[Archived] Sunderland v Rovers

[PAFELL]

still not convinced by Kean. he better have some good players lined up, or else all hell will break out around here.

Still too early to judge in my view. Firstly due to the amount of games that have come over christmas, I suggest he has not had much time to work on the players, tactics, style of play etc. Injuries / suspendsions. Rovers need players - this transfer window is essential. Because of the injuries etc, the need for new players I suggest we wait awhile.

I did feel that Rovers played with a bit more confidence today. They took the game to sunderland, instead of just sitting back. 3 0 flattered sunderland today. Bunn didn't even make a save today - yet conceeded 3. None of which were his fault.

[Eddie]

Nothing created, their keeper hadnt a shot to save all the game!!

Not true at all. We created 2 or 3 decent chances and one very good one. The fact that we failed to get a shot on target doesn't mean that we didn't create anything or that we didn't threaten.

[PAFELL]

Keep forgetting we have played a couple more games than most teams.

I think liverpool went a time when they had not played for 3 weeks. Rovers have not had that break, due to weather etc as other teams have had. I think that should be taken into consideration, plus injuries and suspensions.

Missed kalinic and salgado today.

[philipl]

Both sides were missing several players but that was a pretty heavy thumping without us forcing a save of note from their keeper.

The stats are surprisingly even after the stats against West Brom showed us to have been played off the park! Just shows how misleading statistics can be in football.

Possession

Sunderland 53% Blackburn 47%

Attempts on target

Sunderland 7 Blackburn 3

Attempts off target

Sunderland 6 Blackburn 8

Corners

Sunderland 3 Blackburn 2

Fouls

Sunderland 13 Blackburn 9

At the end of the season, I think we are going to be incredibly relieved to have got that West Brom win.

6 points above the drop zone having played an average of 2 games more than the clubs immediately below us and a worsening goal difference means that Baggies win avoids us from feeling panicky just yet and more importantly should not have potential signings giving us a wide berth because of relegation fears- hopefully.

[FourLaneBlue]

Emerton should be sold if there's any takers.

He's been bloody awful again ever since he was moved out of the rb position he did well in.

And he's no use to us farting around with Australia for a month at a crucial stage of the season.

Well, with Hanley going off today, perhaps time to play him at RB again?

[Inta Beaver]

[quote name='philipl' date='01 January 2011 - 18:21 PM' timestamp='1293902492' post=

Attempts on target

Sunderland 7 Blackburn 3

On sky sports it says Sunderland 4 on target to our 0.

I don't remember us hitting the target at all. That's not good enough, we played the ball around better than when Sam was in charge but didn't test there keeper. Diouf chance could have changed the game but Bent missed just as easy chance 2nd half.

We need players in quickly!

[Exiled_Rover]

Both sides were missing several players but that was a pretty heavy thumping without us forcing a save of note from their keeper.

The stats are surprisingly even after the stats against West Brom showed us to have been played off the park! Just shows how misleading statistics can be in football.

Possession

Sunderland 53% Blackburn 47%

Attempts on target

Sunderland 7 Blackburn 3

Attempts off target

Sunderland 6 Blackburn 8

Corners

Sunderland 3 Blackburn 2

Fouls

Sunderland 13 Blackburn 9

At the end of the season, I think we are going to be incredibly relieved to have got that West Brom win.

6 points above the drop zone having played an average of 2 games more than the clubs immediately below us and a worsening goal difference means that Baggies win avoids us from feeling panicky just yet and more importantly should not have potential signings giving us a wide berth because of relegation fears- hopefully.

That wasn't a thumping at all. They took their chances (with one of them being an absolute fluke), we didn't. End of story.

[Balwer]

There has been more commentary made in the past two weeks on how mediocre our squad has been than there was in the entire two years prior. It's the same squad it always was, the difference is there's a couple more injuries. Yes, having Jones and Samba missing is a valid argument to make, saying that we are missing players that have been out for the vast majority of the season is not.

I am not sure what concerns me more, the lack of finishing ability and midfield quality (which have been concerns for a long while) or the increasing weakness of the defence without a decent holding midfielder (which is a more recent concern).

[philipl]

That wasn't a thumping at all. They took their chances (with one of them being an absolute fluke), we didn't. End of story.

Have to disagree on that- I thought we never really looked like scoring and Sunderland always looked like they could go up a gear. They were able to coast most of the game with that early 2-0 cushion. What were our 3 attempts on target- I am struggling to remember them?

To be honest, I thought we played the way relegation sides play and had nothing in us to change the course of the game. Thank goodness for that 6 point cushion.

[John]

There has been more commentary made in the past two weeks on how mediocre our squad has been than there was in the entire two years prior.

Just shows how well Big Sam did in his time here.

[Balwer]

Just shows how well Big Sam did in his time here.

careful now, that's dangerous talk...

[darwenblueswearehere]

There has been more commentary made in the past two weeks on how mediocre our squad has been than there was in the entire two years prior. It's the same squad it always was, the difference is there's a couple more injuries. Yes, having Jones and Samba missing is a valid argument to make, saying that we are missing players that have been out for the vast majority of the season is not.

I am not sure what concerns me more, the lack of finishing ability and midfield quality (which have been concerns for a long while) or the increasing weakness of the defence without a decent holding midfielder (which is a more recent concern).

With respect we were missing more than just Jones and Samba today. Salgado had played in almost every game, as had Robbo. Thats an entire defence almost. Add in Roberts and Kalinic, who would probably both start under Kean, and it doesn't leave a lot. The ones who have been out for most of the season are mainly central midfielders, and boy are we crying out for one or two of those right now!!

[Exiled_Rover]

Have to disagree on that- I thought we never really looked like scoring and Sunderland always looked like they could go up a gear. They were able to coast most of the game with that early 2-0 cushion. What were our 3 attempts on target- I am struggling to remember them?

To be honest, I thought we played the way relegation sides play and had nothing in us to change the course of the game. Thank goodness for that 6 point cushion.

I hate that argument. If Sunderland had another gear to go into they'd have hit it. You don't hang around at a very fragile 2-0 if you can afford to. If E. Diouf doesn't miss that absolute sitter, or if one of the several half chances we had came off then they're in all kinds of trouble.

They were fortunate with several bounces, and decisions (Richardson shouldn't have been on the pitch) and they have more quality upfront than we do. They're certainly one of the sides I would target to overhaul with two quality midfield signings. Bang average is what they are.

[Wing Wizard Windy Miller]

There has been more commentary made in the past two weeks on how mediocre our squad has been than there was in the entire two years prior. It's the same squad it always was, the difference is there's a couple more injuries.

Probably because we didn't have 2 pennies to rub together so we accepted the mediocrity we had.

It's only when you start looking at players in the 3-4 million upwards bracket you realise how poor we are.

[Balwer]

With respect we were missing more than just Jones and Samba today. Salgado had played in almost every game, as had Robbo. Thats an entire defence almost. Add in Roberts and Kalinic, who would probably both start under Kean, and it doesn't leave a lot. The ones who have been out for most of the season are mainly central midfielders, and boy are we crying out for one or two of those right now!!

sorry I meant it more as a comment on the past four games, rather than specifically today. Salgado and Robbo were around the past three games, Kalinic too. Only Roberts was out but his absence hasn't been much of a concern as since he began starting games his form tapered off somewhat.

Probably because we didn't have 2 pennies to rub together so we accepted the mediocrity we had.

It's only when you start looking at players in the 3-4 million upwards bracket you realise how poor we are.

On paper we've been a poor team for a long time (in monetary terms anyway), which made me curious as to why people consistently expect a top 10 finish. Today is a classic example of that, in terms of the financial gulf between the two clubs.

[Tom]

To be fair I don't remember Sam having this sort of injury trouble, nor do I recall him ever adressing our attacking midfield problem.

[John]

To be fair I don't remember Sam having this sort of injury trouble, nor do I recall him ever adressing our attacking midfield problem.

Sam just bypassed the midfield, clever move!

I think the signing of Guti could have made a difference.

[Amo]

Too many players at Rovers living off former glory and we haven't had the money to replace them.

[Balwer]

Too many players at Rovers living off former glory and we haven't had the money to replace them.

I wouldn't call it that per se, just that they've not had anyone really pushing them (thinking MGP, Dunn and Emo here) to take their spot. They all show glimpses from time to time (even Bert), so we know they still have the talent, but I feel like they would be more consistent at it if they had a young gun breathing down their neck. I think Nelsen is excused from this list because he's constantly had people trying to take his position, and it's kept him playing at a pretty decent standard.

[imy9]

Why is Sam being talked about? Kean did the best with what he had- decimated squad, it's no exaggeration to say that an entire first 11 could be created with the injured players and they would be stronger than the team we fielded today. Oh well onwards and upwards.

[jim mk2]

Far too much optimism on here after a lucky win at West Brom.

Plus Sunderland will make us pay for their nightmare against Blackpool.

3-0 defeat.

Happy 2011.

The next winning lottery numbers are 05 07 10 16 19 36 Bonus 42

[Wing Wizard Windy Miller]

On paper we've been a poor team for a long time (in monetary terms anyway), which made me curious as to why people consistently expect a top 10 finish. Today is a classic example of that, in terms of the financial gulf between the two clubs.

Couldn't agree more.

[philipl]

Why is Sam being talked about? Kean did the best with what he had- decimated squad, it's no exaggeration to say that an entire first 11 could be created with the injured players and they would be stronger than the team we fielded today. Oh well onwards and upwards.

BBC- Sunderland boss Steve Bruce, a close friend of Sam Allardyce who was sacked by Blackburn last month, on his side's 3-0 win over Rovers: "I would like to dedicate the win ot Sam. I know he won't like us beating his former team, but after what has happened to him over the past couple of weeks I am delighted and I will have a few glasses of wine for him tonight."

[Bobby G]

Very disappointing that we've turned into a laughing stock with Bruce saying what he did.

[imy9]

Phillip- are you for real? P