Sunderlands Goal

[mickfinn]

Stop the cross. Can't blame Given

 

[HongKongBluey]

Richards should have stopped Malbranque 10 meters before the cross came, he just continued to back off and give him space.

Some people are saying that Zabs jumped in, but what else was he supposed to do? Richards was not closing him down, someone had to attempt to put a foot in and stop him.

 

[kippaxwarrior]

Given changed his boots shortly after the goal, he looked as if he couldn't shift his body to go for the header.

He was trying to change them for about 5 minutes be for the goal
But you cant blame him,he had no chance

 

[dw7]

Anyone think that Given should of done better ?

yes

 

[bluemoon1078]

50/50 Zab and Micah at fault

 

[DontLookBackInAnger]

all the players seemed to be pissed off with Zab, Bellamy had a real go at him.

 

[kippaxwarrior]

all the players seemed to be pissed off with Zab, Bellamy had a real go at him.

Yeah i ssen that both richards and zab got a right bollocking off bellers
Poor goal really

 

[john blue]

Richards defending is why he will be watching the world cup on t.v.

 

[yaba daba BLUUUUUE]

Just watched it several times <a class="postlink" href="http://www.mcfc.co.uk/?lid=SplashThe_S_Box041207Enter" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;">http://www.mcfc.co.uk/?lid=SplashThe_S_Box041207Enter</a>
Richards was trying to force wide, zab should of covered the cut inside imo.

 

[Bluemoonbaldboy]

Anyone think that Given should of done better ?

yes

How can you even say that? Cross comes in so Shay naturally moves to the direction of the cross (cross came from Shays right to left so he moved to his left) one of the oldest rules for a striker is to head a ball back in the direction the cross came from making it almost impossible for a keeper to react as was the case with this goal (Jones headed the ball back to Shays right)

 

[Anonymous]

I think Richards should have

So do i .........

although , to be fair , it was a good header.

 

[Anonymous]

If we're going to blame people then it's Richards fault for being thick and letting Malbranque cut inside when he has no left foot and Kompany should maybe of been closer to Jones allthough the ball and timing of the run was perfect.

 

[Citizen Green]

I think Richards should have

^^ Stood of Malbranque and alowed him to run at him for at least what seemed 10 seconds.

Sent flashing images of Spencer Prior during a 5-0 mauling at Highbury back to me.

 

[bizzbo]

zab's challenge wasn't much kop, but richard's defending was a bit bizarre. I still can't quite see how he managed to be facing the touchline when the cross went in, it was an absolutely dreadful decision to try to push a right footer down the touchline, then he was unbelievably slow to react when it didn't work. it still makes me angry to think how badly we started that game, some players just not switched on at all. to be fair most of them improved substantially, zab definitely played well from there on, but I'm still infuriated by just how lazy and irresponsible a couple of our players were, even in the second half. how hard is it to sprint back into position? to look up when you have the ball? what exactly was going through their minds when they didn't react at all to situations? it's a simple sodding game. surely it's not to much to ask for international players to stick together, stay focused and help each other out.

anyway shay didn't stand a chance. it was a towering header from near the penalty spot, if he was 7', he still might not have got a hand to it.

 

[Mr Ed (The Stables)]

Zabaleta / Richards shouldn't have let the ball in.

They both went to cover Malbranque going onto his left foot for a cross, and Mancini afterwards said the whole team was told he cuts in (when playing on the left) onto his right. We have to accept that Richards is not a footballer but merely a used to be fast but now muscle bound athlete. In a strange way we looked far better second half with Barry at left back and Zab at right back. The pitch however was dreadful, but same for both sides. Johnsons finish was sublime/class/awesome!

 

[ali benarbia's studs]

Zabaleta / Richards shouldn't have let the ball in.

They both went to cover Malbranque going onto his left foot for a cross, and Mancini afterwards said the whole team was told he cuts in (when playing on the left) onto his right. We have to accept that Richards is not a footballer but merely a used to be fast but now muscle bound athlete. In a strange way we looked far better second half with Barry at left back and Zab at right back. The pitch however was dreadful, but same for both sides. Johnsons finish was sublime/class/awesome!

bang on ed!!! i hope you are still staying cool and all!!!!

 

[SamTheGuru]

Richards was ball watching, Given was caught wrong footed. These things happen.

 

[mcfc1632]

I think Richards should have

agreed - over the season soooo many goals come his position (or lack of it)

 

[u2fme2]

he had no bloody chance

 

[jerseyblue]

It looked to me like Richards was playing him outside, and with Zab there he would have nowhere to go...then zab made an awful play on the ball and let him get inside. Richards was lazy for sure, but it was zab's shit tackle that let him get the cross in.