That was a bit easy, wasn’t it? I was expecting more of a battle than that. Carlisle are meant to be only one division below us. If 3-0 was a flattering score, it was flattering to Carlisle. Of the four pre-season games it has actually been Shelbourne who have caused us the most bother – and that was mainly because they concentrated on kicking lumps out of us.
I am not a superstitious type so I have no qualms in tempting fate by saying I think we really are looking close to a canny side. Most areas of the pitch we are looking as strong or stronger than two years ago when we started a season in which we were to finish comfortably ahead of Wigan and miles ahead of West Ham to clinch the title and promotion. With Quinn having a few bob in his pocket, why not start thinking we might make it again this time (and let’s not start worrying about what happens after that).
I assume, other than injuries, that this is now close to our first team. Is Quinny looking for a goaly? Surely just as cover for Alnwick. The lad is doing well and has slotted in to command his box and marshal his defence with a lot more maturity than one might expect from his age. Thank god he doesn’t have schoolyard bully Breen to contend with. He didn’t really have a lot to do in this game but everything he did, he did well.
At right back, there was no sign of Wright. Please don’t tell me he is injured again. He is not as big a waste of £3m as Piper but if he is injured yet again, he is going to start getting into that sort of league. I know he is not everyone’s cup of tea but I think he has ability. Instead we had Nuggsy. I have tried to defend the Noz and I think it was ludicrous that he was ever asked to play in the Prem. But his pre-season performances are not inspiring. I thought he was poor today – he was one of the few (actually maybe the only one) who looked like he was playing at the same level as Carlisle.
At left back we had Collins D. I think he is going to have to go. For starters he is not very good (I appreciate that has not historically been a criteria we have bothered with at SAFC but now seems a good time to start). However, his shirtswapping antics last season mean he has the antipathy of the crowd from the start. Personally I’d never take out my dislike of a player during a match (to me they are Sunderland players first, last and everything – you either support Sunderland during the match or you don’t – there is no room for “I support this player cos I like him but not that one cos he is smelly”). However, inside I dislike Collins D as much as any boo-boy. Unlike his fellow shirtswapper Miller, he doesn’t have the powers of invisibility so he does get spotted on the ball. He wasn’t great at this match. Robbie Elliott came on and looked much better to me – a couple of crunching tackles and several excellent balls into the middle. Given the decimation of our left side, it seems like a low risk strategy giving him a 1 year contract.
In the centre of defence we had Caldwell and Kenny Cunningham. Good and solid they seem to me. Cunningham is no Steve Bould but he might be the Gary Breen we first had. Handled Carlisle’s attack well – including a Mickey Bridges, who sadly didn’t look like a player playing at too low a level. I feel gutted for the lad the way his career has turned out.
In central midfield we had Whitehead and Miller. Both had good games and to be honest had so much control of the park and time on the ball it was embarrassing. This of course was the reason we were so much on top. I assume this is our starting central midfield? Seems a bit harsh on Leadbitter, who came on to play on the right wing and did well (as he has all pre-season – usually in the centre). But Leadbitter will get his chance.
On the right wing we had Lawrence. Regular readers will know I am not the falling down blonde’s biggest fan (although to be fair that is mainly when people claim he is one of our few Prem players – I acknowledge that he is a canny CCC player). This is at some personal risk to myself as we regularly drink in the same Seaham boozer when I am stopping up in the North-East (I am not sure he realises like – even assuming he reads this site – which some of the players do – Hello!). However, my journalistic oath of truth, integrity and writing down the first crap that comes into my head must take precedence over worries about my safety. He did have a good game at Carlisle and put in a number of decent balls as well as being prepared to come in himself to add to the attacking options.
On the left wing we had Dan Smith. I am not sure about this lad. Certainly from what I’ve seen I can’t see him as a starter. Must be a better option to use Delap over there. I liked what we did later on when Leadbitter came on to play out right and Lawrence moved over to the left. But I’d like to see that as a ploy to vary things – rather than our Plan A. It would have been nice for Delap to get another run out on the left wing to get used to it (and the others used to having a right footed left winger).
Up front we started with Stead and Elliott. Both good players in their own right but still seem to me to be some way off being an effective partnership. Murphy was injured somebody said. In any case I’d still expect to see these two starting next Sunday.
There were about 2,000 SAFC supporters over for the match. We had the usual away end seats (under a roof – which was very useful for the soft gits in the second half when it started to rain) and us down on the terrace behind the goal, who got reminded what it was like standing on the Roker). We were kicking away from us first half. We didn’t shoot out of the blocks and I think Carlisle thought there best chance might be to score early on. This of course was Quinny’s and Sacko’s first game in charge (Sacko looks like he has been eating pies non-stop since he was last with us – what a fatto Sacko). And it showed. We looked meaner and keener. Sacko’s most famous line from Premier Passions was “get up their arses” (well sort of – there was always at least one expletive in the command). Some foolishly attempted to ridicule him for it – but as a football principle, it is not at all a bad one. Let’s hope there is lots more getting up arses this season. Long term I don’t want to see Quinny as manager (no more than he does of course) but his leadership and inspiration will be good for us in the medium term.
Despite having a fair bit of control, we had nothing to show for it until late on in the first half when Jon Stead got the ball in the left channel, an improbable distance out and unleashed a superb shot that even from that distance seemed to give the goaly no chance. I think this was another Quinny/Sacko thing – don’t use it as your only weapon, as you’ll get sussed, but be prepared to short from outside the box so that the opposition can never feel safe. Stead has now scored more goals in pre-season than he did the whole of last season!
I think that goal might have demoralised Carlisle. Certainly we seemed even more in control in the second half. We switched things around a bit. Carson got a little chance to stand between the sticks towards the end. Nuggsy seemed to get injured and got replaced by someone I’ve never heard of. Collins N came on for one of the central defender (can’t remember which one – doesn’t matter because we weren’t really defending by then). I’ve already mentioned Elliott and Leadbitter. Up front eventually we had Kyle and Brown. I know lots of people think otherwise but I still think Kyle is a useful weapon in this division. He too had a good shot on goal from outside the box – could have been converted if the rushing in player had been just a tiny bit sharper. However, I just can’t see the point of Brown. He is now effectively our fifth choice striker and we are looking to bring in at least one more (SKP?)
The two goals that made the score look realistic were both peaches. First off was Lawrence who had cut in from the left and was way outside the box when he took an airshot. With the jeers of the home crowd ringing in his ears he decided to have a second go and struck it beautifully – much to the hilarity of the travelling support behind the bulging net. Next was Leadbitter with a screamer of a free kick from the right that Robbie Elliott ran over (more good work on the training ground from Sacko methinks) and then young Grant hit as powerfully and as true as you could ever want.
Despite the second half rain, an enjoyable afternoon. 10 goals scored, none conceded, four wins. You can’t knock that as a pre-season confidence builder. More importantly we have noticeably improved in fitness, cohesion and the intelligence of our play. This game in particular, we looked ready for the challenge ahead. Bring on the Cheats.