There you go

JDT just gets it! Always mindful of the impact on fans, and really has been since day one imo.

The most pleasing things today for me: That defence 🤌 Hyam is the best defender in this league, Ayala not far behind, and Scotty Wharton did his best Craig Short impression. I feel as if this defense and Kaminski give each other a huge amount of confidence, something missing since the days of Friedel, Nelsen and Samba. Vale really looked like the player we saw vs Celtic and Blackpool, much better than recently. Zidane wears Adam Wharton pyjamas. Szmodics was brilliant, but just needed that finishing touch in a few areas, but I can see what JDT saw in him now. Hopefully he and Dack can complement each other behind Gallagher if ever we need to go full 'Christmas Tree'. I'm happy to hold my hands up and say I may well have been letting my mind run away down a rabbit hole on Dack. If there were any issues from JDT, they weren't on show today and while he wasn't able to influence the game, Dack certainly did put himself about all over the pitch in his short time on it. A superb, professional win, that really should've seen us defending 4-0 lead from half-time rather than 1-0, but this team refuses to concede goals now. It reminds me of a budget version of AC Milan's defence in the early 00s. Play out from the back to constantly available midfielders (including the Wilpshire Pirlo) and don't let anything come our way. It seems as if we're playing such a style that prevents us from even needing to make tackles, so when we DO we can fly into them. I love it 😄 I love this team.

I thought about that for my 2yo, but wife was getting annoyed 😅

Didn't think anyone could replace 'Matteo at left wing', but Mowbray did it!

A striker, then.

I got one purely because of your post 😁

Wild Rover! Rooster - Alice in Chains Thunderstruck - AC/DC The Game - Motorhead

Because the Training Ground is a much bigger tribute than any of those imo. Could name the Blues Bar after Tony Diamond, the state of him during the Full Members Cup tribute night a few years ago. Or maybe Garner.

I have to admit, I feel like the training ground might actually be the most fitting thing to rename in his honour. 12 years as a player, 18 years as coach/caretaker.

It's 'feels', not 'facts'.

Just here. I did say it was pure speculation. It's what I think may have happened, nothing more

That he's unable (unwilling?) to meet the standards surrounding fitness and attitude that JDT has set for the squad.

Completely agree here. He was a great outlet for the midfield, moved the ball wide and up the pitch, and shielded the ball well too. And a great ball out to the left to give Breo and Dolan a break forward.

As much as folk (rightly) say JDT should be big enough to use Dack IF there's a place for him, I do wonder if Dack is being deliberately difficult? Purely speculation, but it was noted on here that in JDTs intro videos, Dack had a right miserable look on his face. If that's not gone away despite olive branches from JDT (remember Dack was made Captain for the Hartlepool game), coupled with noises from his missus about wanting Dack to go where he's happy, it could be that Dack is in fact forcing the move. Probably to Mowbray, just as he's done with other staff. I believe that JDT would be playing Dack if his numbers AND attitude were up to it. We owe him nothing as a club, but he owes us plenty. I'll be sad if he goes, and I'll have no ill will towards him, but I do suspect that's thrown his toys and is possibly unwilling/unable to meet JDTs demands.

Buckley would be better suited imo, with Travis being the right-sided midfielder covering.

I actually thought it was the Blackpool game that exposed how bad he was in that position, as so many attacks seemed to come down that side. I love opinions 😂

I desperately WANT to stick. But I think, in the alleged circumstances, it'd be prudent to twist.

I do actually understand having Woodgate on the coaching staff. Same reason manager after manager after manager kept Parkesy here 22 years after he finished playing.

Jake Batty is the one I'm excited about next. He looked supe b against Hartlepool, and played like a proper wing back rather than a fullback playing wing back. Could be our left-sided Brittan next season if he gets a chance to break in this year.

I always thought he was an attacking midfielder as a youth, he always seemed to be among the assists/goals.

No, but in the performances he HAS had, he has noticeably not been involved in rough and tumble of a hard match. It might be subconscious or deliberate, but I think his knee injuries have shied him away from attempting to ride tackles. Just my perception, I could be way off.

Sunderland fans need to get a grip. Quinn and Phillips aren't there anymore.

At 2-0 up, I was thinking about THAT Man City game where Derbyshire lost the ball in the corner by shooting instead of shielding in something like the 85th minute, and City turned it around with 2 quick goals. It's so important to be able to soak up pressure higher up the pitch when you're under the cosh. Once Kaminski was named MOTM at that corner, I was convinced it would be 2-2!

For today specifically, I wouldn't have had Dack anywhere near it myself. I do believe there's a place for him, but not games like today.