The morning after.....



Aye it is. I think you can appreciate a side trying to play the game the right way and playing well, without falling back on a childish "well they got beat so they can't be that good". We scored two goals against the run of play, and our keeper was the busier of the two. Nobody would have been surprised if they'd managed an equaliser in that last ten minutes.

I don't expect us to attack and win every game 5-0, but I'd like to see us take the initiative. I keep hearing we've got the best squad in the division so if that's the case, then why not? We show moments of quality in the few goals we do score - we showed it last night. So why not apply some pressure, control games more, and put teams to the sword. I was impressed with Rochdale last night, but they were absolutely there for the taking if we had any gumption about us.

I agree with most of what you're saying and most certainly the bolded part however, at the same time i'm happy we got a result without playing well.

If we can grind out results when not playing well then the confidence will build and i feel that we will put teams to the sword a few times this season.

The players need to earn the confidence of each other and that will come with wins no matter how scrappy they are. Grinding out results after going behind or hanging on for a win shows heart, something that we've been lacking for a few seasons.
 
I’m confused, you said here that you just listened to the match:
Couldnt make it family reasons but bet i havnt missed many in 60 years
 
Yep, I go along with this. Im pleased we got another 3 points. Although TBH it didn't sound very good. But unfortunately we are in Division One. (and the standard of play will never reach the dizzy heights of the premiership prima donnas) although I sincerely hope performances improve. As long as we continue to get 3 points I can live with that under the circumstances
Nobody expects it to, but there's plenty of basic stuff we could be doing but aren't, yet allow other teams to do it to us. Luckily - because we are in this division - a lot of attacking moves against us fall at the final hurdle because the quality isn't there to finish it off.

IF you don't think a side can improve, should improve, or see where it could improve just because awwwwwwww whey ya kna we're in the third division like and we've won anyway, then you're lost as far as I can see.
I agree with most of what you're saying and most certainly the bolded part however, at the same time i'm happy we got a result without playing well.

If we can grind out results when not playing well then the confidence will build and i feel that we will put teams to the sword a few times this season.

The players need to earn the confidence of each other and that will come with wins no matter how scrappy they are. Grinding out results after going behind or hanging on for a win shows heart, something that we've been lacking for a few seasons.
Hmm - well we've been here before like...
 
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Nobody expects it to, but there's plenty of basic stuff we could be doing but aren't, yet allow other teams to do it to us. Luckily - because we are in this division - a lot of attacking moves against us fall at the final hurdle because the quality isn't there to finish it off.

IF you don't think a side can improve, should improve, or see where it could improve just because awwwwwwww whey ya kna we're in the third division like and we've won anyway, then you're lost as far as I can see.
Unfortunately a few seem to.
 
It would seem that a lot of folk on here appear to be glossing over or ignoring the performance last night again... Just have a read through the Rochdale V Sunderland thread, it might enlighten you or listen again to the match commentary. Most, I think, will find it another poor performance and that we were lucky to get away with it, again.. Other than against Portsmouth we have never looked comfortable for months now. last nights results also showed just how bad Portmouth really are.. Reality check needed imo.
 
Unfortunately a few seem to.
I don't think they do actually. All too often over this past year or so we've seen teams create more chances against us than we do against them, and it's frustrating. Sheffield United played well in this division. Luton Town played well in this division. So why can't we? Too many are cuddling League 1 and taking comfort in the notion that it's shit anyway so it's ok if we're shit too. And I'm sorry like, but we're Sunderland Football Club, we should be better than that.
 
It would seem that a lot of folk on here appear to be glossing over or ignoring the performance last night again... Just have a read through the Rochdale V Sunderland thread, it might enlighten you or listen again to the match commentary. Most, I think, will find it another poor performance and that we were lucky to get away with it, again.. Other than against Portsmouth we have never looked comfortable for months now. last nights results also showed just how bad Portmouth really are.. Reality check needed imo.

Do you really think that mate, I've seen no one do that.

Being pleased to scrape a win doesn't make people unrealistic.
 
Bit of a naive way of looking at things.

I'd be very worried about the next season, as I'd fear we wouldn't have enough to take the game to better sides.

They deserve plenty credit, but I think they were there for the taking mind.


Your second point is important. I was philosophical about not getting promoted last season with a team clearly not ready for the Championship... we need to have a team populated with players and with a style of playing that can hit the ground running with 3or 4 quality additions. Anything less means we will probably struggle.
People can ‘expect’ all they like but this is a third division team with third division players. There is not a lot between the players in any team which is highlighted by the value they are transferred for.
It’s looking like it’s going to be a grind ... I think it was for Luton and Barnsley but we need a good quality unit at the end of it, a team that can step up
 
It's League One. We haven't spent millions due to financial constraints and are doing the best we can with the players we have. We ground it out at an away match against a reasonable team and came home with all three points. What more do you want considering the circumstances?
Not to get totally outplayed for the vast majority of a game by Rochdale? I'm over the moon with the win but we won't get away with playing like that regularly. People seem to be falling into same trap as last season expecting us to suddenly morph into a good side as the season goes on.
 
Do you really think that mate, I've seen no one do that.

Being pleased to scrape a win doesn't make people unrealistic.
Thats what I''ve been reading marra. A good few still glossing over poor performances but we will see.. I've not seen anything that would have me putting money on the lads to win promotion.
 
I know its easy to criticise the standard of our play however I thought Rochdale were very good. They wanted to play football didn't panic on the ball and had some technically good players. Maybe people need to start giving the opposition some credit..
Totally agree but do you really think they have a much better technical squad than us or is it the managers style of play and instructions? Last night Mclaughlin never once even attempted to give the ball to one of our defenders, it was a lump forward to Wyke every time. Now that must be a tactical call from Ross otherwise he would be going mental at him to try and give it short.
 
It's a lovely thought that we should be building a team for next season in the Championship.

But, as we all know, spending money only to fail to go up would be a financial disaster.

I'm resigned to scraping our way up, clinging on and using the increased revenue to rebuild again.

It's not exciting but it's realistic.
 
Thats what I''ve been reading marra. A good few still glossing over poor performances but we will see.. I've not seen anything that would have me putting money on the lads to win promotion.

People are just pleased we've won and not following up with the obvious shortcomings.

It's a long season and we have to make the most of the good bits.
 
Not to get totally outplayed for the vast majority of a game by Rochdale? I'm over the moon with the win but we won't get away with playing like that regularly. People seem to be falling into same trap as last season expecting us to suddenly morph into a good side as the season goes on.
That's where I am.
I get what you're saying but maybe what didn't happen last season might happen this time? Fuck all we can do about it either way! :lol:
 
Th
It's League One. We haven't spent millions due to financial constraints and are doing the best we can with the players we have. We ground it out at an away match against a reasonable team and came home with all three points. What more do you want considering the circumstances?
That sort of logic will get you nowhere with some on here. I think the board has never been so divided in all of the time I’ve been on here, the disparity around where we perceive our current position whether that be financial, quality etc is palpable - we are a proud club with an enviable fan base & infrastructure but that said are in div 3 amd making our way back nowhere near as quickly as the “entitlement brigade” thinks we should with a team predominantly made up of div 3 players most of whom will perform to their optimum 6/10 times and maybe less but a win is a win & we should move on - the ongoing Ross debate is a major embarrassment in the way it’s being played out & is more akin to those up the road.....
 

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