Match Thread | Sunderland vs. Manchester City (01/01/26)

[bellsouth]

They are so athletic, when attacking the whole team gets up in support - whilst we’re struggling to get numbers forward. Hopefully they’ll tire a bit

 

[Tricky_Trev]

Sunderland have been comfortably the better team. We just don’t look right. Players are not helping each other with off ball movements, some look a bit disinterested and others just look frustrated. Needs to be some good half time adjustments otherwise we aren’t winning this. We have nothing in the tank.

 

[.db.]

Any controlled possession we’ve had has been mind numbingly slow. Nico, especially, taking an age to even decide to make a simple pass at times.
Sunderland have been more than happy to sit and watch us do nowt.

Whenever we’ve sped it up, we’ve given the ball away (and that’s been a huge trend this season). Some of our passing, especially into Haaland, has been terrible. Our crossing has been even worse than our general passing.

Haaland should have scored from that chance but that’s the only chance we’ve created and to be fair to him the ball to him was bouncing awkwardly.

Sunderland look a lot more dangerous than us.

Our midfield is far too passive defensively.

A wasted half of football... but most of both first halves at Palace and Forest recently were poor halves from us and we won both games.

 

[brummie blue]

Think Savinho has been one of the only bright sparks so far but it’s painful watching him run to the byline and aimlessly cross over and over again

No doubt he's got speed and skill, but game after game the final ball or finish is non-existent.

 

[HypnoticBlue]

Give us a free kick and don’t allow us cross it, bent cünt.

 

[Chak19]

Only positive is that it's still scoreless.

 

[Blue Calx]

Pitch is heavy. Legs are heavy and a dogs of war team snapping into City.
Time to earn your wonga Pep.

 

[youngbob]

We need width on at least one side to stop it being congested in the middle. Having 0 width isn't a good tactic

O'Reilly and Nunes then.

 

[M Gaudino]

can someone explain that Hume kid’s Gen z haircut. high bowl thing with an undercut and a shit tache. just fucking comical.

 

[minimalistic]

Let’s hope Pep sorts this out at half time.

 

[Blu1]

Sav has been our most direct threat. He's the only one not playing at walking pace.

Agree but he has zero end product so all a bit counter productive. I think reijnders could offer more central

 

[TFC]

Everything I expected from Sunderland, honestly not what I expected from City. Need to move up several gears second half

 

[King Jay]

I just realized the atletico Madrid from years ago would beat us 10/10 times with the amount of running they did on counters or defending.

 

[wolviedinho]

Already are

We need better ball players or go bit more physical ourselves. The physicality change in league should have no impact on us if we have better players. Only shows when we are struggling.

Not the best half.

 

[Gesario]

That’s most premiership teams

Against us

 

[Gobshiight]

Feels just like the Forest game

 

[Goater=Legend]

Wasn't exactly a great first half. Big improvement needed upfront especially the movement.

 

[stan bowles]

He gets caught with ball and runs into players. No different to what silva is doing now. Direct swap maybe.

He's in good scoring form atm though. Does Cherki need to move inside ?

 

[pee dubya]

Quite enjoyed that so far...

They've gone early, turned it into a proper physical battle. We've stood up to it so far. As long as we don't do anything daft, should put them away once they begin to tire.

 

[eastmanc]

Cherki has done fuck all

Take a look at other players as well. At least Cherki is likely to produce Savio not so much.