The Devil’s Advocate on PvA and mixed fortunes at Spurs and QPR

Malcolm Dawson writes……man of few words Rob Hutchison (he of the one word player ratings) is becoming more garrulous these days with his regular take on events happening in and around the club that is Sunderland AFC. Here he reflects on the events of the past few days, although he’d hit the save key on his laptop before the speculation surrounding Emmanuel Adebayor’s preference for Irish whiskey rather than Scotch in his coffee – a claim he denies, entered the public domain. Whether or not he has enjoyed the odd fag or hookah pipe I can’t say. David Moyes’s latest press conference is taking place as this is hitting the ether and so far there has been no comment on PvA’s alleged tobacco fuelled indulgences. But still Rob finds sufficient goings on to air these thoughts ahead of the visit of Pardew and Palace.

Rob as seen by Jake
Rob as seen by Jake

Another Week in the life of SAFC and the view from the leftfield.

Well I guess we could say it’s been a bit of a mixed week this one. A pitiful loss at Spurs, a hard earned win at QPR, and Pat the Dutchie (of the left hand side) is in the headlines.

Two games, two perspectives.  We lost very badly to a top four side by a meagre goal. And do you know what? I’m not bothered. Moyes has set his stall out against Everton so we knew it would be more of the same against any top four contenders and whether it be 1-0 or 9-0 the percentages on the day didn’t lie and we lost. By the time the team has settled we’ll do enough to nick results against similar teams before the season’s out. We’ve done it over the last few seasons and we’ll do it again. Remember where you read it first hombres.

Joel Osoro got another chance to lead the line at Loftus Road
Joel Osoro got another chance to lead the line at Loftus Road

But moving onto QPR and we see our David does actually have a constructive gameplan after all. Apart from being youth, youth, youth, which is glaringly obvious and probably long overdue, Moyes now knows that if we get the ball and can keep the ball, then yes actually we can play a bit of football against sides that will work all day and try and close you down. We are still a team of individuals with shining lights in Pickford, Defoe and Kone, but when players like Ndong start gelling then you actually have the semblance of a spine that is pretty decent and certainly no weaker than last season. He was superb midweek, looking for space, having movement, the ability to pick a pass and go either way when running at defenders. And the best bit, he didn’t kick anyone up in the air either! Player of the season material for sure if he can show the consistency week in week out that we usually lack.

Sick as a parrot or a smoking gun?
Sick as a parrot or a smoking gun?

I learned far more about our XI at QPR than I did at Spurs, and with two games coming up, where in theory we can compete well across the park, we’ll know a lot more about how our season will pan out in ten days’ time. I’d target 4 points from those two games and if we can achieve that, then we’ll be just fine.

A bizarre moment with PVA at Spurs, getting pulled just before KO. The club’s statements have been very limp on this incident and others, full of inconsistencies. It seems like the ghost of Mags Byrne is still hanging around the club. Martin Bain is currently unable to consign it to the past with weak communication on various levels, whether it be over PVA or being unable to get a striker over the line during the transfer window – which was pretty feeble. He’s left Moyes badly short.

I’m calling the next two games a 1-1 draw against Palace and a shabby 1-0 win over the Baggies. See you all at Southampton hopefully.

Rob Hutchison

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