Sunderland (H) Post Match

[john316]

I also believe the Sunderland game highlights how difficult the games will be against the bottom ~6 clubs for the rest of the season. They will go out and give everything in every game now. The WH, Norwich (well Suarez of course) and Palace games won't be walkovers if they have anything to play for still.

The league is so unbalanced this season that there is a barely a 'mid-table' team that you usually want to play at this time. Either everybody is chasing the Title, Europe or avoiding relegation. Usually there about 6-7 teams who are just going nowhere approaching April/May but its going to make the run-in even more of a lottery.

[Pablo]

I don't think it was THAT nervy really. Still reasonably comfortable. We've just been spoilt rotten of late.

It wasn't a vintage performance, but I still thought we were poetry in motion for long periods of the game

[Shaggy]

[poorscousertommy]

I don't think it was THAT nervy really. Still reasonably comfortable. We've just been spoilt rotten of late.

It wasn't a vintage performance, but I still thought we were poetry in motion for long periods of the game

Speak for yourself, I was bricking it!

Usually there about 6-7 teams who are just going nowhere approaching April/May

Unfortuantely, I think that is Chelsea's run in. They really only have us to play which is a difficult game.

[red g]

Ki is a quality player. Has been one of Sunderland's stand out players this season I think. Always looking for the ball and making runs in behind midfielders.

watched the game with a couple of mackems, said the same thing very good player.

[Shaggy]

Amazed they left him out. He was excellent in both League Cup semi finals against the Mancs. In fact Swansea sending him out on loan was completely bizarre.

[SB]

I thought Flanagan did ok actually. That said, I think we should look at the full back positions come summer.

Really? He didn't have much to do defensively but still managed to cost us the goal by ball watching. he'll get better with age most probably.

[Zapater]

It was quite tight at the end, it didn't really need to be, however the ref really didn't help our case. Considering we were at home, it was particularly awful.

[PTP]

have slept on it now

firstly the atmosphere was brilliant - crowd really did drag the players through

really get worried when we piss around the back - if a team is onto to it, like sunderland where by pushing two/three players high up the pitch, we play ourselves into danger at times - every single one of their attacks came as a result of us pissing about and giving it away.....Mignolet, good keeper but my god does he need to sharpen up a little bit with his touch/passing and his decision making....at one point we had a goal kick and Sunderland had squeezed up meaning the usual three short pass options weren't on - you could see the blind panic on mignolet's face he had no ****ing idea what to do......so he eventually hit a little ****ty floaty chip towards coutinho, the smallest player on the pitch

Also - whilst not wanting to criticise them for it - sturridge and suarez looked like they were playing for themselves a little bit at times.


other than that though - no complaints - it was a tough match, credit for sunderland for coming and having a go - we got the three points - no teams score 6 goals every game and all those United league wins were filled with wins where they got three points but looked ****.

[BigChief]

Not sure I agree with the crowd seeing the players through bit. On the telly they were great pre-match but added to players' anxiety throughout the game. Understandably, as we're all nervous. Singing was sporadic rather than supportive, thankfully the YNWA came in with 3 minutes to go and the players calmed down.

Rodgers' mettle will now be tested. He's done the right thing with his 'one match at a time' comment. Not for mind games but to ease his own players' jitters as they become more palpable.

Where Johnson and Flanno had bad games, Coutinho and Allen stepped up their games. That's the kind of confidence-rotation we're going to need to the end.

[Shaggy]

Could hear a pin drop for the last 43 minutes of the first half. Was painful. I said after about 6 minutes the palpable tension and anxiety wouldn't take long to transmit to the players.

[PTP]

Not sure I agree with the crowd seeing the players through bit. On the telly they were great pre-match but added to players' anxiety throughout the game. Understandably, as we're all nervous. Singing was sporadic rather than supportive, thankfully the YNWA came in with 3 minutes to go and the players calmed down.

Rodgers' mettle will now be tested. He's done the right thing with his 'one match at a time' comment. Not for mind games but to ease his own players' jitters as they become more palpable.

Where Johnson and Flanno had bad games, Coutinho and Allen stepped up their games. That's the kind of confidence-rotation we're going to need to the end.

na disagree - when they piled on the pressure and players looked nervy - the last 10 mins everyone was on their feet screaming support, cheering tackles, really getting behind them. maybe didn't come across that way on tv - but certainly it felt like it in the ground -

i'd agree there was a period where they scored, and the crowds nerves and anxiety probably transmittied itself to the players - but there was defo a collective feeling of ****...these players are bottling it, if we don't lift them now we're ****ed and as one everyone got behind them

[The Birdman]

I don't think the diamond at home works.
Allen, Henderson, Gerrard and Coutinho are all very similar players (in that they play in front of you)
We missed Sterling massively imo, I can (kind of) see the logic in keeping the same team but we were very 1 dimensional in the first half.

After we got the 2nd we ****ed around and passed it for passing's sake, we turned into Arsenal and almost paid the price.
Coutinho looks great on a MOTD highlights reel but his end product isn't anywhere near good enough at the moment, he's only 21 and a phenomenal talent but Sterling has to play all the remaining games for me.

As does Sakho, it's harsh on Agger as Skrtel is just as weak but we miss Sakho's physical dominance.

Skrtel's defending (or ****ing lack of it) on that late free kick when John O'Shea should have scored is inexcusable.
It's bonkers that our best 2 CB's are left footed and Rodgers doesn't want to play them together.

[Shaggy]

Last ten minutes was brilliant, no doubt. But the fans got anxious and edgy way too early and it had an effect IMO.

[PTP]

yeah thats what i was trying to say - 2nd half we were fired up, coutinho ran the show and we had a few changes to kill it off 3-0....we didn't take them, sunderland weathered the storm and we slowly lost a little momentum and the fans went quiet, panicky, nervy and they scored and it was **** your pants time and yeah it may have effected the players

but the last 10 mins it was weird, it was like the crowd just all subconsciously spoke to each other and said **** if we don't pull our heads together and get behind them, they're going to bottle it