007 at 14:45
The only way we’ll keep a clean sheet (which I’m sick of hearing about) is if Sunderland continue to not be able to get a decent shot a goal. It’s a joke. The only reason we’re not behind is cause of their poor finishing.
60 wsq // Nov 10, 2007 at 14:46
IF I WAS AT THE STADIUM I DON”T CARE IF I GET BANNED FOR LIFE! MY MSG COMES ACROSS GRAB A PLAYER A SHOUT IN HIS FACE! CLOSE THE F*&**NG ASSHOLE DOWN!!!
JUST LOOK AT MILNER HOW FUNNY HE IS TRYIGN TO SHOW THE PLAYER INSIDE! BUT WHAT DO U KNOW HE CAN CROSS EFFECTIVELY WITH THE WEAKER FOOT NOT LIKE HIM! HE HAS TO TRUN 360 several times to put a cross in!
61 Dragoner // Nov 10, 2007 at 14:46
if we lose this match, sam is really gonna get slated, negative football yet again, i know we are away, but it hasn’t done us any good in the past so he needs to change up a bit, seeming a bit like a one trick pony
62 wsq // Nov 10, 2007 at 14:47
Exactly Dragoner!
63 wsq // Nov 10, 2007 at 14:48
Exactlly again Dragoner! I don’t mind % football but it’s not working.. if this doesn’t work.. why keep on doing it!?? why?
64 coolsmurf // Nov 10, 2007 at 14:48
we made sunderland look like world beaters…and it’s only half-time!
65 Hammy // Nov 10, 2007 at 14:49
Second half coming up……..wsq, hope we win for your sake….I can just see you going on a killing spree if we somehow lose this one.
There’s passionate……..then there is you.
Calm down my friend.
Kick off…back to the telly….
66 Hadrian // Nov 10, 2007 at 14:53
why isnt oba on ? , if he gets sick and leaves that will be allerdyce’s legacy among geordie’s .
67 wsq // Nov 10, 2007 at 14:53
HOW DOES A MEDIOCRE SIDE LIKE SUNDERLAND GET SO MANY CROSSES IN>!! U TELL ME!! IMAGINE WHAT ATEAM LIKE MAN U WOULD DO!! 50 CROSSES PER MINUTE!!
68 Hammy // Nov 10, 2007 at 14:55
SSSSSShhhiiiiiiitttteeeeeeeeeeee
69 Andy H // Nov 10, 2007 at 14:56
5 M INS AFTER HALFTIME. WE CONCEDE AGAIN. WHAT IS HAPPENEING!!
70 wsq // Nov 10, 2007 at 14:56
I TOLD YOU!!! FIRST 5 MINS!!
71 Obafan // Nov 10, 2007 at 14:57
Taylor off the pitch and put Beye in. And then Owen off and Martins in…. The sooner this happens the better it will be..
72 joshi // Nov 10, 2007 at 14:57
wsq, right keep the calm, theres still time.
73 Hammy // Nov 10, 2007 at 14:57
I know wsq read that…….
That’s the 0-0 game plan out the window….
74 wsq // Nov 10, 2007 at 14:58
THE MORE GAMES WE PLAY THE MORE STUPID WE BECOME!!
75 joshi // Nov 10, 2007 at 14:58
aaaahhhhh i feel sick.
76 wsq // Nov 10, 2007 at 14:58
EVERY SILLY MISTAKE WE CONCEDE!! STORY OF NEWCASTLE”S LIFE!
77 Hadrian // Nov 10, 2007 at 14:59
ohh dear . fan , shit and all that .
78 Obafan // Nov 10, 2007 at 14:59
1-0 here we go again. Though times are coming for the Toon. Look at our fixtures.
MARTINS MARTINS MARTINS MARTINS
Taylor go home man!!!
79 wsq // Nov 10, 2007 at 15:01
IVE SWITCHED THE TELLY OFF! PATHETIC!!
80 wsq // Nov 10, 2007 at 15:02
LOOK AT WHAT ALAN SMITH WAS DOING! HE JUST STOOD THERE DOING NOTHING! LOOKING AT THE BALL!!
WHAT DID I SAY JUST NOW??
CLOSING DOWN NO CLOSING DOWN!!
81 Eve // Nov 10, 2007 at 15:02
Can’t be said that Sunderland don’t deserve it, they’re actually playing football, not exactly sure what the hell we’re doing but whatever it is, it’s not football.
82 wsq // Nov 10, 2007 at 15:03
WHAT WAS ALAN SMITH DOING???!!! LOOK AT HIM! NOT CLOSING THE CROSS DOWN!!! IF HE HAD CLOSED HIM DOWN THERE WOULDN”T HAVE BEEN A CROSS!!!
WHAT DID I SAY!!!! THERE”S NO POINT GETTING AT BIRD”S EYE VIEW BIG SAM IF YOU CAN”T SPOT THAT!!!
83 joshi // Nov 10, 2007 at 15:03
Big, Big, Big changes needed in january! and really really really need a new style of play, it is so obvious that we cant do percentage play!!
84 joshi // Nov 10, 2007 at 15:05
Owen looking dead out there, i think he is past it now, especially in our side. Martins is needed desperatly.
85 wsq // Nov 10, 2007 at 15:07
EVERY MANAGER WHO GETS THE MANAGERIAL SPOT BECOMES STUPID MINDLESS! ROY KEANE MAKES MORE SENSE!! WHAT”S THE POINT OF HAVING A BIG STRIEKER UP FRONT!!!??? WHAT”S THE POINT IF YOU DONT GET CROSSES IN!!! I DON”T GET IT I JUST DON”T GET IT!!!
86 Hammy // Nov 10, 2007 at 15:08
gggggggoooooooooooooooooaaaaaaaaaaallllllllllllllllll
87 Hammy // Nov 10, 2007 at 15:09
MMMMMMMMMMMMIIIIIILLLLLNNNERRRRRRRRRRRR
88 Hammy // Nov 10, 2007 at 15:09
MMMMMMMMMMMMIIIIIILLLLLNNNERRRRRRRRRRRR
89 Dalston // Nov 10, 2007 at 15:09
what BSA has been doing in training, just monitor the heart rate? aweful
90 joshi // Nov 10, 2007 at 15:09
MIILLNNERRRR!!!
91 joshi // Nov 10, 2007 at 15:10
RIGHT LADS LETS F*&*&ING WIN THIS NOW!!!! GET YOUR BOOTS ON!!
92 Hadrian // Nov 10, 2007 at 15:10
oba not even getting a full game is crap , less than 30 mins is pathetic .
93 joshi // Nov 10, 2007 at 15:11
WE NEEED TO PUSH NOW!! WE NEED TO GET THE GAME BY THE SCRUFF OF THE NECK!
94 Eve // Nov 10, 2007 at 15:12
Keane makes more sense then Sam because Keane is honest and doesn’t try this fancy crap football, he doesn’t bluff his way our of things, he doesn’t put a plaster on a gunshot wound. He’s not an idiot. I don’t know what Sam does half the time.
95 Obafan // Nov 10, 2007 at 15:12
Our best player injured (Faye). My dear. we need to start playing football, Emre is chasing the ball too much he needs to get the ball in his feet. He is working very hard.
What a lucky goal we got, but maybe that is what we needed, let’s hope so. I was a good combination and it all started with Emre passing the ball instead of anoher player who kicks the ball upfront.
96 joshi // Nov 10, 2007 at 15:13
AAAHH owen y dint u score!!!
97 Eve // Nov 10, 2007 at 15:14
Ya it was lucky, Sunderland don’t deserve to loose this match, we’ve been playing horribly, average preformances again and again and a draw or a win here I’m affraid will only be like putting a plaster on a gun shot wound. Somthing needs to be changed.
98 Hadrian // Nov 10, 2007 at 15:17
its not half as bad as some of you are saying , mackems have just had more chance’s . we have played some good football when we keep it down , loads of spirit in todays performance .
99 joshi // Nov 10, 2007 at 15:17
Yer even if we do win, we have been, to put it plainly for a team with uefa cup aspirations, utterly shite. I don’t Sunderland seem more than capable of killing us off now.
100 wsq // Nov 10, 2007 at 15:18
seee play football u score.. don’t play football no goal!! it’s simple.. why complicate things with %s .. u only get %s if u play football. Those statistics are biased towards ppl who actually play football.. not playing rugby!
101 joshi // Nov 10, 2007 at 15:19
I’m such a bag of nerves here.
102 wsq // Nov 10, 2007 at 15:20
NOW THE REF IS ANNOYING ME!!! THE REF IS BECOMING STUPID!
103 wsq // Nov 10, 2007 at 15:20
STUPID DEFENCE WHY DIDN”T ANYONE CLEAR IT>> THEY HAVE TO RELY THE OPPENNET ON HEADING IT AWAY!!! TWATSSSSSSS
104 joshi // Nov 10, 2007 at 15:21
F***s sake, well done taylor.
105 wsq // Nov 10, 2007 at 15:21
HOW IS TAYLOR SUPPOSE TO JUST PLAY WELL IN CB?? IF HE HASN”T BEEN PLAYING IN THERE? BIG SAM”S FAULT!
106 joshi // Nov 10, 2007 at 15:22
we really need viduka to stay on.
107 wsq // Nov 10, 2007 at 15:23
WHAT”S WRONG WITH THESE NEWCASTLE PLAYERS!!! THEY CANT DO THE SIMPLE THINGS RIGHT!! CLOSE DOWN!!
108 wsq // Nov 10, 2007 at 15:23
i miss scott parker!
109 Obafan // Nov 10, 2007 at 15:23
Emre is playing very good. He is working very hard and every combination starts with him.
If I was Martins I should go in January, he doesn’t get a chance even if he is the topscorer. BS doesn’t give him confidence, he prefers to give it to Smtih (a fool who plays out of position just to play; if next week we need a central defender and BS does not know where to put SMith than he will play CD, it’s crap).
Sunderland doesn’t deserve to loose that is true..
110 wsq // Nov 10, 2007 at 15:24
HARPER CAN”T KICKKKK!
111 Eve // Nov 10, 2007 at 15:24
Stokes is on great, just great he HAS to be marked EVERYWHERE, why, cause he can score from ANYWHERE.
I wish Harper would just scream at his defense, just once please..DO SOMETHING!! They’re all as dozy as the other.
112 wsq // Nov 10, 2007 at 15:25
BIG SAM TIME TO PUT FRESH LEGSS!!!!
113 joshi // Nov 10, 2007 at 15:26
F*K F**K BAR F*K
114 wsq // Nov 10, 2007 at 15:26
STUPPPPPIDDDDD!! WHYU CAN”T ANYONE CLEAR THE BALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL
115 wsq // Nov 10, 2007 at 15:27
I THOUGHT BIG SAM WAS THE SET PIECE PERSON!!! I THOUGHT WRONG!!
116 joshi // Nov 10, 2007 at 15:27
PUT MARTINS ON!!!!
117 Hog // Nov 10, 2007 at 15:29
Come on Oba!!!
118 wsq // Nov 10, 2007 at 15:36
what kind of excuse is “u better win the match cause i want to go out saturday night!”" we should winning regardless…..!!!
119 wsq // Nov 10, 2007 at 15:39
STUPID! STUPID! STUPID! STUPID STUPID!!
120 joshi // Nov 10, 2007 at 15:40
yet again out classed, i don’t want any more excuses from Sam.
121 Hog // Nov 10, 2007 at 15:40
Still though, what an awesome game of football.
122 wsq // Nov 10, 2007 at 15:42
ANOTHER PATHETIC OUTING!! PATHETIC PERFORMANCE! I WONDER WHAT THEY DO AT THAT TRAINING GROUND! BUNCH OF JERKS OFF! I BET THEY STAY IN DOORS ALL THE TIME BECAUSE OF THE WEATHER!
123 Hadrian // Nov 10, 2007 at 15:42
stupid to put martins on so late , give the lad his game for gods sake !!
124 joshi // Nov 10, 2007 at 15:42
yer tbh, good game, shit result.
125 Andy H // Nov 10, 2007 at 15:42
Fair result and a much better second half performance. We need to play with that sort of tempo and determination all game and stop inviting pressure away from home. Why do we need to be a goal down before we start and why does Big Sam always choose a defensive set up away from St James’, even against shit teams.
We’ll do much better with Viduka back and Emre controlling things in the middle BUT why can’t we just stick to a normal 4-4-2.
126 wsq // Nov 10, 2007 at 15:44
awesome game??? an awesome game is man u v arsenal. sunderland was by far the best team the whole 90 mins. comfortable. how can u cal this an awesome game!
127 Hog // Nov 10, 2007 at 15:45
I think there are a lot of positives to be brought out of today.
128 joshi // Nov 10, 2007 at 15:45
the frustrating thing is, we are falling to peices. We need some balance and a big spree in jan with 2 quality players. Then we find a system and line up that works and stick to it!
129 Obafan // Nov 10, 2007 at 15:46
Well all by all we have to be happy with this draw. We didn’t deserve more than this. I hope the international break next week will do us good, because after the break it will be very though if we play like this against the though opponents we will face then.
I don’t understand the tactics of BS anymore, now I’m pissed with his tactics and if he keeps playing this team then for me he can go. Which excuses will he now have?
I can say it 50000 times but it doesn’t matter. I hope better times are coming, because this is not a European performance at all.
130 wsq // Nov 10, 2007 at 15:47
EXACTLY>> POSITIVE TACTICS IS ALWAYS THE BETTER OPTION ESpecially with what we have.. why should we sit and invite pressure… we don’t have an injury crisis.. we have two so called world class strikers not doing naything.. if u want to do that might as well put a bus in front of the goal sub the two strikers with two extra defenders.. 3 to mark jones!
131 Andy H // Nov 10, 2007 at 15:49
wsq, You’re either a complete idiot or you just weren’t watching the game cos we were by far the better team after we conceded.
132 wsq // Nov 10, 2007 at 15:50
MIND THE TACTICS? HE CAN”T EVEN GET THE PLAYERS TO CLOSE DOWN THE OPPONENT PROPERLY>> JAMeS MILNER IS A PRIME EXAMPLE! JUST LOoK AT HOW SILLY HE wAS> THINNKING THAT the opponent can’t cross from the inside.
DOn’t even start about thinking of clearing the ball with headers. THey have to rely on the lack of quality of the opponent.. Facing MAN U ARSENAL AND LIVERPOOL AND CHELSEA I DON” KNOW it will prolly be 8-0. Then the excuse will be ohh most of my players were on international duty, they were tired! whereas the opponent had no players on international duty. BS standds for bull shit!
133 wsq // Nov 10, 2007 at 15:51
BY FAR THE BETTER TEAM??? U SAY.. we almost conceded they hit the bar mroe tahn once.. ur the effing twat moron!
134 ABS // Nov 10, 2007 at 15:52
Why’s this guy always playing for a draw away from home? Can’t see a top 6 finish this way, he’s supposed to instill confidence & winning. in these players not encouraging them to go for draws.
I suspect he’s actually a Sunderland mole planted to ridicule us, or maybe FS’s last laugh. Don’t see him taking us to the top with this kind of play.
135 Andy H // Nov 10, 2007 at 15:52
Maybe over exaggeration, but you must have seen that we looked much better when we got some passing going and kept the ball moving.
136 joshi // Nov 10, 2007 at 15:53
Yer Andy H, thats quite a naive response, we were better after we scored, but “by far the better team” we were definatly not.
137 wsq // Nov 10, 2007 at 15:55
AFTER WE CONCEDED sunderland decided to sit… and defend.. that’s why we were the better team not by virtue of us making the initiative… i don’t see that as a positive.. so nex time might as well invite them to walk themselves into the goal and then .. let them sit why dont we!!! ur the f*&*(king idiot!f!
138 wsq // Nov 10, 2007 at 15:55
AFTER WE CONCEDED sunderland decided to sit… and defend.. that’s why we were the better team not by virtue of us making the initiative… i don’t see that as a positive.. so nex time might as well invite them to walk themselves into the goal and then .. let them sit why dont we!!!
139 Andy H // Nov 10, 2007 at 15:57
Yeah, maybe I should have said we looked a much better team in the second half. And all the negativity isn’t really worthy today. It was much better than last week and we reacted well to going behind. However, we would’nt go behind in these away games if we took the game to the opposition.
140 joshi // Nov 10, 2007 at 16:01
ToonKing be4 the game: Emre will be on the left and Milner on the right with Smithy and Joey in the middle. And that’s one though center middfield for the scum to get past.
3-0. …….whit out even breakin’ a sweat.
lol that sounds funny now.
141 evildick // Nov 10, 2007 at 16:03
1-1 i’ll take that, especially after being pounded for much of the game. all in all a respectable result.
142 Toon Andy // Nov 10, 2007 at 16:36
We have to be happy with the result after the way the game went: Sunderland deserved to win 3-1 or 4-1, so we got away with daylight robbery, which is a nice change from being robbed but more than a little frustrating overall.
I think Big Sam again got his selection wrong. If Michael Owen didn’t play for England and score so many goals for them, would he really get in this team, let alone be captain? I think today told us a lot about what we can expect from certain players, and the lackadaisical fashion in which Owen trotted around the pitch contributing nothing said it all. Chopra was all out to win for the club he plays for, £100k per week England international Owen just isn’t interested if he’s not playing for Liverpool or England. How did this man get to be captain?
Quite aside from that, we were far too defensive in our approach until going behind, and the amount of time that it took Big Sam to get Martins onto the pitch was a disgrace. We were fortunate to score, albeit amidst a good spell of pressure on the mackem defence for a change, and we need our top scorer out on the pitch. Again, if he was an England international and well-respected by other clubs he would start every game; why doesn’t he?
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I must admit being disappointed by Big Sam today. This isn’t a normal away game. It’s a derby, and whilst we can be content with a draw away, we shouldn’t be playing for one. Say what you like about Sunderland, they always come to our place and try to win and we should be doing the same. I appreciate that he never had a derby at Bolton and the fans would love it if he drew with Man City, ManUSA or Blackburn, but at this type of club you have to go all out to win your derby. Before people get critical with me, it’s the same at clubs like Aston Villa, they expect their team to go to Birmingham and play for a win.
Big Sam can and must learn from this. I’m fully behind him, but he must start to think about the quality and strengths of the opposition. Today he applied a blanket “3 points at home, 1 point away” strategy, but if that’s the case will he be using the same policy when we have Liverpool and Arsenal at home in the next three games? I don’t think we can expect to get 6 points from those 2 home games, but Big Sam obviously does or he would have played for a win today to compensate. I hope he’s right.
Today taught me a lot. Smith and Faye were up for it; Taylor, Milner and N’Zogbia had the honesty we have come to expect from them. Emre was again fussed over by many fans but had no real contribution. Owen swanned around up front to no consequence whilst his strike partner bled from a head wound, and then his replacement Martins did as much in 2 touches as he had all game.
Let’s find some consistency. Drop players who are playing like sacks of shite, even if they are England internationals. Aim for the right result by the quality of opposition, instead of creating this distinction between home and away that is seeping into results. Go out there and play for 90 minutes with the determination we showed for 10 second-half minutes of this game, for f&*&k’s sake.
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