Sunderland post match thread

I thoroughly enjoyed the game, thought it was fascinating to watch.

You can see why Pep wants a new keeper, it's a fundamental part of how this strategy works, neither Willy or Joe are capable of being what Pep requires.

Have to also say, hats off to AK, he played very well.
 
tolmie's hairdoo said:
I loved it.

Football with a purpose, and once the top end delivers with a final product, there will be total dominance of games.

Kudos to the lads at the back because we already look very comfortable playing it under pressure.

Stones is a Rolls Royce
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Agreed about Stones... What a quality debut.... Totally calm under pressure.. Very very impressed with him

Sterling was great too.. Amazing what an arm round his shoulder can do
 
adeinchessy said:
I been pretty critical of Kolarov & I was genuinely surprised (& disappointed) to see his name on the team sheet, but I have a lot of faith in Pep & I thought if he thinks he's good enough, I'll go along with that.

I've now got even more faith in Pep. Yes, he had less to do than he will in other games this season, but he played much better than I'm used to. Of the 3 full backs on show today he wasn't the best (I thought the other 2 did really well in their new roles) but he was far more disciplined than we're used to. Well done Aleks.

Clearly this is still work in progress for everyone, but I am very excited about the future under this innovative manager. Remember, Barcelona began his reign with a defeat & a draw. City will set the bar for other teams in the PL.
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Aw fore sure, Kolarov did much better than I thought he would but he had everything in place to allow for him to play freely which is fantastic from Pep. I was for Kolarov to be sold but I think he could be prove a decent squad utility player to fill in against weaker opposition this season and then have your Angellinos slowly integrated. I still don't want to see him starting against any decent side but he seems to have taken Peps advice on board and giving it a good go. I also feel this new fullback positioning is the best thing to happen to Raheem, his next move was almost always dependent on Kolarov, now he has the freedom to go at defenders. Pep will revolutionise City and English football as a whole.
 
Was a fascinating watch and clear to see the work that the manager and his back room staff put in The fluidity of the formation with every player clear in what their job was, a few struggled at times maybe a little ring rusty or not capable time will tell. Greatly encouraged for the future, but wasn't surprised everything I expected, we will be invincible at times. Some of the short interpassing and the way they kept the ball with the opposition chasing shadows was fantastic with Willy playing his part, well done to him. Special mention to Kolarov, my motm
 
I loved it. Well done Pep. Those who play for you and those who fight for their place will become better under you.
Clichy and Sagna must have thought they were dreaming when you told them the plan.
As for Kolorov, well done!
 
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.
 
We looked a noticeably smaller team today. At set pieces we only had Sagna and Stones who are good in the air. I'd like to see us make more short corners.

Looking at the stats we had 76% possession but only 3 shots on target. That's something to work on. It should improve with Gundogan and Sane coming into the team.
 
karen7 said:
Pep says Raheem Sterling 'played amazing', labelled him a 'fighter' and wants to unlock the 'real Sterling'.
Pep: "In the second half we played really, really well. We made good build-ups, with Kolarov, Fernandinho and Sagna."
Pep: "Maybe we should attack quicker but that is normal. We have to learn. I saw many good things about the spirit of the team."
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Just got back home, and that is great to read. Thought it was brilliant today, really enjoyed the game - as a few others I've just glanced at on here, it was def clear what what we are trying to achieve. The point about attacking quicker was exactly my thought - so refreshing to read a post-match which mirrors what you've thought yourself from the stand.

Sterling looked a different player.
Thought Sagna in the second half ended up being asked a bit more than i'm sure he is capable of from an attacking creative point of view in the middle of the park.

Anyway, we are all in for a real treat this season
 
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.
 
David White said:
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.
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Totally agreed
 
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.
 
Proy said:
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.
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This!.
 
worsleyweb said:
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.
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You enjoy your new seat in family stand?
 
Dave Ewing's Back 'eader said:
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!!
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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 said:
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.
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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
 
GaudinoMotors said:
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.
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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
 
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.
 
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