v Sunderland (h) - 26/12/2024

[Neal]

Dare I say it, I think it's Cantwell who needs to pull his socks up a bit and start chipping in with goals and assists... I think he gets a lot of leeway because he's tidy on the ball and shows flashes of brilliance, I really like him but as a number 10 he needs to start getting involved in getting a few more goals and assists. I thought he really let himself down in the 2nd half, went missing and was part of the problem why we got overrun. 

[Ghost7]

46 minutes ago, superniko said:

You just literally highlighted my point that it’s the correct set-up for ELITE players.

Your bog standard championship winger can’t cross very well with their weaker foot, that’s fact, and they’re not good enough to come inside and ping it in the bottom corner on their strong foot like those elite players you listed. Roberts is one of, if not the, best winger in the league 

Stick Ryan Hedges on the right wing, do you think he performs better? He can just about use his right foot for standing on 

All of my responses have been in reply to an opinion that playing wingers on the "wrong" side handicapped them. Which is complete nonsense and yes, I do think Hedges plays better on the right and he'd agree, hence why he was uncomfortable on how to finish his infamous chance vs Preston away.  Cozier Dubbery seems to fancy himself as a left footed right winger - Arsenal and Brighton agree... and Dolan seems to be favoured on the left as a right footer, as did Brereton. Rak Sakyi is another left footed right winger. It's football. The goal is smaller if you are finishing from the same side as your strong foot.

 

Edited 20 hours ago by Ghost7

[booth]

Looking at the replays that disallowed goal should have stood. It comes off a Sunderland defender.

Combined with the sitter Dolan missed and the weak shot from Hedges, we could have been 4-0 up by half time.

[yellowsubmarine]

38 minutes ago, booth said:

Combined with the sitter Dolan missed and the weak shot from Hedges, we could have been 4-0 up by half time.

Hedges miss was a bad one, especially we had just gone 1 up. Hedges choose to put in a tamed shot with his outside of the foot. A quick 2-nil lead will be a good mental blow to Sunderland at such an earlier stage. Then Sunderland showed how to finish a similar chance when freed in the box.

Our finishing is really poor at the moment, hopefully Leonard might just be the answer to finish all these chances that we are creating.

[Paul Mani]

A brilliant game of football and end to end, entertainment. We were well worth the point…

Positives - Overall, a sea of 7/10’s. Dolan, was his mercurial self in the first half going from the sublime (In his build up), to the ridiculous (in his finishing). Ohashi, as industrious as ever and got his goal. 

Negatives - I don’t think Baker is the answer at CM. Buckley (also not good enough) looked better when he came on but we will have to see if either stake a meaningful claim in Travis’ absence l. Hedges and Cantwell were largely ineffective across the game, the latter showing flashes early in the first half but both completely passive in the second, and we looked much more dangerous when ACD came on.

Final special mention to Harry Leonard. Happy he took his goal. I think there’s a 15-20 goal a year striker in him. He needs to stay for and get some game time. If we can get a Striker on loan, I’d love to see Leonard go on loan into League 1, and play regularly.

Same team again on Sunday, other than ACD for Hedges.

At what point do we give Ohashi a run as the second striker with Gueye or Leonard leading the line, and what does that mean for Cantwell?

 

[Exiled_Rover]

1 minute ago, Paul Mani said:

A brilliant game of football and end to end, entertainment. We were well worth the point…

Positives - Overall, a sea of 7/10’s. Dolan, was his mercurial self in the first half going from the sublime (In his build up), to the ridiculous (in his finishing). Ohashi, as industrious as ever and got his goal. 

Negatives - I don’t think Baker is the answer at CM. Buckley (also not good enough) looked better when he came on but we will have to see if either stake a meaningful claim in Travis’ absence l. Hedges and Cantwell were largely ineffective across the game, the latter showing flashes early in the first half but both completely passive in the second, and we looked much more dangerous when ACD came on.

Final special mention to Harry Leonard. Happy he took his goal. I think there’s a 15-20 goal a year striker in him. He needs to stay for and get some game time. If we can get a Striker on loan, I’d love to see Leonard go on loan into League 1, and play regularly.

Same team again on Sunday, other than ACD for Hedges.

At what point do we give Ohashi a run as the second striker with Gueye or Leonard leading the line, and what does that mean for Cantwell?

 

We saw the problem with playing Ohashi and Gueye as a 9/10 at Millwall. You get overrun in midfield as you're then essentially playing 4-2-4. 

Ohashi could play out wide on the left / right I feel. You can't play him as a #10, he doesn't do enough defensively. 

[arbitro]

5 hours ago, Neal said:

Dare I say it, I think it's Cantwell who needs to pull his socks up a bit and start chipping in with goals and assists... I think he gets a lot of leeway because he's tidy on the ball and shows flashes of brilliance, I really like him but as a number 10 he needs to start getting involved in getting a few more goals and assists. I thought he really let himself down in the 2nd half, went missing and was part of the problem why we got overrun. 

I thought the pace and intensity of the game really took its toll on Cantwell and he was found wanting in the second half. He should be more suited to the game on Sunday when the game won't be as frenetic. In fairness we had a few tired looking players late on but to their credit they squeezed every ounce of energy out for the cause.

[Mattyblue]

Gueye is very popular with the fans. He’s not been ‘written off’ and he’s been ‘given time’.

If someone on here does want to write him off then that’s up to them.

[philipl]

Excellent game against a team which is clearly one of the Championship best and Le Bris who really knows how to turn a losing side around at half time. 

Dolan was close to unplayable in the first half and his disallowed goal was hugely debatable.

Enormous character to get that equaliser when on 80 minutes we looked a completely beaten team.

Pears last minute save was as sensational as the Buckley air shot which set Sunderland up for that one on one was horrendous.

The injury to Rigg looked bad and that could hamper Sunderland for many weeks. 

The near 25,000 crowd also gives grounds for hope that the playing side of Rovers will get the support it deserves in the second half of the season.

 

Edited 14 hours ago by philipl

[Mattyblue]

They are getting the support they deserve. Larger walk ons than previous seasons every week.

[chaddyrovers]

12 hours ago, joey_big_nose said:

Cant see how you would come to that conclusion. We were 1-0 up and well in control - for the wide players the priority for them would have been to continue the excellent cover they gave their full backs in the first half into the second 45.

For Hedges to isolate Beck once is maybe a bit unfortunate/ loss of concentration. But twice in 15 mins totally  unacceptable.

Im sure Eustace will give him both barrels.

I'm sure Eustace won't give Hedges both barrels at all. 

I've watched the highlights back and both times Hedges is in the final third and Sunderland move the ball very quickly forward to Roberts who played wider and higher all second half. 

So how the hell is it Hedges at fault and why can't you actually credit Sunderland head coach for changing Roberts starting position and them moving it forward quickly

[Mattyblue]

How often do teams score pretty much the same goal twice in five minutes?

Eustace prides himself on defensive organisation, so of course he’ll be fuming about it.

[Ossydave]

Yep it was looking like Sunderland might run away with it after they sliced us open like that twice in quick succession.

Is it just me or was it Baath that got the assist for Leonard's goal? I'd had a few like but to me he climbed on Gueye and nodded it across, but Gueye has been credited with the assist.

[chaddyrovers]

4 hours ago, Paul Mani said:

Negatives - I don’t think Baker is the answer at CM. Buckley (also not good enough) looked better when he came on but we will have to see if either stake a meaningful claim in Travis’ absence l. 

I thought Baker did very well in there but of course we missed Travis as I think anyone would do given he is captain, in great form and his partnership with Tronstad. Second half he faded abit but Sunderland midfield 2 Neil and Bellingham shown their worth

4 hours ago, Paul Mani said:

Final special mention to Harry Leonard. Happy he took his goal. I think there’s a 15-20 goal a year striker in him. He needs to stay for and get some game time. If we can get a Striker on loan, I’d love to see Leonard go on loan into League 1, and play regularly.

Agreed 💯%

4 hours ago, Exiled_Rover said:

We saw the problem with playing Ohashi and Gueye as a 9/10 at Millwall. You get overrun in midfield as you're then essentially playing 4-2-4. 

And we saw the benefit of playing both against Luton tho. 

4 hours ago, Exiled_Rover said:

Ohashi could play out wide on the left / right I feel. You can't play him as a #10, he doesn't do enough defensively. 

But he can play wide in your opinion even tho you say he doesn't do enough defensively? 

I think his work rate and closing down is very good. 

[chaddyrovers]

18 minutes ago, Mattyblue said:

How often do teams score pretty much the same goal twice in five minutes?

Eustace prides himself on defensive organisation, so of course he’ll be fuming about it.

Firstly Matty, I dont think Eustace will be fuming, 

Secondly, Hedges is in the final third looking to close the ball down,

Thirdly, why can you not credit Sunderland and their head coach making a positive tactical change and them moving the ball quickly from defend to attack. This is quality Sunderland team and there is a reason why they are 4th in the league 

3 minutes ago, Ossydave said:

 

Is it just me or was it Baath that got the assist for Leonard's goal? I'd had a few like but to me he climbed on Gueye and nodded it across, but Gueye has been credited with the assist.

I thought it was Batth with the knock down live and watching it back

[London blue]

27 minutes ago, chaddyrovers said:

I'm sure Eustace won't give Hedges both barrels at all. 

I've watched the highlights back and both times Hedges is in the final third and Sunderland move the ball very quickly forward to Roberts who played wider and higher all second half. 

So how the hell is it Hedges at fault and why can't you actually credit Sunderland head coach for changing Roberts starting position and them moving it forward quickly

Twice in 5 minutes they scored from the same wide player recieving the ball high up the pitch with a wife player who we keep getting told works hard and defends for the team nowhere to be seen.

Your refusal to criticise Hedges (until he leaves, of course) is outright funny at times.

[chaddyrovers]

41 minutes ago, Mattyblue said:

Larger walk ons than previous seasons every week.

It's interesting how many walk ons we had this season and the reasons why that is. Over 8k walk ons for boxing day fixture is a great effort. 

[Mattyblue]

No you’re right. He’ll just get them together at training and go, ‘doesn’t matter that we conceded the same goal twice in five minutes, let’s all have a round of applause for a Sunderland positive tactical change’.

 

[M_B]

17 minutes ago, Ossydave said:

Yep it was looking like Sunderland might run away with it after they sliced us open like that twice in quick succession.

Is it just me or was it Baath that got the assist for Leonard's goal? I'd had a few like but to me he climbed on Gueye and nodded it across, but Gueye has been credited with the assist.

As someone said earlier, the camera behind the goal shows that Gueye heads it.

[Ossydave]

1 minute ago, M_B said:

As someone said earlier, the camera behind the goal shows that Gueye heads it.

Fair enough, haven't seen that angle 👍

That's twice now he's managed headers that we're hard to suss out, Sheffield Wednesday being similar for his goal.

[M_B]

1 minute ago, Ossydave said:

Fair enough, haven't seen that angle 👍

That's twice now he's managed headers that we're hard to suss out, Sheffield Wednesday being similar for his goal.

Yeah, similar situation, it does look like Baath at first, I thought it was.

From behind the goal, the ball looks too low for Baath to have headed it.

[chaddyrovers]

12 minutes ago, Mattyblue said:

No you’re right. He’ll just get them together at training and go, ‘doesn’t matter that we conceded the same goal twice in five minutes, let’s all have a round of applause for a Sunderland positive tactical change’.

 

I'm sure he won't be blaming Hedges for both goals like some were yesterday on here. Maybe you missed those comments 

[Mattyblue]

Yes I imagine he won’t be making him do thirty laps of Brockhall in punishment.

 

[lraC]

55 minutes ago, chaddyrovers said:

I'm sure Eustace won't give Hedges both barrels at all. 

I've watched the highlights back and both times Hedges is in the final third and Sunderland move the ball very quickly forward to Roberts who played wider and higher all second half. 

So how the hell is it Hedges at fault and why can't you actually credit Sunderland head coach for changing Roberts starting position and them moving it forward quickly

Their manager earned his corn for sure with the adjustments he made at half time.

 

[superniko]

42 minutes ago, chaddyrovers said:

It's interesting how many walk ons we had this season and the reasons why that is. Over 8k walk ons for boxing day fixture is a great effort. 

Yeah real head scratcher that one 🙄