Transfer Rumour Matty James (9 Viewers)

[fernandopartridge]

In seriousness, I do agree with you here. Midfield is however the most important part of the pitch and ultimately, we’re still praying for Ben Sheaf to stay fit. That being the case is because we insisted on the perfect target at the expense of good ones.

Pretty much any team at this level would miss a player like Sheaf if he's injured, I don't understand this idea that you have perfect cover for your best players. It's unrealistic.

 

---

[Perennial Lurker]

Pretty much any team at this level would miss a player like Sheaf if he's injured, I don't understand this idea that you have perfect cover for your best players. It's unrealistic.

This is just it .
And when we do sign extra players we get the opposite argument . Why have we signed EMC when we've got Wright ? Bassette when we've got Simms ?

Some just like a moan

 

[KenilworthSkyBlue]

In seriousness, I do agree with you here. Midfield is however the most important part of the pitch and ultimately, we’re still praying for Ben Sheaf to stay fit. That being the case is because we insisted on the perfect target at the expense of good ones.

It is but categorically I refuse to believe it's the core of our issues.

Most players on the pitch have been dreadful thus far and that won't just be solved by Sheaf coming straight back into the side.

Collectively everyone needs to take it up a notch and the coaching staff desperately need to get their message/tactics across better as the whole team looks lost, disjointed and unaware of what system/style they're being instructed to play.

 

[Cov4life]

There's been a fixation since transfer deadline day about our midfield. Yes we're certainly a player light but to suggest everything that has happened this season so far as regards results and performances is because we didn't sign anyone is a bit of a stretch.
Strikers not firing yet or showing enough movement, defensive mistakes and deflections have contributed just as much , if not more .
Performances have been up and down but the world hasn't gone into meltdown because we didn't sign another midfielder

It’s the most important area on the pitch.

The midfield aren’t getting the ball into the forwards, not sure what you’ve been watching but there’s zero service. Our defence don’t have the confidence to give the ball to the midfield, an example of this is when they gave Torp the ball against Norwich and he lost it straight away, almost conceding a goal.

It’s incomprehensible that this wasn’t addressed in the summer.

I don’t blame DK for it though, he’s provided the funds.

If you were DK, would you trust them to recruit with another 20 million?

 

[KenilworthSkyBlue]

It’s the most important area on the pitch.

The midfield aren’t getting the ball into the forwards, not sure what you’ve been watching but there’s zero service. Our defence don’t have the confidence to give the ball to the midfield, an example of this is when they gave Torp the ball against Norwich and he lost it straight away, almost conceding a goal.

It’s incomprehensible that this wasn’t addressed in the summer.

I don’t blame DK for it though, he’s provided the funds.

If you were DK, would you trust them to recruit with another 20 million?

I'm sorry but this is utter garbage and myth peddling at its finest.

Other than vs Oxford the forwards have been as bad if not worse than the midfield.

 

[Evo1883]

I'm sorry but this is utter garbage and myth peddling at its finest.

Yes we have the 8th highest XG the forwards are getting the ball but we are also conceding pretty low quality goals

 

[skybluecam]

Desperately short is just 5 senior midfielders for 3 spots. However will we manage.

You're always going to want 4 midfielders in the matchday squad at a bare minimum. 3 starting, 1 sub. Preferably 5 to give you two alternatives and the option to change 2.

So yeah, 5 is desperately short. Especially when Allen is not good enough to be starting week in week out.

 

[KenilworthSkyBlue]

Yes we have the 8th highest XG the forwards are getting the ball but we are also conceding pretty low quality goals

I've not said anything to the contrary. It's clear the midfield is an issue as we're getting cut through like a hot knife through butter.

But the suggestion that it's the root to all our evils is a total nonsense.

As mentioned, most players have been well below the level and that's putting it kindly.

 

[Cov4life]

I'm sorry but this is utter garbage and myth peddling at its finest.

Other than vs Oxford the forwards have been as bad if not worse than the midfield.

Anyone that doesn’t agree with your point of view is talking ‘utter garbage’?

You haven’t got a clue about football mate, let’s be honest

How many times did simms touch the ball against Norwich? How many times did the ball get played to him apart from that chance in the first half?

 

[KenilworthSkyBlue]

Anyone that doesn’t agree with your point of view is talking ‘utter garbage’?

You haven’t got a clue about football mate, let’s be honest

How many times did simms touch the ball against Norwich? How many times did the ball get played to him apart from that chance in the first half?

Apart from the chances he either should've scored or done better with - when he was through one-on-one and used the wrong foot, the header from Bidwell's cross and his shot at the near post following Torp's deflected cross?

Maybe go to games before spouting further drivel.

 

[mmttww]

It's either a lie or just incompetence.

because writing an essay is the same as negotiating a €4 transfer. A weird take even for this place.

 

[Sky Blue Goblin]

I've not said anything to the contrary. It's clear the midfield is an issue as we're getting cut through like a hot knife through butter.

But the suggestion that it's the root to all our evils is a total nonsense.

As mentioned, most players have been well below the level and that's putting it kindly.

Wonder though if this is where we need to use what we have better. If we’re missing some defensive bite in midfield. Throw Joel into the DM role and ask him to play short passes and act as a CB when binks or Thomas go further up the pitch

 

[Cov4life]

Apart from the chances he either should've scored or done better with - when he was through one-on-one and used the wrong foot, the header from Bidwell's cross and his shot at the near post following Torp's deflected cross?

Maybe go to games before spouting further drivel.

Like I said the 1v1 was a chance, I’ll give you bidwells cross, Torps was a lucky ricochet

Kenilworth Keyboard warrior

 

[SlowerThanPlatt]

Wonder though if this is where we need to use what we have better. If we’re missing some defensive bite in midfield. Throw Joel into the DM role and ask him to play short passes and act as a CB when binks or Thomas go further up the pitch

Latibeaudiere is not a solution to any of our problems

 

[Brighton Sky Blue]

Pretty much any team at this level would miss a player like Sheaf if he's injured, I don't understand this idea that you have perfect cover for your best players. It's unrealistic.

It is but categorically I refuse to believe it's the core of our issues.

Most players on the pitch have been dreadful thus far and that won't just be solved by Sheaf coming straight back into the side.

Collectively everyone needs to take it up a notch and the coaching staff desperately need to get their message/tactics across better as the whole team looks lost, disjointed and unaware of what system/style they're being instructed to play.

I didn’t say it was, I’ve written plenty of times that there are problems all over the pitch. The biggest unifying issue is what’s in your last sentence with the clunky, disjointed performances.

Snubbing Browne was a critical error regardless.

 

[skybluecam]

Yes we have the 8th highest XG the forwards are getting the ball but we are also conceding pretty low quality goals

because we created 3xg vs Oxford (who are shite) which skews the stats.

 

[KenilworthSkyBlue]

Wonder though if this is where we need to use what we have better. If we’re missing some defensive bite in midfield. Throw Joel into the DM role and ask him to play short passes and act as a CB when binks or Thomas go further up the pitch

No thank you we don't want Latibeaudiere on the ball more than necessary.

It's frightening enough when he receives the ball as it is let alone in a position where he has to do something meaningful with it.

 

[fernandopartridge]

Snubbing Browne was a critical error regardless.

Not sure you can say that after 4 games. One other player does not necessarily mean the performance levels of others improves.

 

[Sky Blue Goblin]

No thank you we don't want Latibeaudiere on the ball more than necessary.

It's frightening enough when he receives the ball as it is let alone in a position where he has to do something meaningful with it.

To be fair he’s going to be safer as a DM with two centre backs behind plus his pass stats are decent so far. Don’t see the risk in playing him there and be playing a defensive midfielder there we can allow our top 8s to push on?

Again wouldn’t want him to play a sheaf role but we’re crying out for a ball winner in midfield, let him do the dark work and quickly shift to better users

 

[Brighton Sky Blue]

Not sure you can say that after 4 games. One other player does not necessarily mean the performance levels of others improves.

Sure, but one other thing clearly lacking in this group is some leadership which is something else he’d bring to the table.

The main impression I can’t shake is we have a defensively minded manager in charge of a group that’s imbalanced in favour of attack minded players. Maybe that’s something contributing to the janky displays as well as the coaching overhaul.

 

[KenilworthSkyBlue]

To be fair he’s going to be safer as a DM with two centre backs behind plus his pass stats are decent so far. Don’t see the risk in playing him there and be playing a defensive midfielder there we can allow our top 8s to push on?

Again wouldn’t want him to play a sheaf role but we’re crying out for a ball winner in midfield, let him do the dark work and quickly shift to better users
View attachment 38446

Just as a caveat to the above. I'd wager the vast majority of these 'successful' passes will be short / simple passes while probably not under much pressure, if any at all - i.e. to Binks or MVE or back to Dovin or forward to a midfielder if they came short.

As such I wouldn't take much from these stats. CDM is a completely different mountain to climb.

 

[Evo1883]

because we created 3xg vs Oxford (who are shite) which skews the stats.

Ah shit won't count that one then my bad

 

[KenilworthSkyBlue]

I didn’t say it was, I’ve written plenty of times that there are problems all over the pitch. The biggest unifying issue is what’s in your last sentence with the clunky, disjointed performances.

Snubbing Browne was a critical error regardless.

Again wouldn't call it an error, it's more highly unfortunate. Clearly the club thought they'd got Stamenic over the line and it didn't happen and by that point Browne would've been speaking to other parties.

I do agree someone of his mould is needed right now though.

 

[Brighton Sky Blue]

Again wouldn't call it an error, it's more highly unfortunate. Clearly the club thought they'd got Stamenic over the line and it didn't happen and by that point Browne would've been speaking to other parties.

I do agree someone of his mould is needed right now though.

Truth is we needed both anyway as unfortunately Allen just isn’t up to it in that part of the pitch. Get both and you’re laughing, one and you’re happy, neither and we’re banking on the fitness of 3 players, two of whom are injury prone.

Our best bet is probably to use Rudoni as an 8, which is where he seems more comfortable anyway.

 

[KenilworthSkyBlue]

Like I said the 1v1 was a chance, I’ll give you bidwells cross, Torps was a lucky ricochet

Kenilworth Keyboard warrior

He should've scored the first two, or at the very least both should've tested the keeper.

The chance from Torp's cross was difficult granted but he was so slow to the ball and hit it straight at their GK rather than trying to guide it past him. A striker of his supposed level should've done better.

 

[fernandopartridge]

Ah shit won't count that one then my bad

Of Sunderland's 6.1 xG, 5.3 have come from teams below us in the table. Wipe them all off if you ask me.

 

[Brighton Sky Blue]

He should've scored the first two, or at the very least both should've tested the keeper.

The chance from Torp's cross was difficult granted but he was so slow to the ball and hit it straight at their GK rather than trying to guide it past him. A striker of his supposed level should've done better.

It’s safe to say he’s started the season out of sorts, probably psychological as always seems to be with him.

 

[fernandopartridge]

It’s safe to say he’s started the season out of sorts, probably psychological as always seems to be with him.

He didn't end last season well, he hasn't scored since Wembley. I'm not sure if it's instruction but he just isn't getting involved in the game enough. I think perhaps the roles of the front 3 are a bit rigid at times, Simms stays dead central when if he moves out into the channels he could create space for others.

 

[Evo1883]

Of Sunderland's 6.1 xG, 5.3 have come from teams below us in the table. Wipe them all off if you ask me.

Absolutely

 

[skybluecam]

Ah shit won't count that one then my bad

Our median xg is 0.9, which ain't great

 

[Evo1883]

Our median xg is 0.9, which ain't great

We had a 1.14 against Norwich and they had a 0.4 xg and we lost 1-0

They scored from a deflection which goes along with when I said we are conceding poor goals , we also conceded a deflection against Oxford at home , we also should have had a goal against disallowed against brizzle

 

[KenilworthSkyBlue]

Truth is we needed both anyway as unfortunately Allen just isn’t up to it in that part of the pitch. Get both and you’re laughing, one and you’re happy, neither and we’re banking on the fitness of 3 players, two of whom are injury prone.

Our best bet is probably to use Rudoni as an 8, which is where he seems more comfortable anyway.

Don't disagree at all. In the role he's being asked to play Allen looks like a year 7 playing against year 11s. He looks completely out of his depth and doesn't have Sheaf or Hamer around him to do the hard work.

Agreed, Rudoni should probably be deployed as an 8.

 

[Cov4life]

He should've scored the first two, or at the very least both should've tested the keeper.

The chance from Torp's cross was difficult granted but he was so slow to the ball and hit it straight at their GK rather than trying to guide it past him. A striker of his supposed level should've done better.

I agree, it really isn’t good enough to not be hitting the target. I have my doubts with him, it really does seem like it takes him a while to get going. I can’t see him being here next season.

 

[Sky Blue Goblin]

Just as a caveat to the above. I'd wager the vast majority of these 'successful' passes will be short / simple passes while probably not under much pressure, if any at all - i.e. to Binks or MVE or back to Dovin or forward to a midfielder if they came short.

As such I wouldn't take much from these stats. CDM is a completely different mountain to climb.

Completely agree that the majority of them would be safe passes but with how much Jack came back when he’s not in the ten role, feel he would have options for safe passes.

Don’t want him for his passing in there just think he could offer a defensive option which would allow us to play Torp or Eccles with Jack higher. Also means you can get Bobby behind him which I think helps us defensively.

 

[fernandopartridge]

Just as a caveat to the above. I'd wager the vast majority of these 'successful' passes will be short / simple passes while probably not under much pressure, if any at all - i.e. to Binks or MVE or back to Dovin or forward to a midfielder if they came short.

As such I wouldn't take much from these stats. CDM is a completely different mountain to climb.

He needs about 3 touches even to get the ball under reasonable control at centre half. He would be a disaster in midfield.