Sunderland (A) Match and Post Match Thread

[Buzzo]

Amazing that we have fans conceding the league. Lets hope Klopp doeesnt have the same mentailty.

obviously the big one is chelsea at the end of the month if we can beat them and the gap is 6/8 points, Coutinho will be match fit and Mane returning this team can easily go on a winning run and chase Chelsea down.

That's the spirit.

[danperkins]

The problem is most of those shots that were on target were straight at and therefore comfortably saved by their keeper, I can't really remember him making anything beyond a routine save.

powder puff efforts, most like pass backs.

[Buzzo]

powder puff efforts, most like pass backs.

But by definition a shot on target is a solid goal scoring opportunity. It was 2-2 not 15-2 so clearly loads of them didn't go in. The inference is pressure and that we were making more chances than them. We were on top, perhaps (given that it was 2 pens) even a bit unlucky to only draw.

Honestly, not just you, but most of you lot are miserable *******s.

We are second in the league. Second. We are in superb form - only lost once in ten. We are in with a chance, a ****ing chance of winning it... most likely we won't, but we might. If we can't glean the postlitivea from our position right now, then what's the ****ing point? We may as well go back to being seventh with no ****ing chance.

If we really want this then surely we all have to believe we can do it. If we don't believe it then we don't deserve it anyway and we can continue to wait for ever.

[Fierce]

But by definition a shot on target is a solid goal scoring opportunity. It was 2-2 not 15-2 so clearly loads of them didn't go in. The inference is pressure and that we were making more chances than them. We were on top, perhaps (given that it was 2 pens) even a bit unlucky to lose.

Honestly, not just you, but most of you lot are miserable *******s.

We are second in the league. Second. We are in superb form - only lost once in ten. We are in with a chance, a ****ing chance of winning it... most likely we won't, but we might. If we can't glean the postlitivea from our position right now, then what's the ****ing point? We may as well go back to being seventh with no ****ing chance.

If we really want this then surely we all have to believe we can do it. If we don't believe it then we don't deserve it anyway and we can continue to wait for ever.

I get people being down when we drop points, but Jesus

[Fosterbloke]

Apologies all, I had two hours sleep and a bit emotional after seeing us throw away two points like that.

On the bright side, we're in second place, we have a system, we have players that will now get some rest and come back stronger and sharper, Coutinho and Henderson are close to a return.

I hope we can beat the Scum.

[BG1973]

We might even gain on them after this round of fixtures yet! But if they win again we can probably only afford one or two more slip ups. We need a crazy run like they've gone on.

So gutted after today. I guess it shows how far we've come under Jurgen, 2nd to a team who are on target for 98 points and feeling down! Seriously ****ing irritating though that whenever we get good someone else comes and does something mental.

Yes, this is fruatrating - we pick the timing of our league challenges badly. Last season would have been very different.

But all is not so bad - we've dropped points we shouldn't, but overall we're doing brilliantly with the players we have and we're on the up.

Problem we will have next year will be adjusting to more rotation but all the top teams will have that to deal with - including Chelsea.

[fowlen]

whilst we dominated possession, don't forget that Sunderland had some very good opportunities too - to the extent that I think Mig was our MoM.
I thought we were pretty poor, especially Can and Firmino. Bobby has gone off the boil completely, and Can gave the ball away so many times.

That being said we should have put our chances away.
A couple really tough weeks coming up - we need Hendo and Coutinho back ASAP especially with Mane out for the next few weeks.

[danperkins]

But by definition a shot on target is a solid goal scoring opportunity. It was 2-2 not 15-2 so clearly loads of them didn't go in. The inference is pressure and that we were making more chances than them. We were on top, perhaps (given that it was 2 pens) even a bit unlucky to only draw.

Honestly, not just you, but most of you lot are miserable *******s.

We are second in the league. Second. We are in superb form - only lost once in ten. We are in with a chance, a ****ing chance of winning it... most likely we won't, but we might. If we can't glean the postlitivea from our position right now, then what's the ****ing point? We may as well go back to being seventh with no ****ing chance.

If we really want this then surely we all have to believe we can do it. If we don't believe it then we don't deserve it anyway and we can continue to wait for ever.

With respect Buzzo I haven't wtf are you talking about man? Don't pigeon hole me into that category. I haven't talked about us winning the league as I never thought it was on the table but make no mistake about it this season has been nothing short of miraculous. I'd like to think that I haven't been involved in negative posting, as there hasn't been much to talk about. If there is talk about, if there isn't don't. Our squad being thin (Highlighted with our current inury hit squad) & us lacking some steel in the middle of the park to see out certain games isn't exactly wide of the mark. Certainly not negative posting.

You and others can talk about winning the league, i'll sit here quietly and be absolutely delighted that we are even challenging and being in contention for the champs league places

[Fredo]

I think the frustration comes with the fact that this year is arguably the year to win it, due to not having Europe and benefitting from the fact that other teams have to put up with it. But as Buzzo said, we are having an incredible season and if not for Chelsea, we would be top of the league, so a bit of perspective need to be used. And there is still 18 games to go.

We've got strength in depth. Have a look at Chelsea for instance and tell me they haven't got a problem if they lose Hazard or Costa for a long period. We haven't had Coutinho and Sturridge for large parts of the season, lost Matip for a considerable amount of time as well but we're still up there competing. So yeah, being frustrated is understandable but anything more than that is pushing it a bit too far I guess.

[Fredo]

And if Spurs beat Chelsea tomorrow we'd have closed the gap, even though it's by one point. They won't win every game and they are due a slip up. If it's not now it will be later.

[The_weatherman]

I think the frustration comes with the fact that this year is arguably the year to win it, due to not having Europe and benefitting from the fact that other teams have to put up with it. But as Buzzo said, we are having an incredible season and if not for Chelsea, we would be top of the league, so a bit of perspective need to be used. And there is still 18 games to go.

We've got strength in depth. Have a look at Chelsea for instance and tell me they haven't got a problem if they lose Hazard or Costa for a long period. We haven't had Coutinho and Sturridge for large parts of the season, lost Matip for a considerable amount of time as well but we're still up there competing. So yeah, being frustrated is understandable but anything more than that is pushing it a bit too far I guess.

We'll be better next year too, our squad is tailored for few games, next season we'll probably be in Europe and we'll expand the squad accordingly. In truth, Chelsea have better players and a fantastic manager as well plus no Europe, no wonder they're doing well. This isn't over though, we have a nice run in, we just have to keep the pace and see where that gets us.

I was sick to my stomach yesterday though.

[Irishnev]

I think the frustration comes with the fact that this year is arguably the year to win it, due to not having Europe and benefitting from the fact that other teams have to put up with it. But as Buzzo said, we are having an incredible season and if not for Chelsea, we would be top of the league, so a bit of perspective need to be used. And there is still 18 games to go.

We've got strength in depth. Have a look at Chelsea for instance and tell me they haven't got a problem if they lose Hazard or Costa for a long period. We haven't had Coutinho and Sturridge for large parts of the season, lost Matip for a considerable amount of time as well but we're still up there competing. So yeah, being frustrated is understandable but anything more than that is pushing it a bit too far I guess.

The league is the holy grail for us having been starved of it for so long and as such we crave success so people let frustrations get the better of common sense sometimes

When you get older you tend to get more pragmatic and what I really look for is signs of improvement, signs of a plan andsigns that we are building towards something. I see all of this with Klopp and what he is doing here so even though I was disappointed yesterday I am delighted with the progress as a whole and at least we have a chance.

Top 4 is paramount from this season now - champions league with the money it brings + the players we can attract is what we need. Added to that you are depriving one of your rivals of top 4 so that hurts them also. A bigger/better squad sprinkled with the excellent youngsters we have coming through under Klopps stewardship is exciting to say the least.

10 from 12 points over Christmas from games vs Everton, City, dangerous Stoke and relegation battlers Sunderland (48 hrs after the most intense game of the season so far) is an excellent return.

Onwards on upwards for 2017.

[Norbs]

Player attracting yes, but is the CL money that important these days? Last year's and potentially this year's champions will be teams without European football clogging their schedule.

League > massive gap > Europe

[Lecter]

I think the frustration comes with the fact that this year is arguably the year to win it, due to not having Europe and benefitting from the fact that other teams have to put up with it. But as Buzzo said, we are having an incredible season and if not for Chelsea, we would be top of the league, so a bit of perspective need to be used. And there is still 18 games to go.

We've got strength in depth. Have a look at Chelsea for instance and tell me they haven't got a problem if they lose Hazard or Costa for a long period. We haven't had Coutinho and Sturridge for large parts of the season, lost Matip for a considerable amount of time as well but we're still up there competing. So yeah, being frustrated is understandable but anything more than that is pushing it a bit too far I guess.

We are having a good season but theres no escaping we have had 3 or 4 poor results against lesser teams and this is a trend we have to start bucking

Its been a problem for years, we beat the big teams but fall short against the lesser teams. It undermines all the good work you do against the better teams and puts pressure on yourselves as you cant then afford to slip up in the big games

Chelseas squad has way more depth than ours

[dom9]

We are having a good season but theres no escaping we have had 3 or 4 poor results against lesser teams and this is a trend we have to start bucking

Its been a problem for years, we beat the big teams but fall short against the lesser teams. It undermines all the good work you do against the better teams nd puts pressure on yourselves as you cant then afford to slip up in the big games

Chelseas squad has way more depth than ours

And yet we've had our best ever first half to a season in the Premier League era, and are only second to Chelsea because of their record run of wins.

Dropping points to lower teams is nothing new. It happens. It will always happen. United in their pomp did it enough times too.

That's not to say we can't or won't improve. But it's light years ahead of where we were in the last two seasons.