Sunderland post match

[lickedlollipop]

saw the first two goals.. what a class. especially by torres. remind me of God

[red g]

Isnt it just.

High tempo, quick passing, moving the ball at speed, bodies surging forward, some nice one or two touch football, always a spare man on the overlap. Every box was ticked. Superb.

Why does it take us to get into last chance saloon, before we do it though?

Mirror image of last season, we needed to win every game to stand a chance of the title, and we flew at teams, and ripped them to pieces.

This season, it's taken the same thing to happen yet again, before we finally actually go AT teams.

Same again needed at Brum.

absolute nail on the head

If rafa let the shacles off from day 1 i would want him to stay. but he wont.

[Craig_H]

absolute nail on the head

If rafa let the shacles off from day 1 i would want him to stay. but he wont.

Same here.

[Vermilion]

I think he would when he believes he has the players to take that approach, and still win games, having players like Torres, Gj, Agger, Gerrard on form all back now, i think we are always going to be playing a more attacking game, if we could buy a couple more top quality players to add to the squad...he would find it much easier to play an attacking style of football...imo.

Wish we had some funds for the summer...i really do.

[TheElephantMan]

Same here.

To be fair to Rafa a number of our key players (Torres, Johnson, Agger and Aquilani) are only really just starting to return to full fitness. If we manage to achieve fourth place this season then I really think we can push for the title next season. Get shut of the deadwood and bring in two or three quality players in the summer and we'll easily be good enough to compete with United and Chelsea. I think Rafa plays cautious football when he feels that the players are not completely fit. Personally I would throw caution to the wind and attack every single game, but that might explain why Benitez is a respected much sought-after coach and I'm not?

[wiw]

absolute nail on the head

If rafa let the shacles off from day 1 i would want him to stay. but he wont.

Same here.

I'm pretty sure he did at the start of the season, but I don't think the team was ready for it. We're a much more solid unit now and we seem to be finally getting over Alonso going

[Ben_Itez]

Great performance. Good result.

The whole team played well and every single player performed on a par with their ability. It just somehow gelled. I'd like to think it's just the fact that all our players are available, fully fit and finally finding some form.....rather than because we need to win all of a sudden. How many times have we had that team and bench available to us this season?

To echo what many have said we really should have scored 6 or 7 goals today.....according to the beeb we has 25 attempts with 16 on target.

We were an absolute joy to watch

[Ben_Itez]

Also i think Kuyt needs some credit for taking away a lot of the physical burden from Torres, and stopped him being such a predictable focal point of the attack and hence easily picked up and kicked all over the ****ing place.

[Mattshark]

I'm pretty sure he did at the start of the season, but I don't think the team was ready for it. We're a much more solid unit now and we seem to be finally getting over Alonso going

Agreed .

[dww]

I'm pretty sure he did at the start of the season, but I don't think the team was ready for it. We're a much more solid unit now and we seem to be finally getting over Alonso going

I still think it was the lack of defensive solidity, particularly at the start of the season, which has been the biggest problem we have had.

[aa4f4fsd47]

Anyone notices that levia lucas was not on the field last night and we had only monster Mascherano doing the defensive job? i hope we stick to this line up till the end of the season.

[vonk]

Brilliant performance. Even Rafa admitted he picked an attacking line up. Yet for the entire season it's been Lucas and Mascherano in the centre of a negative line up. What more evidence does Rafa need that this is not the answer than today.

Agger was just class today, and with Hansen looking on from the stands. Stood head an shoulders above any of our defenders.

Torres, well, what can I say? When do we start putting him up there with Fowler and Rush as the greatest striker to play for the club? How he didn't get 4 is beyond me.

Gerrard is slowly getting back to his best and with Mascherano covering Stevie can defintely play this high energy midfield role.

Johnson, we should consider buying a decent right back or grooming Kelly, and switch this lad to right wing. With the pace he has he could be a serious asset as a winger.

Maxi, his best game for us today. Was involved in all the good moves. Not much pace about him but when he was given the chance today, he lets the ball do the work. Very impressed with him.

One thing that was made totally clear to me today, though, is that we need a proper back up for Torres. Don't rate Ngog at all. Hopefully this Serbian lad will give us options.

[Bender]

couple of great pics from yesterdays game

[wiw]

Dirk looks a bit simple in that last pic

[Bender]

Dirk looks a bit simple in that last pic

More than a bit