Sunderland v Aston Villa Post-Match Thread

[markeeeebeeee2005]

I'm with Dave W, you build from draws and then start turning them into wins. Give AM a chance, I don't think we will be world beaters but he needs time.

Confidence isn't built in a few months it takes time.

[Jockey Randall]

Did we really have the 59% possession the beeb are saying we had? We haven't even got close to that so far this season

[PeterWithesShin]

I'd have settled for a point before the game, but by god, I am fed up of us being incapable of seeing games out and picking up 3 points. 9 points already dropped this season from winning positions, 1 point gained from losing ones.

[IRISHPHIL]

PEASE CAN SOMEONE TELL ME WHY HESKEY IS IN THE TEAM, AS HE CANNOT PASS ( SURELY HE EVEN STUGGLES TO PASS WIND)

[Dante Lavelli]

...needs to be braver on the ball.

This appears to be one of our key problems.  The midfield appear to be so cautious in possession that they do not make forward passes.  This results in the ball going backwards to Collins and Dunne.  But by the time these defenders have got the ball every other bugger has trotted up field, so their only option is the hoof down the channels.

The forwards need to move more and make themselves available and the midfielders need to occasionally trust these players to receive the ball to feet whilst under pressure. 

[Dante Lavelli]

PEASE CAN SOMEONE TELL ME WHY HESKEY IS IN THE TEAM, AS HE CANNOT PASS ( SURELY HE EVEN STUGGLES TO PASS WIND)

I thought he played well today.  He made a few mistakes but over 90 minutes everyone does.

[Brian Taylor]

threw away a winning position again..we'll struggle to get 40 pts at this rate!

[Toronto Villa]

this feels a lot like MON's first season. A lot of draws and a team trying to figure things out. Disappointing not to hold on. Seems to blight us whoever the manager is. We're a mid table team playing mid table football. We need a spark from somwhere but given the finances we might have to wait until next season to get it.

[villadelph]

this feels a lot like MON's first season. A lot of draws and a team trying to figure things out. Disappointing not to hold on. Seems to blight us whoever the manager is. We're a mid table team playing mid table football. We need a spark from somwhere but given the finances we might have to wait until next season to get it.

Well said.

[Dave Clark Five]

Can we talk about Albrighton coming on to secure our three points.. Albrighton?! What in the hell are you thinking McLeish?

Contrary to what some have said, I thought N'Zogbia was rubbish, yet again. McLeish had to get him off. At least Albrighton made their defence work for a bit. Yet again, Bent missed a sitter.

[hipkiss92]

this feels a lot like MON's first season. A lot of draws and a team trying to figure things out. Disappointing not to hold on. Seems to blight us whoever the manager is. We're a mid table team playing mid table football. We need a spark from somwhere but given the finances we might have to wait until next season to get it.

Weren't we third at the start of November in O'Neill's first season?

[AV82EC]

Well didn't see the first half so can't comment but we came in 1-1 so not all bad.  Watched the second half on a stream and I was pleasantly encouraged if I'm honest.  Gabby, Petrov and Bent were causing problems and how Bent didn't score when slipped through by Gab I don't know.  N'Zog had his best game in a Villa shirt i thought and Warnock and Hutton seemed to gte forwards well.  Herd was tidy in front of the back 4 and looks a real natural slot for that role if a bit impetuous at times.  We dominated possession and territory throughout the 2nd half however the two centre backs were poor today, woeful distribution, James Collins should have his right foot cut off so he can't keep trying his aimless Hollywod style punting into the opposition half, and to let the little Sessegnon fellow all 5 foot 8 of him between them for that equaliser is criminal.

Anyway its a point which is a lot better than I was expecting.

[Chris Smith]

I thought we were the better team but for some reason that I don't understand we've forgotten how to defend set pieces. In open play we coped with most things but looked in trouble all game from corners. What makes all the harder to take is that for the first 7 games we were fine and looked to have shaken off the problems of last season. Perhaps it's a confidence thing.

On the plus side, Gabby, N'Zogbia, Petrov and Herd all had good games and both full backs attacked with purpose. We controlled the gsme fir long periods but lacked a clinical edge.

I always think an away point is a good result and although conceding a late goal makes it feel less so I prefer to concentrate on the positives.

[mrfuse]

At the risk of going against the Warnock/Hutton haters im fed up of Collins, who keeps telling him to hoof the ball forward and why does he keep losing players at set pieces!

[Dante Lavelli]

Yet again, Bent missed a sitter.

We knew what we were getting with Bent.  Largely anonymous but scores when he gets a chance.  Well in the last two matches he has had two sitters which, if scored, could have resulted in two wins.

I don't think we need to be too drastic in trying to create more chances as under normal circumstances he would have taken those chances (or at least that is what he is paid to do).