Sunderland post match thread

[David White]

Really enjoyed that. Bollocks to the negative media twats, empty seat brigade and people that haven't watched the game who pass comment. Whilst we weren't razor sharp, we played some wonderful stuff at times with some great passing and moving deep in midfield. Yes, we conceded a sloppy goal but this system is totally different to anything we've seen before at city, that goes for the players too. It isn't going to happen overnight.

More positives - Kolarov looked very decent and has obviously been listening. Sterling looked full of energy and wanted to make things happen. Silva was excellent and stones looks promising. Fern was as assured and consistent as ever.

When this clicks were gonna smash the living shit out of everyone.

 

[pete1970]

Really enjoyed that. Bollocks to the negative media twats, empty seat brigade and people that haven't watched the game who pass comment. Whilst we weren't razor sharp, we played some wonderful stuff at times with some great passing and moving deep in midfield. Yes, we conceded a sloppy goal but this system is totally different to anything we've seen before at city, that goes for the players too. It isn't going to happen overnight.

More positives - Kolarov looked very decent and has obviously been listening. Sterling looked full of energy and wanted to make things happen. Silva was excellent and stones looks promising. Fern was as assured and consistent as ever.

When this clicks were gonna smash the living shit out of everyone.

Totally agreed

 

[East Level 2]

I think it's hard to sum up that game in a simple way.
"Those who expected too much" yeah, we've spent a load, Sunderland just escaped the drop and are crap and we beat them 4-1 in the corresponding game last season under Pellers.
But Pep's got a lot of top players testing new formations and tactics. Had he picked a "sensible team" they'd have walked it, but he's trying to build something special. Sunderland was a good team to try things against as even an experimental City side should be able to get the points - and we did.
Doom and gloom merchants and the fucking happy clappy brigade are as bad as each other after a narrow win, and in any case we don't really know what to expect until we've seen the rest of our new signings. Of the two today; Nolito worked hard and looked OK while Stones was excellent.
And it was good to see Sterling looking better and Navas getting a couple of crosses in.
As for the evil empty seats; I didn't see many in the proper bits but some of the corporates were empty and it didn't look like Sunderland sold out.
The atmosphere was good early on but faded, however it's hardly surprising as the ground design has a big overhang between the first and second tiers and a huge silent "premium" section between first and third tiers at the southern ends of the Colin Bell and East stands.
Get at least a draw midweek then see what Pep makes of Sjoke next Saturday.

 

[wayneg1983]

So much to be positive about. I actually thought we implicated the system pretty well. If anything it was our passing that was off. I counted 5-6 10 yard passes going astray. That's just sharpness and will come.

To be fair to Sunderland they pressed higher than I expected but that gave us good control in the centre of the pitch. We were lacking a little in the final 3rd but again that will come.

Stones and Sterling were excellent. Kolarov was also decent.

For those who question whether we looked any different today. Take yourself back to last season and think about what would have happened with only dinho in the middle of the park. No Fernando. No Delph. No Toure.

I'll tell you, we'd have been over run. I've never seen us control the midfield like that before with the personnel we had. That is the system that allows us to do it. The only thing I'd question is that with all the attackers we had we didn't create as much as we probably should have.

We were also solid defensively, again I haven't seen that since Bobby went and is a beneficiary of how we set up, meaning we were winning the ball back in the midfield.

Overall very happy. Throw Gundogan in the mix with Sane and a better goalkeeper, and we are in for a treat.

This!.

 

[Rammy Blue]

Can someone explain to me what is so good in life that it is necessary to leave a game you have looked forward to for months on the 80th minute. (Especially when it is still a draw?) I absolutely do not get it?

Walked out and some goon was moaning that was rubbish!! I despair.

You enjoy your new seat in family stand?

 

[bondsman]

The centre back pairing, apart from the goal(!), were very solid.

Nice touch that Paddy McRag gives us the oggy oggy oggy on his debut!!

Is that maybe the issue mate? We need to be solid for 90 especially against better opposition. Kolorov did okay today, it was poor defending all round for the goal. No way will pep move forward with that CB pairing.

 

[David White]

Totally agreed

It's fascinating. The biggest change to our playing style possibly in our clubs history.

 

[meeesh]

Really enjoyed that. Bollocks to the negative media twats, empty seat brigade and people that haven't watched the game who pass comment. Whilst we weren't razor sharp, we played some wonderful stuff at times with some great passing and moving deep in midfield. Yes, we conceded a sloppy goal but this system is totally different to anything we've seen before at city, that goes for the players too. It isn't going to happen overnight.

More positives - Kolarov looked very decent and has obviously been listening. Sterling looked full of energy and wanted to make things happen. Silva was excellent and stones looks promising. Fern was as assured and consistent as ever.

When this clicks were gonna smash the living shit out of everyone.

I agree as well,however if today's performance (at times,may I add) is against better opposition we will get the living shit smashed out of us as well

 

[squirtyflower]

Wow just in from the match and all the negativity.
Thought it was fascinating, the interchanging of players and the increased work rate. On another day we would have had a couple more but to be fair Sunderland defended well.
Rome wasn't built in a day and all that, but the building work is a lot more advanced than I thought oit would be.
Pep's influence and interaction throughout the match is part of what we've been missing.

would be my summation too
I found it really absorbing, watching the movement of the defenders to open up the opposition, shame Serge wasn't more in tune

 

[BobKowalski]

Structure, organisation, players knowing their jobs and sticking to it. The interchange and fluidity was fascinating to watch at times. We are still a bit undercooked but pleasently surprised how quickly we seem to be adapting to life under Pep. AK man of the match with Sterling a close second. Good workout and a solid start to the season.