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Reply | Where have the goals gone in the Championship?
at 10:01 22 Nov 2024
Absolutely spot on, Brian.
It often appears to be 'possession without real purpose, maybe just a vague hope that something might happen if we kick the ball to one another for long enough' (a stupifying football lullaby). |
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Reply | Where have the goals gone in the Championship?
at 09:30 22 Nov 2024
I have been watching games since 1976. This recent shift to playing out from the back and passing from side to side is the most tedious phase of my supporting life. The fact that virtually every team is trying to do it makes it even more soul-sapping.
This phase of football methodology is like a really, really bad tribute act to the Barcelona team that so wonderfully captured and kept the ball in ways that mattered, and was brilliant to observe. |
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Reply | Is this season written off already?
at 19:03 9 Nov 2024
Last season my thread of hope was attached to the fact that Gareth's approach was not working and the team had some capacity to play better.
This season I am struggling to see how this turns around. There are so few goals in this team; the new players, other than Nardi and, maybe, Saito, are yet to prove themselves as effective in this league; we have some significant long-term injuries; and I really cannot see what our style or gameplan are. If the current unintelligible one is the model for our teams at all age groups I am bewildered...and I bet the other coaches are too!
I don't want to add to negative vibes, but this is a huge mess. Not being smashed today is good, but I cannot see where the wins will come from. Sorry... |
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Reply | Kieran Morgan
at 10:09 3 Nov 2024
I like him a lot. Given his age and relative inexperience, he could blossom into a really good player. I like his attempts to move the ball forward and hope we don't coach the risk out of him. He's going to mess up an occasional pass when he is trying to do the hard thing, and I am happy to live with that.
We have enough players pushing it from side to side, so let;s hope people don't get on his back if a searching pass doesn't quite make it. |
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Reply | Home form
at 10:05 3 Nov 2024
I am a psychologist and can tell you I wouldn't take that job! Definitely one for the exorcist : ) |
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Reply | Sunderland fans.
at 10:03 3 Nov 2024
There was a bloke sitting behind me in The School End who was clearly from Sunderland but trying to keep a lid on it. I started chatting to him and he was a decent bloke, Said if we keep playing like we did we would be safe! |
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Reply | Sunderland Reflection
at 19:38 2 Nov 2024
I went to the game expecting the worst. The first ten minutes were great and the fade away I expected didn't happen. Overall, pretty pleased with a very competent performance.
The Celar chance in the first half was right in front of me and was more difficult than it may have looked from elsewhere. It was hit at him pretty hard and not at an ideal angle. That said, we look so lacking in goal threat. It was the primary 'issue' today.
Varane looked like the player we believed we had signed. Masden's effort levels were higher. The young lad in midfield was positive in progressing the ball forward more swiflty. Field was excellent. Chair is understandably still shaking off the rust.
I've walked away feeling positive...but continue to worry how much the inability to score will impact us in the long run. Even if we continue to play as well, can we grab the points we need with such a blunt attack? |
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Reply | Annual set piece therapy – Analysis
at 17:38 11 Oct 2024
Could someone email a link to this article to the club please. I am pretty limited in my tactical analysis, but even I can understand the key thoughts that Dan shares. His take chimes with my frustrated sense of 'there had to have been a better way to defend that' as I watched most of those goals go in!
I was right in front of that first Palace goal and there was an embarassment to how easily they scored it.
Great to have Dan and his brainpower on the site. Cheers. |
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Reply | QPR Poppy
at 20:11 10 Oct 2024
Very nice. Just bought one : ) Thanks for brining it to my attention. |
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Reply | Remember the Alfie Lloyd interview? That was nice wasn’t it? - Column
at 19:11 10 Oct 2024
Great article Alex. Much appreciated.
That Alfie Lloyd interview as great wasn't it! Hope the lad goes far - with us.
Eze has always seemed like a great lad too. I'm glad we did the presentation at the Palace match.
For a long time we didn't get it right with ex-players who had demonstrated loyalty and talent e.g Alan McDonald. Nice to see us do something like that. |
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Reply | What are we trying to do?
at 21:02 6 Oct 2024
Just picking up on a few points raised, I agree that Marti is not stupid.
The concern I have is that we have positioned ourselves as a club with an identity and approach from the youngest age groups through to the first team. It makes me wonder is Marti even allowed to go back to the pragmatism of last season?
I am also getting to the point where I am not convinced that playing it out from the back even constitutes a style or identity. Just about everyone in the top two divisions now does that. The bit I really don't get is 'then what..?'
I am sure the aim is not to move the ball slowly around in our half, allow the opposition to all file back into position, and then we keep moving the ball from side to side until we lose it or create a half-chance.
But that seems to be what we do. Still a bit baffled to be honest. |
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Thread | What are we trying to do?
at 16:51 6 Oct 2024
I would have to confess to having only a rudimentary knowledge of tactics, so without any impied sarcasm, I wanted to ask, 'What is it that we are trying to set up to do?"
I know we have some very informed people on the board, so I would be very interested to hear what our intentions are.
From my uninformed position, I am struggling to see our approach and identity.
What I see is a scarily empty midfield, exposed defenders, and a lack of edge up front. There were periods in the Hull game that I saw something good shining through. Quick transitions, attacking intent, and the ability to apply real pressure. But beyond that, I just cannot see what the grand plan is.
Genuinely interested in what people have to say! |
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Reply | Koli
at 22:48 19 Sep 2024
Not trying to bang the drum here, but this thread has continued without any factual basis or evidence that he thinks he is billy big boots or has a bad attitude.
Given we really have no idea, perhaps it might be best to wait and see rather than pile on? |
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Reply | Koli
at 15:47 18 Sep 2024
There are two sides to this story and we are speculating without even knowing one.
I would suggest we stop jumping to harsh judgements about players and their attitudes without knowing what we are talking about. It's a dangerous and unfair game and can poision a relationship with the support base, when it may be completely untrue. |
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Reply | So many positives - yet a meltdown on here - dose of reality please
at 15:42 18 Sep 2024
I was at the game and felt proud of both the team and the supporter base.
Great turn-out for this competition and really got behind the team.
With a number of players out of contention, we competed very well with a Premier League team and had Smith's header or Lloyd's shot gone in, it would have been pens to decide.
If we play as well as that in Championship matches we will be well into the top half.
The truth was Eze was the main difference. Quick thinking for the first and a big slice of luck for the second, but he was excellent.
I just don't get some of our support base. After about 20 minutes I heard a guy behind me in the Loft calling our new teenage debutant "a useless Geordie #<!^@". The level of over-reaction and aggression towards our own players by some is startlingly immature. We all want to win, but c'mon...does that kind of abuse help? |
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Reply | Dynamic Pricing
at 22:58 2 Sep 2024
There is absolutely no way any individual or company can dress this up. The utterly shameless way that the ticket firms did this to those waiting in the Oasis queue would be laughable, if it wasn't becoming the norm.
Inflation as a disguise for excessive price rises, skimflation, shrinkflation, dynamic pricing, packaging that exaggerates the size of goods, etc. are all dubious and soulless measures undertaken by companies grovelling to increase shareholder returns.
These approaches may be legal, but certainly not moral. |
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Reply | Celar
at 19:33 28 Aug 2024
I am not worried, yet. He finds some decent positions and is starting to get some decent service.
Hopefully the penalty will give him a confidence 'tracer' and a few more will start hitting the back of the net.
As others have said, new country, new language, new team mates, new manager, new system and a new league. He's human and needs time to adjust. |
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Reply | Paal
at 19:28 28 Aug 2024
Noticably back to something like his best. Pleased for him. |
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Reply | Quality ex-Rs without a club
at 19:27 28 Aug 2024
I am sad to hear that.
Truly 'one of our own' and was never found wanting for effort.
I hope he can find something soon. |
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Site Scores| Forum Votes: | 178 | | Comment Votes: | 1 | | Prediction League: | 0 | | TOTAL: | 179 |
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