Monsieur Salut writes: from an easily conceded defeat to a heartening recovery for a draw, Sunderland tested our nerves today but the point gives us a glimmer of hope for the rest of the season. We gave Liverpool masses of possession and eventually paid the price, defensive lapses – with Billy Jones at fault both times – handing Liverpool a 2-0 lead. But as thousands of home fans made their commendable stand against their rip-off owners’ ticket pricing plans, the comeback began. Mignolet allowed Adam Johnson’s free kick to beat him at the post and Jermain Defoe then showed again what a classy striker he is, finishing a terrific little move involving PVA and the impressive Khazri. Below you see Pete Sixsmith’s customary seven-word verdict (1) and a companion summing-up from John McCormick (2) …
Feb 6 2016 Liverpool (0) 2 Sunderland (0) 2
1) Could this be the season’s turning point? and
2) *The window’s shut but so’s the trapdoor
Feb 2 2016 Sunderland (0) 0 Manchester City (1) 1 One point was the least we deserved
Jan 23 2016 Sunderland (1) 1 AFC Bournemouth (1) 1 Suppose one point is better than none
Jan 16 2016 Tottenham Hotspur 4 (1) Sunderland 1 (1) Poor decision making on field and benchJan 13 2016
Swansea (2) 2 Sunderland (1) 4 Much improved second half after dismal first and a second texted 7 came in shortly afterwards – Always good to win away in Europe!
Jan 9 2016 Arsenal (1) 3 Sunderland (1) 1 Had chances but they have better players
Jan 2 2016 Sunderland (1) 3 Aston Villa (1) 1 The old hands pulled us through this
Dec 30 2015 Sunderland 0 (0) Liverpool 1 (0): Better performance but the inexorable slide continues
Dec 26 2015 Man City 4 (3) Sunderland 1 (0): Drew second half; shame about the first
Dec 19 2015 Chelsea 3 (2) SAFC 1 (0) *Fought like tigers. Undone by woeful start
Dec 12 2015 SAFC 0 (0) Watford (1) 1 * Disappointingly insipid and cannot complain about result
Dec 5 2015 *Arsenal (1) 3 SAFC (1) 1: Deserved better but couldn’t take our chances
Nov 28 2015 SAFC (0) 2 Stoke City (0) 0 Totally unrecognisable from the last home game
Nov 23 2015 *Crystal Palace (0) 0 Sunderland (0) 1: Winning ugly but winning. Sam’s the Man*
Nov 7 2015: SAFC (0) 0 Southampton (0) 1 A truly dismal display that heralds relegation
Nov 1 2015: Everton (2) 6 SAFC (1) 2 The usual post-derby anti-climax knocks us flat or Quite clear why Advocaat decamped to Holland or The defending was like Halloween: absolutely frightening
Oct 25 2015: SAFC (1) 3 Newcastle United (0) 0 Nothing better than the joy of six
Oct 17 2015: West Bromwich Albion (0) 1 SAFC (0) 0 * At least the pies were good quality to which Sixer adds Another Pantilimon error means still no win
Oct 3 2015: SAFC (2) 2 West Ham United (1) 2 Dick can be proud of his (?) players
September 26 2015: Manchester United (1) 3 SAFC (0) 0 Routine for United thanks to defensive errors
September 22 2015: League Cup: SAFC (0) 1 Manchester City (4) City’s brilliance aided by pathetic Sunderland defending or Defence horribly exposed by a rampant City or Not on the same planet as City
September 19 2015: AFC Bournemouth (2) 2 SAFC (0) 0 Couldn’t recover from a truly abysmal start
September 13 2015: SAFC (0) 0 Tottenham Hotpsur (0) 1 Vastly improved performance not reflected by result
August 29 2015: Aston Villa (2) 2 SAFC (1) 2 * M’Vila and Lens snatch a shaky point
August 25 2015: League Cup 2nd round: SAFC (3) 6 Exeter City (3) 3 Young hearts run free in second half
August 22 2015: SAFC (0) 1 Swansea City (1) 1 Gloom lifting after a more determined performance
August 15 2015: SAFC (0) 1 Norwich City (2) 3 I’ve seen some shockers in my time …
August 8 2015: Leicester City (3) 4 SAFC (0) 2 No encouragement to take from this shocker
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Great fightback which will give us confidence for the United game . Well done Mignolet for letting us benefit from one of your bloopers ,but it still was a fine strike by Johnson . Swapping Defoe for Jozy ,still cant believe it . There’s one born every minute .
I think Liverpool will be moving to replace Mignolet soon [ 5 year contract big mistake ] He makes too many bloopers. All the big sides have got really top class ‘keepers, apart from Liverpool. I hope they don’t decide to focus on Jordan Pickford.
Underwhelmed at that thought.
Can anyone explain to me how Billy Jones keeps getting picked? Partly to blame for the goal on Tuesday, partly to blame for 1 today, completely to blame for the other. When we take the lead we normally win but that is not going to happen often with him continually giving goals away. I have never seen a professional footballer who needs as many touches to control a ball.
He is mid-table Championship level at best, and Yedlin is enthusiastic but equally as unreliable. Right back should have been a priority in the transfer window.
I think it probably was but Sam gave an interesting interview in which he said some targets got injured, some were at clubs who decided not to sell after injuries to others and some just didn’t want to come to Sunderland. Expect Adam Matthews to be given a chance when he’s fit again, which should be soon.
Can’t see Matthews getting anywhere near the first team again . If there is to be a change it will be Yedlin , yes it’s that bad !
Why? It’s not as if there’s much competition for the spot and he’s still on the payroll. Jones’ positional play is poor at times. Matthews at least held his position last Sunday when I saw him at Hetton and he can get forward if necessary. Mind you we have seen so little of him it is hard to assess his qualities compared to Yedlin and Jones.
When Kaboul is fully fit Sam will have the option of playing a back three. Yedlin/Matthews and PvA could be useful attacking wing backs providing that two from Catts, M’Vila or Seb are available to cover those two. That leaves Kirkhoff to play central midfield and Defoe up front with Borini, Lens, Khazri, Johnson, Rodwell, Toivonen, N’Doye and Watmore competing for the other spots.
I’m not saying he will play this way just that it gives him options. One thing is for certain and that is Billy Jones is a better full back than centre back.
Also thought Kone might have done better after Jones got caught out. He ambled back and never even looked at Lallana. Might not have stopped the goal but never gave himself the chance to stop the pass reaching the goalscorer.
I;d add a left back to that too….and play Van Arnolt as an out and out winger