Wigan v Sunderland game report – we didn’t put our Wig On.
By: Stephen |
1 Comment
So Kenwyne scores and we get a point, not quite the three I wanted. But, it’s another point, and at some point you can’t fault the lads for getting that. It still should have been more than one point, but in the long run SAFC really has to look to the model of Wigan. They’ve stayed in the league without having a lot of money, and they sign good young players (Victor Moses). And you know what the best part of adapting to Wigan for Sunderland is? We have the former manager. (Though I have the feeling that Martinez will be poached soon too). While I have voiced my disappointment with the club not winning as much as I’d like, this isn’t as horrible as it could be.
Sunderland: Gordon, Hutton, McCartney, Turner, Kilgallon, Reid, Henderson, Cana (C), Cattermole, Bent, Jones.
Subs: Fulop, Bardsley, Da Silva, Zenden, Campbell, Malbranque, Benjani.
Wigan: Kirkland, Caldwell, Thomas, Scharner, N’Zogbia, Boyce, Bramble (C), Rodallega, McCarthy, Diame, Figueroa.
Subs: Scotland, Moses, Gomez, Sinclair, Moreno, Melchiot, Stojkovic.
SAFC TV interview with Steve Bruce
“We didn’t do enough in the first half in particular. We became very edgy, very nervous.
They scored a wonder goal with their first shot on target and that set everyone on their heels.
The second half was much, much better and I got a response. We could have won the game and turned it round, but unfortunately we’ve missed the chances to do that.
There were better signs in the second half – we got hold of the ball and created some better chances. With a bit of luck, we could have nicked it.
I’ve got no excuses for the first half in particular. We have to be better than that. We had to calm a few down at half time and tell them to take their time and play the game.
The good thing was there was a response for everyone to see. If we had played like we did in the second half before the break we would have won the game.
There was a nervousness and we have to overcome that. The crowd were fantastic, particularly during the second half.
They saw the response from the players and they nearly got us over the line, so I thank them for that.”
Well onto Pompey on Tuesday, and I hope, that the club decides that it wants the win. Last time out, the club lost to Pompey to bow out of the FA Cup (just looked at my blog from that match, and that was real fun). The club needs this win.
Category: English Premier League
Alan Hutton – New Signing –
By: Stephen | 1 Comment
Sorry, I’m a little late on this one, but work has gotten in the way of play (not that I mind). But Steve Bruce signed a center half from Spurs. Hopefully this is the kick in the backside that the side needs to start winning. That’s the key “WINNING”.
A word from our new signing
“Everyone wants to play football and I’m no different, he said. “But I know that, like anyone else, I’ll have to give 110% to show the manager I’m worthy of a starting place.
“I already know how big Sunderland is as a club. They have great fans and I’m really looking forward to playing in front of them.
“When I was at Rangers the fans were superb and I’m sure Sunderland’s will be much the same.”
Hutton boasts over 150 appearances for Rangers and Spurs at senior level, as well as international caps and SPL and Carling Cup winners’ medals.
“I’m over the moon to be here and now I want to crack on and do my best for Sunderland,” he continued.
“The place is amazing. These are great facilities – everything needed for a massive club like this.”
Hutton says his move north will be made easier by having some familiar faces around, notably former Spurs team-mate – and Sunderland’s leading scorer – Darren Bent.
The defender also knows goalkeeper Craig Gordon, with whom he has played at international level for Scotland.
“I know a few of the lads already,” he said. “Obviously I know Darren Bent and I had a wee chat with Craig Gordon earlier today.
“Knowing people should help me to settle in quicker. It’s helpful having people you know around and it makes things a lot easier.
“Sunderland started brilliantly with some massive results but we’ve fallen away a bit recently. Hopefully I can come in and help turn that around.”
Hutton will miss tonight’s game against Stoke, but he’s raring to go if selected when Steve Bruce’s former club, Wigan, visit to SoL this weekend.
“I’m really looking forward to Saturday. It’s a shame we couldn’t get the deal through earlier, but that just makes me look forward to getting out there all the more.”
Category: English Premier LeagueStoke v Sunderland – the Snake Eyes Edition
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Stoke came in, and didn’t beat us, which is good to us. BUT it wasn’t a win, and Sunderland needs another win. Though, we need more points, I’ll take the one point right now. It’s a problem right now that I don’t see fixing which is sad. The Black Cat fans strive for a good win. And more importantly a good team.
Sunderland: Gordon, Mensah, McCartney, Turner, Kilgallon, Reid, Malbranque, Cana (C), Cattermole, Bent, Jones.
Subs: Fulop, Bardsley, Da Silva, Henderson, Meyler, Zenden, Campbell.
Stoke: Sorensen, Higginbotham, Huth, Whelan, Sidibe, Diao, Shawcross, Whitehead, Tuncay, Faye (C), Etherington.
Subs: Simonsen, Lawrence, Beattie, Fuller, Collins, Delap, Wilkinson.
SAFC TV Manager Steve Bruce
Thankfully there was a resilience and we competed, which we had to against Stoke. The clean sheet was the high point of the night.
In terms of our quality, we have to be big enough and brave enough to take the ball and that’s what let us down tonight.
We’ve been very, very good at home and at least it’s another point. Plus, it was nice to see Michael Turner and Lee Cattermole back.
I don’t think any Sunderland fan could question the desire, but we took that and forgot how to play the game.
We were up for the physical challenge but we weren’t good enough on the ball and lost possession far too often. We lost sight of what we were trying to do.
I can understand the crowd’s frustration. People pay their hard-earned money and tonight we didn’t do much entertaining.
I think the team needs now 6 points in the next two games to get my hopes back.
Category: English Premier LeagueEverton v Sunderland – Worst team in the EPL are we?
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Oh fun, another game another loss, this time 2-0 to a club which couldn’t win. This is getting very very annoying. Are we just not good enough. But at the same point, we’re better than Bolton, Wolves, and Pompey. Maybe we should have waited a year to be good enough. There was just too much change for our own good. That’s the sad thing here, is that this club needs to be a midtable club, not one that can’t win. A non-winner needs to be some club like Bolton or Wolves. Yeah I know I’m being harsh towards Bolton again, but until Crapcastle comes back up, I need a club to hate on. (that being said, there’s really nothing to hate about Bolton, they’re just boring, and that’s my problem).
Sunderland: Gordon, Nosworthy, McCartney, Mensah, Kilgallon, Zenden, Henderson, Cana (C), Cattermole, Richardson, Bent.
Subs: Fulop, Da Silva, Reid, Jones, Campbell, Malbranque, Meyler.
Everton: Howard, Neville (C), Heitinga, Baines, Distin, Donovan, Pienaar, Osman, Fellaini, Cahill, Saha.
Subs: Nash, Bilyaletdinov, Arteta, Vaughan, Senderos, Anichebe, Coleman.
From SAFCTV – Manager Steve Bruce
“If we’d shown the resilience we did in the second half we might have done better, but we didn’t start the game well at all.
We gave Cahill a free header and I don’t know how many times I’ve said it now – we’re giving away bad goals.
When we give away goals like that it erodes confidence, which is fragile already.
We rolled our sleeves up in the second half and at least made a fist of it, but it was too little too late.
We have to apply ourselves better from the start, it’s as simple as that. It was all far too easy for Everton. The first half in particular was far, far too easy and we have to improve on that.
Given that the fans travel all this way, the performance – particularly in the first half – wasn’t good enough. I thank every single one of them who made the journey and we appreciate their support.
We’ve got two home games now which are vital. The big part of the season is upon us. I hope we can roll our sleeves up because we need something from those games.”
Ugh, the next three games are key for the lads, they need to win all three. And even that isn’t a sure thing at this point right now. Yes we have Stoke, Wigan, and Pompey coming up but with our current form, I’d say it could be 9 more points dropped. Ugh. I hate this.
Category: English Premier LeagueAnd now a short Message from Steve Bruce on Transfers
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So with my morning cup of coffee, I’m doing my early browsing of newspapers for SAFC transfer rumors. Most of them are getting annoying, because we don’t know what’s true or not. Hence, I know the meaning of rumor. And yes I know that this type of thing has been common since the beginning of football, but I’m greedy. I want to know NOW, not later.
From SAFCTV – Steve Bruce
“If someone comes up who will improve the squad, then we’ll look at it – and there are a couple of irons in the fire.
“Transfer fees get inflated in January because people get desperate. I’d like to strengthen, but I won’t threaten the club by bringing people in for the sake of it.
“If it’s the right person for the right money, we’ll do it.”
So either Bruce is studying to become an iron worker, or we know for sure he’s looking at bringing in more players than Kilgallon. I wouldn’t guess on the first one because I think he’s been very successful as a manager. Teams will request large transfer fee’s and have cup ties and all that mess. (Yeah that’s if he goes for English players, which he should, since this is the English league, not Foreign FC). Until we get something in concrete, I’m still going to be anxious about it.
Category: Transfer RumorsTransfer Rumors – Sunderland In’s maybe not outs
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Another week, another set of transfer rumors will grace the internet. And we still have that stupid Liverpool rumor hanging above our head. Maybe it’s Brucy sticking his finger back into the bees nest, but it’s getting annoying to me. If Liverpool had the money and wanted him, they’d have already made an approach for him. But our amazing manager won’t let it go.
Ok, I can get off of my soapbox. I’m going to do a side of all our players whom are rumored to be transferred in. With not being as creative as you all, I’ll go for a traditional 4-4-2.
Strikers – Colin Kazim-Richard, Robbie Keane
Middies – Victor Moses, Adam Johnson, Guy Demel, Peter Whittingam,
Defenders – Maynor Figueroa, Younes Kaboul, Aaron Matthews, Alan Hutton
G – Ben Foster
That squad right there is better than Pomey, who I’m still mad that we lost to. How do you lose to a club that can’t win in the league they are in? Then again, we can’t win in the league we are in. It’s just so frustrating. Though to be where we are right now, compared to last year, or any year before, is a good thing. I’m probably just overreacting. I want this club to be farther up in the EPL, and I’m sure I’m not the only Black Cat fan who is thinking that right now.
Maybe now Sunderland has the money to back to Man U and get Johnny Evans. I’m sure Fergie won’t give him up, but still it would be great to have him here.
Category: Transfer RumorsFA CUP- WE LOST TO FREAKING POMPEY
By: Stephen | 2 Comments
Let me say that again, because it sounded mildly important. SUNDERLAND lost to POMPEY. 2-1. Can we please stop losing, it’s getting harder and hard to write something good. I want to bring you readers upbeat blogs, but with this losing spell it’s getting hard to write for you guys. I mean I could sit here and go off the rocker about the match, and why our defenders are the worst in the football league. But that is so formulaic.
That’s maybe a good thing for me to do being a football fan an all. But how, do we lose to a team that is in so much turmoil, that the CEO doesn’t know who the owners are? How do we lose to a team who is in the BOTTOM OF THE EPL? How do we lose to a team that’s trying to sell their goalie? It’s because this team isn’t as good as we thought they were. Losing 2-1 in the FA Cup is just not good. They need to go back to the drawing board right away.
And now the post game interview at SAFC TV with Steve Bruce.
Unless we defend better than we have of late and stop giving away these horrible goals, we’re going to make it very difficult for ourselves.
We started well enough, got in front again and how many times have we seen it where we’ve got ourselves in front and not defended properly?
We looked very, very comfortable then there’s a long punt up the pitch, the full-back is beaten in the air when he shouldn’t be, the goalkeeper’s out of position and it ends up as a horrible goal.
That gives them a lift just before half-time. The second goal is something you see on a playing field – we’re not switched on and were caught asleep.
The goals we gave away today were shockingly embarrassing. At this level, you can’t get away with it.
We believe it was over the line. We’ve spoken before about video technology.
We needed a bit of luck to help turn things around. A last-gasp goal would have given everyone a lift.
As an American, (I know shock) I’m used to video technology during our sporting events. We’ve had it here since the 90’s, and I’m all for it crossing the rain drop to England. There are too many goals that are left out on the pitch because the refs won’t look it over it. I know the footballing establishment wouldn’t like the change in the sport, but I know the fans would. And I think that if you polled the managers, most of them would take to video replay.
Sunderland: Gordon, Bardsley, Richardson, Cana (C), Da Silva, Meyler, Henderson, Turner, Bent, Zenden, Jones.
Subs: Carson, Campbell, Healy, Malbranque, Murphy, Reid, R Noble.
Portsmouth: Begovic, Kaboul, Hreidarsson, Wilson, Vanden Borre, Boateng, Mokoena, Bouba Diop, Brown (C), Piquionne, Utaka.
Subs: Ashdown, Mullins, Webber, Sowah, Basinas.
Well that’s all for now, hopefully the club can transfer in some wins over this week.
Category: FA CupSigned—– New Defender Matthew Kilgallon from Sheffield
By: Stephen | 1 Comment
So losing badly to Chelsea was a good thing. Ok, I’m joking but the head hancho’s at SOL knew that we needed more players. AND WE GOT ANOTHER DEFENDER!!!!
Matthew is a very talented defender and has been coveted by a number of top-flight clubs recently, so I’m very pleased to have brought him here.
“He will add to our options across the back ahead of some very important games. I’m sure he’ll prove to be a great signing for the club.”
He won’t make his debut this weekend because he’s already played in the FA Cup, so we’ll just have to wait to see his awsomness. Pompey wouldn’t be able to contain him. Of course most of this is tongue in cheek, because I haven’t watched Sheffield United matches and don’t know how good he is. Chances are if Brucy knows and likes him, that’s good enough for me.
From Matt —
“I came here and met the gaffer, saw the facilities and thought ‘this is for me’.
“I was out having something to eat when I got a phone call saying Sunderland were interested.
“I almost choked on my pasta! I thought, ‘yes, let’s see what they have to say’ and now I’m here.”
“Sheffield United are a great club and I had some great times there, but I’m ready to go on to the next level now and hopefully I can do that here.
“The gaffer was a centre-half and he wasn’t bad, was he? That was a big thing for me – hopefully he can make me into a better player. I want to learn.
“The fan base and the facilities are excellent here too. It was quite an easy decision in the end.
“Sunderland have some really good players here already; it’ll be interesting to train with them and hopefully it will improve me too. I’m looking forward to it.”
Category: English Premier LeagueHe wants a reaction —— Ahead of Pompey
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From SAFC TV Steve Bruce –
“It doesn’t get any easier but it’s how you deal with it and react to it.
“When you’re up against it you see the people who want to put it right. I’m not going to make excuses because there are none.
“We were totally outclassed but it’s gone, it’s history. Now it’s about how we react and I know from being around the training ground for the last few days that there will be a reaction.
“I’ll make sure if I possibly can that we put on a hell of a performance at Portsmouth.
“In defeat you have to lift yourself and that was the worst performance I’ve ever been associated with. We have to respond and as the manager I have to lead from the front.”
The Barclays Premier League campaign gives way to the FA Cup sponsored by E.ON as Sunderland meet a Pompey side with whom they drew at the Stadium of Light in mid-November.
With some of the big guns already falling by the wayside, Bruce is eyeing an opportunity to progress to the latter stages but says his side won’t find it easy against the South Coast outfit, who currently occupy the top flight’s bottom spot.
“I will always treat the cup competitions with the utmost respect. Two big clubs are out – you don’t see Manchester United and Liverpool going out in the third round too often.
“Anything’s possible. It’s a tough draw, that’s for sure. Portsmouth have had their own problems but they came up here, got a draw and we’ll give them the respect they deserve.
“They might have had problems off the pitch but they’ve got some good players on it, all round. It’ll be a proper cup tie.”
Category: Team NewsCFC v Sunderland – Game Report – beat soundly
By: Stephen | 9 Comments
7-2, um can we get David James in here. PLEASE? Our goalies, and backline are horrible. I wish that something good would happen, all this losing after all the pub about us being better than last year is getting to me. I want more than David Bent scoring.
Sunderland: Fulop, Bardsley, McCartney, Cana (C), Da Silva, Murphy, Malbranque, Henderson, Meyler, Bent, Jones.
Subs: Carson, Zenden, Campbell, L Noble, R Noble, Liddle, Healy.
Chelsea: Cech, Carvalho, Cole, Terry, Belletti, Ivanovic, Malouda, Cole, Lampard, Ballack, Anelka.
Subs: Hilario, Zhirkov, Ferreira, Sturridge, Matic, Alex, Borini.
SAFCtv Steve Bruce
“It’s disappointing when I’m here and have to face the music. We simply weren’t good enough.
“I don’t want to make excuses but we can’t cope with the number of players we’ve got missing.
“You could see today we were sadly lacking defensively and we’ve come up against a very good Chelsea team.
“The manner of the defeat is disappointing and we hope we can get a few back on the pitch to give us a kick-start next week.
“We weren’t good enough to compete. From the first five or ten minutes we were all over the place defensively; we weren’t settled.
“It’s important we respond to it. We’ve had our backsides kicked and no-one enjoys it, so we’ll go back to the training ground, work hard and try and get over it as best we can.
“Making excuses is not my nature but we need players back on the pitch.”
The next three matches are very winnable for Sunderland (well hopefully) Everton, Wigan, and Stoke.
Category: Team News
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