Sunderland v Aston Villa Post-Match Thread

[Irish villain]

Reminded me of Fulham last year when MA gave away a needless freekick and we all know what happened. Not sure Clark or Cuellar are going to solve the problem as I think it's more to do with organisation/tactic than personnel. I mean you have Dunne and Collins who are both strong in the air consistently failing to defend set pieces. It makes no sense.

That Fulham game was crucial I think. MA lost confidence after that and it was just such a hammer blow to give away those points at that stage. Slightly off topic, sorry.

[GJH]

Would have took a point being 2-1 down obviously, but 2-1 up with 5 mins to go no way!

A team that has lost 8 of the last 9 games, we should have held on for the win.

10 games 12 points, need to start winning 38 points won't be good enough and we've got a hard run of games to come.

[ktvillan]

Same old Villa but I'd have probably taken a point before the game.

I'm not sure Clark is the answer to our set piece problems, he played at Man City when we conceded two from corners.  I'm afraid Dunne and Collins have turned into the types of players that are solid for much of the game but then tend to commit at least one or two lapses that often lead to goals.

[mr woo]

And as far as the 'save' today goes, if you compared it to a penalty kick (from a comparable distance out), you'd have to put it down as a poor pen rather than a good save.
In other words, its still a poor miss from a top-rated striker in that position. How many of those did Shearer or Lineker miss?

This is rubbish. No way you can compare taking a penalty to the this chance and save. Taking a penalty ball is dead on the spot you can compose yourself with all the time in the world to decide what you want to do. Yesterday Bent expected but was not sure he
would get the ball. Did not know what speed or angle the ball was going to delivered. Did not know if a defender or two were going the chop his legs off or the  GK will rush out or stick. He had to think about all this and take a best shot.  It was angled wide of GK but not wide enough  and that was  a difference of fraction of second wait to angle
himself properly. He didn't do that that is all.
And oh yes I have seen some shocking misses by  Shearer, Linekar and even Messi.

Of course you can make a comparison in terms of whether the chance missed was a good save or a poor finish. And that was a poor finish by any international strikers standards. And I didn't say Shearer had never fluffed a few - everyone fucks up from time to time - but he'd have buried that one yesterday 99 times out of a hundred. Our  Daz is about 50/50 in finding the net from what I can see.

[Monty]

On yesterday, Sunderland put in probably the second worst display of anyone against us this season, after Blackburn at home. Unlike on that occasion, we weren't able to win. More's the point, we didn't create any particular amount of chances and continued to look vulnerable at the back, giving the ball away too cheaply and giving away cheap free kicks. That is not a good combination.

[fredm]

The way some have been going on about a draw at Sunderland being a good result is as though they are a top side.  Before today, they had won one, drawn one and lost two.  Their home performances have been very poor this season and that form showed today.  Again we failed to beat a side that was there for the taking.

This is spot on.  Being at the match it was obvious that we were in total control in the second half - even stated by the MoD commentator - but could/would not press forward to get the second goal.  Contrary to others on here I was again disappointed with N'Zogbia - was caught in possession far too often even when he was put in the clear - and was never on the same wavelength as to what Gabby and Bent were doing/wanted.  I was calling for AM to bring Ireland on as we needed someone who could play that one ball in to make the breakthrough (he being the only one on the bench who may have done it).  However, there was no change and it seemed we were content to let the match drift along for 1 - 1 when we got the second from a set piece.  Surely then I thought AM would stiffen things up knowing full well that they would chuck everything at us and Clark for N'Zogbia for the last five minutes seemed the sensible thing.  But what did we do - take N'Zogbia off and bring Albrighton on.  What was the logic in that?  If he was thinking we can catch them on the break we already had Gabby and Bent on the field, the one thing we needed was to stop them getting at us.

This definitely was 2 points literally thrown away - I could not believe how poor Sunderland were and this was after being fully prepared for a disapponting afternoon.  As has been said they have now accumulated 5 points at home this season!! and were there for the taking yesterday but poor tactics and poor play in the last 5 minutes meant we threw it away.

It is all very well people saying we will not be in a relegation battle but even without that, each place up the league is worth half a million pounds at the end of the season, so by keeping on throwing points away we are in danger of losing precious money which we are told is in very short supply at VP.

[Chris Smith]

After Man U, Man City, Chelsea, Arsenal, Spurs and Liverpool, I'd argue everybody's in a relegation battle.

In October nobody is.

[olaftab]

The way some have been going on about a draw at Sunderland being a good result is as though they are a top side.  Before today, they had won one, drawn one and lost two.  Their home performances have been very poor this season and that form showed today.  Again we failed to beat a side that was there for the taking.

This is spot on.  Being at the match it was obvious that we were in total control in the second half - even stated by the MoD commentator -

So we can be in total control of a PL match. This is a big positive so can we all agree on that and move forward?

[olaftab]

Of course you can make a comparison in terms of whether the chance missed was a good save or a poor finish. And that was a poor finish by any international strikers standards. And I didn't say Shearer had never fluffed a few - everyone fucks up from time to time - but he'd have buried that one yesterday 99 times out of a hundred. Our  Daz is about 50/50 in finding the net from what I can see.

OK give me some stats. Darren has played for  Charlton, Spurs, Sunderland and us in the same era as Drogba and Rooney have played for Chelsea and Manure. In this period Chelsea and Manu have dominated  oppositions so it is natural that these two will score heavily and the teams  Darren has played have been average at best. So how does he compare with them?

[frank]

Surely then I thought AM would stiffen things up knowing full well that they would chuck everything at us and Clark for N'Zogbia for the last five minutes seemed the sensible thing.  But what did we do - take N'Zogbia off and bring Albrighton on.  What was the logic in that?  If he was thinking we can catch them on the break we already had Gabby and Bent on the field, the one thing we needed was to stop them getting at us.

This definitely was 2 points literally thrown away - I could not believe how poor Sunderland were and this was after being fully prepared for a disapponting afternoon.  As has been said they have now accumulated 5 points at home this season!! and were there for the taking yesterday but poor tactics and poor play in the last 5 minutes meant we threw it away.

Agreed. Interestingly, the one player our fans were shouting for in the 2nd half was Albrighton. I don't know what they thought he'd bring to the game. He's been very disappointing going forward this season, and he certainly can't defend, giving away free kicks in dangerous positions, including one yesterday.

On a separate issue, I was very impressed by the Sunderland travelling support. There were a few dozen on the train all the way back to London last night. That's a long way to travel for a team that has only won a couple of games at home in 2011.

[Pete3206]

Emile Heskey. Why?

[Clampy]

I was encouraged by yesterday, although Sunderland were there for the taking, they were bloody woeful. We controlled most of it, Petrov was very good, Herd had an half decent game, N'Zogbia looked a bit better although he still lacks confidence at times. Hopefully he's starting to turn the corner.

As for Warnock, he really is poor. We need a left back who dose'nt just lump the ball upfield to no-one, which he did on seveal occasions yesterday.

[TimTheVillain]

As for Warnock, he really is poor. We need a left back who dose'nt just lump the ball upfield to no-one, which he did on seveal occasions yesterday.

He certainly isn't on his own there,.

Collins and Dunne ( who should have been a rugby player) do it all the time.

What happens at Bodymoor or are they just not capable ?

With these 3 at the back as well as Hutton, a VERY creative, midfield is required.

Then they would be able to pass to a midfielder and watch him pass properly and onto another one who can do something with the ball etc.

Given is a better passer than Collins and Dunne !



 

[Monty]

Of course you can make a comparison in terms of whether the chance missed was a good save or a poor finish. And that was a poor finish by any international strikers standards. And I didn't say Shearer had never fluffed a few - everyone fucks up from time to time - but he'd have buried that one yesterday 99 times out of a hundred. Our  Daz is about 50/50 in finding the net from what I can see.

OK give me some stats. Darren has played for  Charlton, Spurs, Sunderland and us in the same era as Drogba and Rooney have played for Chelsea and Manure. In this period Chelsea and Manu have dominated  oppositions so it is natural that these two will score heavily and the teams  Darren has played have been average at best. So how does he compare with them?

That doesn't take into account the fact that Drogba and Rooney are very good players in the build-up and help their teams dominate play, whereas Darren can be anonymous for a very long time during games.

[brontebilly]

Oh, and to add - we change mentality when we take the lead. We were dominating the second half and looked like we could score a couple only to take the lead and become nervous wrecks. Happens everytime and I doubt anyone was surprised that Sunderland scored their equaliser.

Total panic alright. Warnock gifted them a freekick in a dangerous position only moments after we went ahead. A real gutless challenge and then a brainfart from Dunne a few mins later and they scored from the resultant set piece. Gabby too yesterday gave away some stupid freekicks and doesn't look happy playing wide to me.

Would be a brave call but I think Bent should be dropped for next game and Gabby put up top by himself. Go 433. Bent isn't at it this season regardless of how we are playing. He just isn't sharp right now and it's a bit unfair on Gabby being moved around to accommodate him.