Sunderland - Post Match

[Fredo]

I watched the match properly this afternoon and we were not as bad as I first thought. There are signs that we're improving but if we lose Sterling and Suarez, we'll be in trouble.

I also thought Borini had his best game for us. His movement is excellent.

Ah, and the pitch/grass was ****.

[yamiedo]

I honestly think Rodgers should come out in the press and state the facts regarding Suarez never getting decisions. Refer to yesterday and highlight the difference between what Suarez got and what Danny wellbeck got. Highlight how often Ashley Young and United as a club get soft pens and even when he is fouled Suarez rarely gets a decision. Ask the question why those 3 are treated differently. Ask the question is it because two of them are English.

What's the worst that would happen? A fine off the FA . Who cares. Get it out into the public. Put pressure on the refs to be fair. Even if it means Suarez still doesn't get any decisions at least Refs might think twice when a United player goes down.

Ferguson is never slow to demonise opposition players for diving if it will help his team

He doesn't help himself but his treatment does my head in

I'd agree with this if Rodgers had achieved in the game what Fergie has. Not saying that should be any reason why he is allowed more favour but there is no point in Rodgers mouthing off until he has earned respect from all over. Otherwise he'll just be ridiculed like Rafa was.

[MrMichael]

Shearer is a boring cunt. But he is right in that Allen does have a habit of taking the easy option at times. Of course we want ball retention and at times it's important to slow the game and make the opposition work hard to get it back. But ultimately we need to score goals. It's no point Allen having a 99 percent pass completion stat if it's got us nowhere. At times by passing the buck to another player we lose the ball anyway. So we've made 30 sideways passes and the opposition have sat back and let us and we have nothing positive to show for it. He has to try and look up a little more and take responsibility for affecting the game ,signs look good and I like the look of him. But if we continue to struggle mark my words people willstart to get on his back. Nature of the beast I'm afraid.

Sorry Bob but I think that's utter nonsense. Where is Allen playing? Did people get on Mascherano's back for not playing defence splitting passes? Or on Lucas'? Or on more or less any player ever playing in that position? Allen's role is to break up play and maintain possession, two things he does superbly well. It may look better on MOTD when they can show Stevie G blasting the ball 40 yards up the pitch at our forwards, but what they didn't show is how many times he has tried that this season and given the ball straight to the opposition. Absolutely we need to play with some penetration and forward impetus, but that has to be done at the right time, in the right way, and by the right people.

If Allen keeps playing the way he has nobody (with any sense) will be getting on his back, of that I'm quite sure.

I dont think he does take the easy option, he takes the right one. He's made plenty of excellent forward passes. One of Shearer's examples of where he "has to pass it forward" showed Suarez and Borini marked by about 5 players!!

Patience should be encouraged and yesterday was good in that respect. As shown by the goal, patient and a good forward pass by Joe the crab Allen.

This

I watched the match properly this afternoon and we were not as bad as I first thought. There are signs that we're improving but if we lose Sterling and Suarez, we'll be in trouble.

I also thought Borini had his best game for us. His movement is excellent.

Ah, and the pitch/grass was ****.

Reading the match thread you'd think we were a complete disaster. We had a bad spell after they scored, and definitely could do with more real goal threats in our team (I think part of the problem is that the fans just don't expect many of our players to score), but overall, away at Sunderland, with the team still finding its feet, we really didn't have that bad a game.

[Gibbo]

I'd consider inserting Sahin in for Shelvey but only to play DM and push Allen forward.

Sahin is a brilliant player but not a DM.

Allen is doing fine where he is. I'm so excited for Sahin to kick on.

[Mostar]

Sahin is a brilliant player but not a DM.

Allen is doing fine where he is. I'm so excited for Sahin to kick on.

Was surprised not to see him on Saturday.

He needs to adjust to the tempo and physicality of PL but he is a very good player and I hope Rodgers truly gives him a chance to prove himself.