Speakman interview on SAFC


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When we play well and the fans are entertained - ‘that’s the identity we want and what we’re working towards’.

No f***ing shit, seems an easy line that one :lol::lol:
What you describe is a 442 . Which is obsolete. Look at the clubs heroes as well . Carter , Shackleton, Hughes , Rowell , Quinn , Phillips , Montgomery, Hurley, Watson , Defoe and lots of others all had quality in abundance. Provide a team of quality and we as a fan base won’t crave a tough tackling cult hero
Remind me what Leicester were playing when they won the league?

If you have the players that fit the style of play that you want to implement then the formation is secondary. The players have to be quality though that’s the main thing here.
 
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What ever ljs reputation is, it isn't on the line here. Were well known for being a basket case club from top to bottom. Check out this thread for example.

Maybe speakmans is in this capacity but again I wouldn't be sure.

They seriously need to understand the fan base and either learn to manage or grow very thick skin. The manner in which a long term plan should be created will be at odds with many on here at many points.

As to if they're any good or not, I dont know as I haven't seen anything to go on yet, only very generic speech and no specifics. Add into the fact that it appears a little disjointed to me in that they're offering mcgeady a new deal whilst wanting to play an urgent high block.

I think they have been brave in the retained list but it could be for a lot of different reasons. Could be they are confident in that they can implement things very quickly, could be a massive switch to academy orientated or it could be cost reduction.

Sure to be an interesting summer.


Given the spectacular collapse at the end of the season Johnson in particular has a lot to prove.

The January transfer window was a disaster, however you could argue they were recently in post.

Dont disagree its going to be an interesting summer. They need to get it right. A fifth season in Div 3 would disilusion many and it will be very hard for the club to come back.
 
It’s the most important IMO. If we use the idea that it’s emerges naturally over time, as per what has been claimed about United, I don’t think we’re going to get a very encouraging answer:lol:

Truth is we need to define it for ourselves and then work towards it. I go back to the Poyet example. People fondly remember the Poyet times because there’s a neat gif that shows a moment when it was at its best. Long term, would ultra possession football get on the collective tits of the fan base? My guess is yeah. We need to set a playing style that gets the crowd going more often than not. Do that and we might actually be known for something other than 70 years of mostly failure.

When so many of the very best players are London lads these days I think we’d be cutting our noses off to spite our face. Personally I reckon we should be trying to get some more players in who’ve come out of big cities. It brings with it an attitude that works well. Agree with the other bits though.
Closest to what I think suits Sunderland is Reid 1998-2001. High intensity, taking the game to teams from the first minute, a team that harries and presses with a few flair players who can do something special. Johnston, Phillips, Arca, etc were examples from that era.

It was sort of mirrored in the first 45 against Lincoln. The energy and attitude felt very much like a Reid 98-99 team, and then we had that little bit of magic from McGeady for the goals.

We couldn’t replicate it second half but it’s encouraging to see both Johnson and Speakman say they recognize it got us going and that we want to use that as the baseline,

We shall see.
If you’re thinking Scowen going and McGeady being offered a new contract then I’d be inclined to agree.

I guess it depends how they see McGeady. Perhaps he’ll be a bit part player from the bench on greatly reduced wages. An option in games in which the press is ineffective. Perhaps the offer is largely to placate the fans.
That’s got to be the case. Either they realize he offers something no one else in this league can and will win games single handed on his day. Or it’s a PR move.

I hope it’s the first because there will be teams who we can’t play high pressure against and you will need something different to unpick the lock. He’s settled and at an age where he may be willing to take a lower wage to keep playing.
 
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Think it's important to note that just because they're (sensibly) looking towards the long term structure of the club, it doesn't mean they aren't targeting short term success. Speakman is well aware that we need to be going up next season and that anything less than that would be considered a failure. Some of the talk of identity etc does sound a bit fluffy mind (I'm sure every single set of fans in the land want pretty much the same thing), but if it leads to all levels playing a similar style and an easier pathway to the first team then it's all good.
 
When we play well and the fans are entertained - ‘that’s the identity we want and what we’re working towards’.

No f***ing shit, seems an easy line that one :lol::lol:
Quite. Playing to the gallery, I think, and I don't buy that stuff about a 'Sunderland style' of play
But he speaks well and I just hope that we have a strong plan in place.
 
its vry productive..it produced gooch and diamind who played for us..nd embelrton who won promotion with blakcpool..you wotn get a better performing on than that at this level..
Diamond hardly played. Gooch came through the setup yonks ago and Embleton was hardly used and helped another club get promoted for goodness sake. I mean yeah, quality.
You never make mistakes mate? Must be nice.
 
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You are getting bogged down in numbers. Formations aren’t rigid man. FIFA and FM has a lot to answer for.

Line up in a 442 but ask your fullbacks to push on and a midfield to drop and you’ve got a 352. It’s fluid. Have a look at average positional data and there’s very little uniformity in any shape or pattern of play.

And if you think we can attract the ilk of players you mention in League One? The league cries out for pace, power and physicality in terms of individuality. Team wise it’s simple football played at tempo while counter attack and error exploitation are primary attacking avenues.

We’ve had individuals, the sum of our individuals wasn’t enough to be the team ethos of League One.

We aren’t preparing a playing identity that is the finished article this summer, we are creating a solid framework to start the journey. Creating a tactically aware team of 7/10ers not relying on single point of risk players in the ilk of McGeady.
My point around the players was in response to cult heroes and the difficult job that Speakman has . I don’t think we need frameworks , or a playing identity . In fact we won’t be able to attract the level of player we need . We do need pace and physicality though I agree and a team of 7/10ers. I don’t think the management need to over complicate it
 
Does anybody know how much it costs to run a woman's team ?

Roughly 1/100th of a men’s side. And that’s if you’re a brilliant one.
When we play well and the fans are entertained - ‘that’s the identity we want and what we’re working towards’.

No f***ing shit, seems an easy line that one :lol::lol:

Remind me what Leicester were playing when they won the league?

If you have the players that fit the style of play that you want to implement then the formation is secondary. The players have to be quality though that’s the main thing here.

Leicester - deep block because Huth and Morgan couldn’t run. Supplemented that with Fuchs and Simpson after the first five games.

Their midfield had Kante who’s a once in a generation talent and Vardy up front who’s a dying breed. Okazaki often dropped into midfield as fell as Albrighton meaning you had more of a 4-4-1-1 at least.

No team plays 4-4-2 in the traditional sense. At least they haven’t done since Cantona and Bergkamp became popular in the mid 90’s...
Roughly 1/100th of a men’s side. And that’s if you’re a brilliant one.


Leicester - deep block because Huth and Morgan couldn’t run. Supplemented that with Fuchs and Simpson after the first five games.

Their midfield had Kante who’s a once in a generation talent and Vardy up front who’s a dying breed. Okazaki often dropped into midfield as well as Albrighton meaning you had more of a 4-4-1-1 at least.

No team plays 4-4-2 in the traditional sense. At least they haven’t done since Cantona and Bergkamp became popular in the mid 90’s...
 
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Roughly 1/100th of a men’s side. And that’s if you’re a brilliant one.


Leicester - deep block because Huth and Morgan couldn’t run. Supplemented that with Fuchs and Simpson after the first five games.

Their midfield had Kante who’s a once in a generation talent and Vardy up front who’s a dying breed. Okazaki often dropped into midfield as fell as Albrighton meaning you had more of a 4-4-1-1 at least.

No team plays 4-4-2 in the traditional sense. At least they haven’t done since Cantona and Bergkamp became popular in the mid 90’s...
We played one against Lincoln to be fair. Seemed a bit mental but almost worked.
 
He basically talked sense.
Sorry, but basically talked a load of pap that everybody wanted to here and if I am being honest have heard numerous times over the last several years.
The only time I will be convinced is by finishing in the top two at the end of next season, failing that there will be some excuse that it is part of the clubs long term strategy. (must be one of my cynical days, I seem to have them so often where Sunderland are concerned, cannot imagine why).
 
Sorry, but basically talked a load of pap that everybody wanted to here and if I am being honest have heard numerous times over the last several years.
The only time I will be convinced is by finishing in the top two at the end of next season, failing that there will be some excuse that it is part of the clubs long term strategy. (must be one of my cynical days, I seem to have them so often where Sunderland are concerned, cannot imagine why).
So it’s his fault.
 
No Donald just hanging around waiting around waiting for his pay off like you.
shit someone better tell KLD as KLD has him part of the onwerhsipgroup..and what pay off? club is losing a f***ing fortune every day the doors are opne..owners will e putting cash in not taking it out for a long time...if SD doesnt put it in...his shareholding will dilute and the "pay off"you fantasisits have him in for will diminsih to zero.
 
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