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

[the-ecstacy-of-eight]

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

<<COUGH>>
<<COUGH>>

Savinho?

 

[Blu1]

Our squad desperate for 2 players in January

 

[citymad]

A reminder, we need to win this to keep the league in our hands. This is tougher than I thought. Teams always seem to raise their games against us. look at Forest last week compared to this week.

 

[SWPISHOME]

Is Savinho looking though. That one he twatted across the box was close to no one! Was it a shot or a cross?

His play has been good but his crossing shit.

Personally I think he's been bobbins. Laziest fucker you'll ever come across, O'Reilly is getting a tough time of it over on his side whilst Savinho is stood watching it all unfold and not helping out his mate.

Cherki the other side is getting back.and winning possession and making himself a nuisance, same can't be said for Savinho.

He's a prick.

 

[Chak19]

Also Nunes and O'Reilly are giving zero support for the wingers.

 

[Jezza11]

Had the shit kicked out of us. Can’t say much else tbh. Be nice to see Rodri and Doku get 30 mins

 

[Eaststander1]

We aren’t losing and we are well in the game

We are too slow, and lose the ball too often ..... they are aggressive and we can't get going, we need to see a big improvement in the 2nd half.

 

[Norbert D]

Until offsides are fully automated we will never know what VAR are cooking up. I’m not convinced that goal we conceded at Newcastle was less offside than our goal tonight.

 

[balotellishaircut]

If we don’t score all the shirt pulling and time wasting will continue, this is the only way to end it.

 

[Muttley59]

Just not moving the ball quick enough,, especially Nico. Dias & Ake compressing the fwd play too much meaning even less space between the fwd lines. Physicality s a problem just like forest tactics

 

[borassic]

confident we win this me

 

[Gorbachev]

Haaland going through his mid-season slump.

 

[Keepingthefaithsince1976]

Sounds fairly even on the City website commentary. BBC website making out Haaland getting pummeled into submission but if I know Erling I know that won't bother him...he only needs a sniff & he will strike.

 

[christened at st marks]

They can do what they want with these officials and they know it

 

[ninjamonkey]

Was hoping for a fast start, better than forest, certainly didnt think it could be any worse, they've proved me wrong.

Really crap. Cannot play through their rather simple press which has resulted in us just smacking it to nobody every single time and when they retreat into their defensive shape we don't look remotely likely to break through.

Too many players operating in the same space, a space where there's no room. Savinho has looked by far our best option through them but we have barely played down the left, have to use that side more.

Bernardo started to do this last 10 minutes but he has to come deeper when we are trying to play out from the keeper, he's the only one that can get us through their front press.

Only pleasing thing is we aren't behind. Need a rocket up our arses second half and find some intensity, we play like the opposition arent allowed to tackle us sometimes.

 

[Blue Calx]

Doku please.

 

[IronsideKozuch]

Tough game, very hot ground. My hope is we been quite clever here and gonna shift a gear up second half. That plus our bench could make all the difference.

Cant see a justification for Bernardo on offside goal. He has one job there and must be onside. So frustrating

 

[jollylescott]

At some stage Pep will have to bring on Doku. He's the key.

 

[Chak19]

A reminder, we need to win this to keep the league in her hands. This is tougher than I thought. Teams always seem to raise their games against us. look at Forest last week compared to this week.

No we're just too weak physically and almost every team in the league is stronger than us, it makes away games especially far tougher.

 

[DavidWhitesUnderpants]

Without a doubt the worst we've played all year so far.