Mike E

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.

Kaminski is in the hallowed Friedel territory of 'worth points on his own'.

Exactly how it should be tbf.

Sausage?! SAUSAGE-UH?!?!

The best teams are always the ones willing to sacrifice for each other: https://fb.watch/giTd630qNH/

Agree with all that 🤘

That just makes the entire original post completely redundant though. It might as well read thusly and have the same relevance to the discussion: I'm not saying that playing the u14s would have made us not lose those games. We will never know that. JDT elected not to give the u14s more minutes in those games. But we absolutely know that JDT’s decisions in those games ultimately led to us losing those games.

Ok, I get that. So you also agree that a multitude of different decisions not remotely involving Dack could have changed the result in our favour?

Yes. You. Do. Because we know for 100% certainty that not putting him on earlier resulted in defeat.“ Perhaps you could clarify what you're actually saying because that's obviously how many people are interpreting it. As a qualified teacher, I've no problems with comprehension.

It took the club a full 18months to take on some suggestions from the RT Marketing Prospectus, personally handed to Waggott and the ideas within discussed with both he and Paul 'Fans don't matter, corporates do' Fielder. Those were ideas collated from fan suggestions on all media, including on here. I can't imagine they'll be any quicker implementing ideas because Joe Bloggs sends an email demanding a face-to-face meeting.

We didn't lose those games just because Dack wasn't brought on. That is nonsense. It's a contributing factor, of course, but it isn't the reason by any stretch.

You might see Chris Samba if you have a seat near the director's box, he often attends to watch academy lads he's working with.

My thoughts too.