Sunderland v Aston Villa Post-Match Thread

[Matt Collins]

I'm worried about our mentality more than anything. Ged is such a different character to MON that I have a feeling it has impacted on our belief and determination.

But if Heskey taps in from 2 yards, or Downing's shot is half a foot to the side, or the ref gives either of 2 penalties, we'd have been talking about a really good performance. We will need to adjust to a new style this season and it's going to take a while.

[damon loves JT]

can you have a zenith of mediocrity?

[VillaAlways]

Hope Stan's injury isn't too bad - midfield would be a bit lightweight without him against the knuckledraggers

Ligament damage is expected to be out for 3 weeks

[richard moore]

can you have a zenith of mediocrity?

You can in my book Damon, though I admit you might be right. Whatever it is, we have slipped right into it. Football has never been so boring....

[Matt Collins]

I hate Sidwell, but I thought he played pretty well to be honest. Beye did well too. So the injury I'm most worried about is Gabby. We need goals! I hope he's lost ohis tummy as well. He always scores against Blues.

[brontebilly]

Think Clark will be left back. Luke Young is much better on the ball but Beye is improving so Id nearly keep him in the side. Apart from Warnock we look very solid defensively. Warnock is finished imo spends all his time on the ground, hobbling or getting done for pace - just hope Clark can make an impression at left back. I still think we can have a good second half to the season. But we have to be more clinical. Heskey did alright but he isnt a goal threat. Some of his efforts today were shocking really.

There are positives though - four good options at centre half maybe even Davies aswell if reports of his performances at Leicester are to be believed, Beye and Luke Young coming back from semi retirement to look more than capable EPL players, Reo Coker had his best game in a Villa shirt today even Sidwell showed something. Downing is much better this season, Young in the hole looks really good, Albrighton, Bannan coming through as options and Heskey has done alright. A fit Gabby and Delph would add hugely too. I cant see us conceeding too many goals this season really either.

Negatives - not scoring, creating great chances but not getting it done. Carew,Petrov and Warnock seem in terminal decline. Ireland has been really poor and Milner is a massive loss to our midfield. Still though get to January in touch and we could make a burst for it.

Looking towards January or long term - some of MON's core players need replacing - Warnock, Petrov, Carew, Heskey even Friedel are on their last legs. Luke Young and Beye are in their 30s too so a long term replacement at right back is needed too. We are carrying a centre half too many (Beye can fill in too if needed) - think we might have to cash in on Cuellar there is bound to be interest. I really think Gokhan Inler would be a superb addition to our midfield, Enrique would hardly leave Toon midseason but maybe next summer. A striker as always the priority - Kershakov gave an exhibition in the lone striker role against Ireland last month, I'm a fan of Payluchenko too cant understand how Crouch starts ahead of him at Spurs and with Defoe coming back he might be persuaded.

[The Situation]

Sucks to lose to a team like Sunderland and I can honestly say we did NOT deserve to lose. We played some nice football again, but for all our efforts another Dunne cock-up cost us the game.

Oh well, beat the scum next week and things will look a lot brighter.

[TheSandman]

Give me 3 points over nice little passes any day of the week.

Yes but that is an utterly facile argument. Were we not relying upon a hideously unfit and error prone Dunne and had the opportunity to bring in players in the summer (for whatever reason we didn't) we would be playing better football and possibly getting the result. Good football and good results are not mutually exclusive, quite the opposite in fact.


We are not doing well enough in defence for me. I don't think that can be blamed upon the regime change as Dunne was badly conditioned at the start of the season and Warnock has been getting gradually worse and worse since half way through the season. I'd like to see Clark and Cuellar come in (I think Warnock is suspended so would assume that he wouldn't be available) against SHA and would hope nay, would think they would do better based on how they have done on performances so far.

In midfield I'd like to see Albrighton come in. It just hasn't clicked for Ireland yet and so we should resort back to our pre-Chelsea midfield (fuck help us if Petrov isn't available).

In attack, Heskey has done well but I really cannot wait until Gabs is back fit.

[damon loves JT]

*bing-bong* this is a public service announcement.

`Where Eagles Dare' is on five at the moment. They've just got to the inn near the castle.

Thank you.

*bing-bong*

[usav]

Meanwhile, the Olbiyon are 4th.

[adrenachrome]

can you have a zenith of mediocrity?

I once had a Russian camera called a Zenith, which was far from advanced in terms of features.

Nadir of mediocrity would probably be a more apposite expression. But I wouldn't lose any sleep over it.

[brontebilly]

O'Neill's inability to sign a striker cost us while he was here, and now that he's thankfully moved on, it's still costing us.

his inability to sign a really good one was the issue - Heskey, Harewood, Maloney etc but then again Gabby developed hugely under MON and John Carew has been a very good player for the club I'd argue.

With regards to the striker issue, the 2007/08 season, Carew was injured most of the season and top scored with 13 league goals. Yet it was the same season we scored 71 goals the highest since 1982. The replacement of Laursen and Davies by Dunne and Collins has really tightened us up at the back since those days but we had more of a goalthreat from set pieces then. Not all Ashley Young's fault, the movement in the opposition box is diabolical these days. Gareth Barry used create and score a good few too back then aswell and we dont have the type of guile he provided centrally at the moment. I think we need our full back to push on more with the likes of Reo Coker and Sidwell in midfield they can afford to, work on our set pieces and shoot more.

[olaftab]

That is 2 points out of 12 for Houllier. Very worrying and  SHA up next and  above us in the League.

so you're already judging the man after 4 league games, 3 of which have been away from home, and the home game against the current champions?

No I am not judging him and  anyway I have got it wrong on points  as others pointed out.

[barrysleftfoot]

  Sidwell made a difference when he came on, as did Ash when he went in the "hole".

  1st half Cattermole and Henderson dominated NRC and Petrov far too much, 2nd half Sidwells combativeness made a difference.

  We need Gabby back asap, Heskey for all his good play does not look like scoring, and Ireland was off the pace.

 Shame, because we lookedquite comfortable defensively.A bit half soaked in the 1st half cost us.We need to be up for it from the start.

  Beye had another good game, but Warnock.....bloody hell.

  Wish we would have bought Onohua though.

[TheSandman]

Meanwhile, the Olbiyon are 4th.

Boing Boing.

What goes up must come down!

At least one team above us that shan't stay there.