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Ipswich Away Next, Can Anyone Honestly See Us Winning? — Notes for Sunderland
Monday, 25th Sep 2017 11:47 by HarryFromBath

HarryFromBath assesses the mood in the opposition camp ahead of Tuesday night’s game at Portman Road by delving into their forums.

“Sad times”, “Get relegated they said, win more games they said”, “I worry for our future, a proud old club being dragged through absolute dirt”, “We are not even Championship standard by the look of it. We are more suited to League One and that’s where we might end up yet”, “It can’t go on.”

“Bottom three, what a bloody mess.” The mood is grim on Wearside. Saturday’s 2-1 loss to Cardiff, a fourth consecutive home league defeat, dropped the side into the relegation places. They have not won at home in 2017 and they have failed to win any game in the month of September since 2012.

“It’s a sad state of affairs the club is in”, “There must eventually come a point when it can’t get any worse”, “It would be nice to win once in a while”, “It was blindingly obvious that we would be in for a long hard season from the off. People who were preaching about promotion didn’t have a clue.”

“We are not competitive in this league. Opponents always look hungrier, have options and are more confident on the ball”, “We are poor, simple as that. We create nothing, can’t pass and can’t defend, an embarrassment of a team”, “One win from nine in the league, it’s always jam tomorrow with us.”

Simon Grayson

“Grayson looks lost here”, “I have backed him and been more than patient knowing he’s not at fault for everything at the club, but it’s obvious now he hasn’t got the skills and qualities needed for this situation. He’s not the man for us”, “I’m starting to believe we have been stuck with a lemon again.”

“A negative embarrassing loser.” The 47-year-old former Preston and Leeds manager took charge at the Stadium of Light at the end of June. Fans have severely criticised his negative, confusing tactics and many want rid of him. “This bloke isn’t up to the job. The longer he’s here, the worse it will get.”

“Questions need to be asked of Grayson, his constant change of tactics is baffling. Even fans can’t keep up”, “Poor players can even be given a system so that they know what to do. They can be organised. Grayson seems incapable of that, and this league is all about teams being organised.”

“Grayson is just another sucker who fell for the patter. It’s the same old and he was shafted before the season started. The state of the club makes it an impossible job for 99 per cent of half-decent managers”, “There’s simply no chance he will be sacked. Anything that costs money won’t be done.”

Ill-Fated Substitutions

“Grayson’s substitutions have been hopeless and have cost us”, “We were told by Leeds, Preston and Huddersfield fans, 1-0 up and he takes two outlets off going forward”, “We have a manager whose only achievements are League One promotions, could come in useful that”, “I miss Moyes.”

“Well, I have tried to defend Grayson but this is unforgivable.” Fans were furious last week when the manager took off playmaker Jonny Williams and winger Callum McManaman with the side a goal up at Hull. “Here comes the Alamo.” The Tigers took the game to Sunderland and scored an equaliser.

This was compounded by events at Everton on Tuesday night in the Carabao Cup. With the hosts 2-0 ahead and strolling to victory, Williams and McManaman were introduced after the break into what was a meaningless game. Both were then unable to play in Saturday’s subsequent defeat to Cardiff.

Injuries

“Until the lads come back from injury it will be a struggle.” The side have also lost key players lately. As well as Williams (illness) and McManaman (groin), defenders Billy Jones (knee), John O’Shea (calf), winger Aiden McGeady and striker Lewis Grabban (both hamstring) have all missed games.

Formations

“On the whole, we tend to make playing football look very difficult”, “Commentators use the phrase ‘hangs in the air’ far too much for my liking”, “We are badly lacking someone who can put the ball in the net”, “Tactically this feels like a continuation of last season”, “No strength, no pace, nothing.”

“What in holy hell is this formation? It’s like watching bairns’ seven-a-side, players all over the shop”, “We won’t know the formation until we start the game”, “Eleven stooges, 12 if you include the bloke paid to manage them”, “It’s a mess, we can’t afford to keep messing around with different systems.”

RuiterMatthewsKoneWilsonOviedoNdongCattermoleHoneymanGoochBrowningVaughan

“That forward three is shocking.” Sunderland started against the Bluebirds (above) with wing-backs and with youth products Lynden Gooch and George Honeyman linking with striker James Vaughan. Not for the first time, fans were unable to work out the formation when the line-up was announced.

RuiterMatthewsKoneWilsonOviedoNdongCattermoleHoneymanGoochBrowningVaughan

Grayson (above) altered the shape after 20 minutes Cardiff having taken the lead and they caused problems especially on the left flank. “I may be wrong here, but we have a right-back at left-back, a left-back on the wing, a midfielder on the other wing, a centre-half at right-back and a midfielder up front.”

“Poor teams play safety-first stuff and walk away with the points”, “No pressure on the opposition at all”, “Teams don’t even play well to beat us, they wait for mistakes”, “It’s so easy. Just wait and the clangers will come along. I would think that every opposition manager had said that pre-match.”

“Nine games in and not one clean sheet. It will be 11 by next Saturday”, “Why can’t we just keep the ball?” The litany of criticisms has included the side’s habit of making mistakes, an inability to play with tempo, retain the ball or constantly press the opposition. “We are drearily slow in possession.”

“Our midfield is the problem, it’s woeful”, “On paper, we have more than enough central midfielders but the truth is that none of them are any good. Apart from Williams there isn’t a decent one among the rest”, “They look like they are running through treacle, sitting back again and inviting pressure.”

“Yet another game where we don’t threaten their goal.” A lack of stature in both boxes and quality up front are also a concern. “One problem is the lack of height in the team”, “We’re lumping it to David Vaughan as usual and he is being marked by centre-halves about half-a-foot taller than him.”

Sunderland 1 — 2 Cardiff

“Another home defeat”, “Saturdays are so much better since we went down”, “I have been very critical of us but today we have been unlucky”, “We had four shots on target all game, how have we been unlucky?”, “It’s always darkest before the dawn”, “Unfortunately it’s a nuclear winter, mate.”

Craig Bryson, who is on loan from Derby, put Cardiff ahead on seven minutes, running unchecked on to a through ball. The sides then exchanged penalties after the break, Lynden Gooch levelling for Sunderland on 53 and Joe Ralls putting the visitors ahead 20 minutes later after Lamine Kone fouled from a Cardiff corner.

“Cardiff were strolling around the park and wasting time while we had no urgency”, “It’s no surprise we are being run off the park. Confidence is at an all-time low and we lack pace and flair. I’m not sure what can be done at this point as we are stuck with this squad for the next three months.”

Everton 3 — 0 Sunderland (Carabao Cup)

“What a state our club are in. I’m sick to death of losing”, “That result was entirely predictable”, “We handed a team that was struggling three goals and a stroll in the park. That’s not right at all”, “Fair play to those that went down to watch this”, “Thank God, it could have been far worse than three.”


“Oh well, there’s always the league.” Dominic Calvert-Lewin opened the scoring for the Toffees with a tidy finish on 39 minutes and added a second with powerful drive on 52 after being sent clear by Sandro. Oumar Niasse’s good finish seven minutes from time sealed Everton’s comfortable victory.

SteeleLoveKoneJonesMatthewsNdongGibsonHoneymanRodwellGoochVaughan

Grayson included experienced fringe players in the starting XI (above). “Looking a bit lightweight in all areas tonight, aren’t we?” “We have three right-backs who are all poor and starting the same tie. Jesus wept”, “It’s an amazing time to be alive. I hope we have a right-back on the bench just in case.”

Hull City 1 — 1 Sunderland

“Today was unquestionably Grayson’s fault”, “We went from looking proactive and dangerous to sitting back and waiting for the inevitable”, “We stripped all attacking threat from the team. It was backs-to-the-wall stuff”, “I have never known a team defend as deep as we did in the second half.”

Sunderland took the lead through a powerful James Vaughan header on 17 minutes, his first goal for the Wearsiders. Hull grew into the game after the break and David Meyler struck eight minutes from time against his former club to equalise, and he nearly added a winner for City shortly afterwards.

“The daft idiot took off our two most effective players for no apparent reason.” Instead of taking the positives from a well-won point at a difficult venue, Wearsiders turned on Grayson for his negative substitutions. “Williams and McManaman were the only two of our players relieving the pressure.”

RuiterMatthewsKoneWilsonOviedoNdongCattermoleHoneymanWilliamsMcManamanVaughan

“We’re actually looking canny here, passing it around nicely.” The starting line-up (above) had a good attacking balance and took the game to Hull. Although fans criticised the substitutions, there were few attacking options on the bench when Grayson tried to replenish tired legs after the break.

Goalkeepers and Defenders

“What a save”, “Robbin Ruiter is definitely a good shot-stopper, but he seems incapable of making saves at his near post, It happened at Hull and it was the same against the Blades.” The 30-year-old summer arrival from FC Utrecht “can be slow to react to attacks and get caught in no-man’s land.”

Robbin Ruiter imageRobbin Ruiter

“Ruiter looks alright coming out for crosses but at times he has the reactions of a slug”, “A good shot stopper from range and he looks fine from crosses, but his positioning is weak and he is too slow to react”, “He doesn’t get down quickly for low shots. I have pushed my wardrobe over more quickly.”

“Adam Matthews played well going forward against Cardiff and did a solid job stifling their right wing after switching to left-back.” The 25-year-old ex-Celtic man played on loan at Bristol City last season. “He has looked better with every game this season. There might be a decent player there after all.”

“Matthews looks like our best right-back to me. He was our best player against Cardiff”, “He has done okay, his crossing can be erratic at times but he has done well and often with little cover from his winger”, “His passing has been good and he has looked composed. He can’t cross at all, mind.”

“Put Billy Jones into a League One side and he wouldn’t stand out.” The 30-year-old ex-West Brom right-back “is as thick as an omelette. I have seen Greggs bags blowing about on the pitch with more positional sense that this useless idiot”, “He has surprised me at how bad he has been at this level.”

“I didn’t think it possible, but Jones has become worse this season”, “We have had poor players over the last 10 years but he’s right up there with the best of them”, “He is not lazy and he does try, he’s just epically woeful”, “He is completely lacking in any footballing ability, he is simply an athlete.”

“Bryan Oviedo is a decent full-back who knows his job, when to tackle, how to pass and when to get forward.” The 27-year-old former Everton left-back and Costa Rica international “looks good going forward and solid in defence”, “He was a brilliant threat in the number 10 position against Cardiff.”

“Oviedo doesn’t look match fit yet and was maybe not fast enough for the Premier League”, “Last season his passing was often very erratic”, “He is too safe and doesn’t gamble enough”, “He could get forward a bit more. Jonny Williams looked for him on the overlap at Hull and he wasn’t there.”

“Marc Wilson doesn’t look too mobile. He is being bullied by Cardiff’s number 10.” The 30-year-old one-time Stoke man arrived from Bournemouth on August deadline day. “He’s solid enough and he looks steady but he can over-commit himself high up the pitch at times and miss the vital tackle.”

“Wilson has always been a decent player and he can play anywhere across the back four”, “He is very assured in defence but doesn’t look too mobile”, “He looks steady but he has given a few daft freekicks away”, “Wilson looks a decent signing for me, I’m happy with what I have seen so far.”

“John O’Shea is slow but at least he has the excuse of being 36 years old.” The former Manchester United centre-half “has been a great servant and a top professional”, “He stands firm and calmly organises the defence”, “Time to call our saviour back. Old and slow as he is, he should be starting.”

John O’Shea imageJohn O’Shea

“O’Shea’s awareness of what’s going on and who is where allows him to make things look easy. He has a football brain”, “He shouldn’t be in the mix, it’s not his fault we are relying on him”, “The more he plays, the more I fear his lack of any pace will be found out and capitalised on by our opponents.”

“I’m sorry, but Tyias Browning should be a boxer or a shot-putter. He makes John O’Shea look like Bobby Moore. The kid will never make it in the footballing world.” The 23-year-old Everton loanee “is quick enough but has a terrible touch, awful distribution and he completely lacks composure”.

“Browning needs a strong leader to play with him in defence”, “He’s solid and wins most challenges like a good footballer, including some great last-ditch tackles. He is very raw on the ball. His passing and composure on the ball are laughable, and he makes the occasional howler when he panics.”

Lamine Kone

“If Kone focused he could be awesome in this division. If he sulks he will be an absolute liability.” The 28-year-old ex-Lorient centre-back “needs to give more leadership”, “He raised his game when Sam Allardyce organised us. He’s nothing more than a big strong athlete in reality”, “He isn’t interested.”

Lamine Kone imageLamine Kone clashes with Bournemouth's Simon Francis and Steve Cook

“Kone conceded the penalty against Cardiff because he’s not very good at defending”, “You can only do so much with physicality, then it’s down to positioning, the ability to read the game and desire, all things he seriously lacks”, “Pathetic, careless, useless, abysmal”, “I hate the bastard with a passion.”

Central Midfielders

“Jack Rodwell is a tsunami of negative energy, with the effect that has on the fans, the team and the end result.” The 26-year-old former Manchester City man “is the destroyer of hope, the crusher of dreams”, “A scarecrow”, “We should never play him again. His aversion to football shines through.”

Jack Rodwell imageJack Rodwell

“Useless, useless”, “Rodwell isn’t the answer to bolstering a midfield, he’s a passenger”, “He is ill-disciplined and doesn’t want the ball”, “Howard Jones summed Rodwell up when he wrote the song Hide and Seek, ‘There was a time when there was nothing at all, nothing at all, just a distant hum’.”

“I wonder if Darron Gibson’s drunken rant sealed his fate in Grayson’s eyes.” The 29-year-old former Everton man was filmed in July launching a verbal tirade against his team-mates. “It looks like his antics have finished him”, “It’s worrying that Gibson can’t even get a look in ahead of Rodwell.”

“I don’t like or rate Gibson but he can recycle possession simply and isn’t afraid of the ball”, “I would play him, he actually looks after the ball”, “He is capable of putting his foot on the ball and slowing the game down when we’re getting battered”, “He sprays the ball nicely and rarely wastes a pass.”

“Are people still waiting for Didier Ndong to come good?” The 25-year-old former Lorient man “runs around like a headless chicken. He has no touch at all, can’t pass or shoot and gives possession away time after time”, “He appears to have little spatial awareness and not much of a footballing brain.”

“Hopefully someone is coaching Ndong to stop and think about what he is going to do with the ball. At present, he’s running everywhere with no real direction”, “If he could pass the ball occasionally to one of our players we might have something”, “Him protecting the defence is a frightening thought.”

“Lee Cattermole is like an old man pottering around his allotment while he waits for the date of his hip replacement.” The 29-year-old former Wigan man “is useless, but I like that he tucks his shirt in and his black boots”, “He should have been got rid of last summer, a massive part of our problems.”

“Cattermole’s lack of mobility might cost is this season”, “He’s way off the pace even in this league”, “I keep thinking he will take a game by the scruff of the neck but he doesn’t”, “It’s a strange one. He is pretty poor but when he’s out of the team we are worse. He offers no leadership or organisation.”

Jonny Williams

“Williams is busy enough, he looks quite tidy on the ball and has a go. You can see why fans like him. But his final ball needs work.” The 23-year-old Crystal Palace loanee “is good on the ball and he has a quick turn of pace. For a little kid, he likes to get stuck in”, “All over the place winning second balls.”

Jonny Williams imageJonny Williams

“Positive, attacking, he always turns towards goal and advances.” The former Ipswich loan signing “is exactly the busy attack-minded midfielder we have needed for some time”, “He is not fully match fit and needs time to gel”, “Always showing for the ball and moving into space, he looks a good player.”

Wide Midfielders

“George Honeyman shouldn’t be more than a bit-part player but finds himself in the team every week.” The 23-year-old youth product “isn’t a winger and never has been, He is being played out wide for his work rate”, “He gets around the pitch and has good stamina but that’s really about it.”

“The odd half-decent game doesn’t mask how poor Honeyman is”, “He is absolutely pointless. He should be playing for Hartlepool and he’s not even a player for the future”, “He was anonymous against Cardiff, doing nothing all game”, “A decent, honest lad but probably not quite good enough.”

“I thought Lynden Gooch was meant to be rapid. He’s quick off the mark but is pretty one-paced.” The 21-year-old youth product “takes up good positions and drags defenders out of position. He’s good at pulling away from defenders to receive the ball but we don’t feed his feet quickly enough.”

“Gooch gets his body in first to receive the ball and makes life difficult for defenders”, “He should be in the hole behind the striker, he’s better moving between the lines”, “He wouldn’t be so exposed in a better team”, “There’s nothing wrong with him, other than being a small person in a small side.”

“Aiden McGeady is getting on age-wise but clearly doesn’t rely on pace any more.” The 31-year-old ex-Everton left winger played under Grayson on loan last season at Preston. “He is two-footed, he scores or assists with his left or right so that the right-back doesn’t know which way he will go.”

Aidan McGeady imageAidan McGeady playing for Preston against Diagouraga

“McGeady is good enough to play in the top flight for the right manager and Grayson seems to get the best out of him”, “He overcomplicated things, needlessly trying to beat his man with his 16th step over and losing the ball”, “I have noticed opponents targeting the full-back he is meant to support.”

Callum McManaman

“I dread it when McManaman is substituted. We have no out ball.” The 26-year-old August arrival from West Brom “gets at defenders and draws fouls”, “He has looked good in his spells. He whips good balls in from open play but there is no-one of any notable height to get on the end of them.”

Callum McManaman imageCallum McManaman v Berra

“I like McManaman, crude as hell at times but he’s direct and it works at this level”, “He will turn out to be a great signing. If McGeady is on the other wing we will look dangerous”, “He looks hungry and can actually retain the ball”, “He doesn’t like passing but is lively and dangerous, a quality signing.”

Strikers - James Vaughan

“Vaughan was industrious and worked hard but was manhandled all afternoon by the Cardiff defenders. I have no idea why we persist in lumping it to him.” The 29-year-old summer signing from Bury “works the channels and holds the ball up nicely. He tries hard but is not top quality.”

James Vaughan imageJames Vaughan playing for former club Huddersfield Town

“I feel sorry for Vaughan, he works his socks off up front”, “When he holds the ball up, there is no one to receive his flick-ons”, “He clearly knows where the goal is given how many he scored last season, but I don’t think we have been playing the right formation to get the best out of him.”

Wearsiders’ Views on ITFC and the Game

“Haway the Ipswich away. This game is for the hardcore”, “This game is for the idiots with no brain”, “Me plus two are stopping over. One if the stupidest things I have ever done booking this up but a good night will be had”, “Let's hope the travelling fans get what they deserve.”

“Bloody hell man, more games!? Make it stop!”, “Last year we got seven days’ break in between losses, we only get two or three this year”, “I have been to Ipswich a few times and never seen us win”, “Defeat by two or three at Ipswich”, “Mick Mac to stick the final nail in the coffin.”

“I am dreading this to be honest.” Most Wearsiders expect to get little from Tuesday’s game and are hoping that their creative players will be available. “I think it all depends on the fitness of McGeady, Williams and McManaman. With those three in the side I would be confident of getting something.”

“We have a record of signing players on a small budget. In 2004 under Mick McCarthy we got them cheap”, “If you look at his team he got promoted in similar circumstances starting off with a team of grafters. He got us to an FA Cup semi-final, a play-off place and then promotion with that rubbish.”

“Get big Mick's autograph man.” Apart from our manager, Sunderland fans also highlighted one current Town employee with prior connections to their club. “Is it the most obvious bet in history that Waghorn will score against us on Tuesday?”, “A home win and Waghorn to score any time.”

“At Ipswich, it will be Waghorn who scores from mistake by the keeper”, “Martyn Waggy bangs one in 90th minute for a 1-0 defeat at Ipswich to make things better”, “I said all along we should have signed Waghorn. He was dirt cheap, a few £100k. He can also play number 10 and from the right.”

Sunderland forums are very active and I will continue to keep an eye on them ahead of the game. If there are any interesting additional pre-match thoughts, I will piece them and post them on the forum on Tuesday morning, and I will also link them on my Twitter feed.

Websites

The busiest Sunderland forum is the lively and well-informed Ready to Go.


Photo: Action Images



Please report offensive, libellous or inappropriate posts by using the links provided.



rickw added 12:00 - Sep 25
Thanks Harry - a good read!
4

horsehollerer added 12:09 - Sep 25
Good stuff all always Harry. Given how dispirited they are right now, we really need to get stuck in and drive forward from the first minute. COYB!
6

Steve_M added 12:25 - Sep 25
Reading that, a very winnable game but they still have a core of experienced players who were good once. It's definitely one for our fans and players to be up for from the off - do that, early goal and it should be three points.
3

BlueMachines added 12:28 - Sep 25
I cannot believe that Jonny Williams is not match fit......

Could go either way. We should attack them and seek to exploit their severe lack of confidence. However we could quite simply be the game where they turn it around as is so often the case with the mighty Ipswich. The number of times poor teams have ended or broken a bad run when against us is disappointing.
3

12th_Man added 12:35 - Sep 25
Can see us loosing this game
0

dirtyboy added 12:59 - Sep 25
1-1 Williams for them Waghorn for us!

Still look like they have some very decent players in their squad...I can't see them being this bad for too much longer..
2

dirtyboy added 12:59 - Sep 25
1-1 Williams for them Waghorn for us!

Still look like they have some very decent players in their squad...I can't see them being this bad for too much longer..
2

LankHenners added 13:32 - Sep 25
Thanks Harry, looks like a good start is in order to get on top of them and stay there. Hopefully we can take the good bits of the Leeds performance and transfer them over tomorrow night.

I do rate McManaman, and Williams on his day can be a real threat so hopefully they won't be fully fit as they could test our makeshift backline. Mick will show respect for his mate Grayson but hopefully not to the extent that we start cautiously - got to get back to the play off season where we started quick and got at opponents at home from the off.
4

bugledog123 added 14:41 - Sep 25
I think we might win this but i do say that (almost) every week. COYB!
2

Bluebell added 14:48 - Sep 25
Thanks as always Harry.

Interesting to read what they say about Jonny Williams although I have just read he is ill/injured and won't be playing.

This should be a game we win easily but we have thought that about lower teams before!

I will go for 3-1. COYBs.
3

Seasider added 16:31 - Sep 25
I said the Bolton fans were the most pessimistic I had read in Harry's 'Forum Delving'of forthcoming opposition.

Well the 'Mackems' seem equally fed up.

Hope their two best players in Williams and McManaman will be out,as both seem doubtful.

Unlike previous seasons Ipswich have not been susceptible to the bottom teams,having already beaten all those we have played.I think all our 5 wins have been against strugglers;and Sunderland are 3rd from bottom;so am looking for another win.

It would be nice to see Town attack from the off,unlike against Bolton;and think Bersant Celina would be ideal for this match.Lets hope Mick feels the same;but from his utterances about the Kosovan recently,I wouldn't put money on it.
2

Wark_On added 18:17 - Sep 25
Excellent stuff Harry. I hope you're entertained when extracting these comments? Two standouts were on Ruiter's slow reactions "I've pushed my wardrobe over more quickly", and the comparison on positioning between Billy Jones and the Greggs bag. Brilliant.

Let's hope we give them reason to continue in this vein on Wednesday.

3-1.
1

WestSussexBlue added 18:51 - Sep 25
Their pessimism and my anxiety over us getting a much needed 3 points means I fear a draw.
My heart wants 2-0, My head says 1-1.
1

itfcgene added 20:00 - Sep 25
Thanks Biddley bub. I think We will see a good indication of our season ahead on tuesday. Can we accustom to winning ways? Everybody is in teh place lets go.
1

Sam added 06:51 - Sep 26
By the sounds of it, we should be winning this as we have two winnable games. Celina starts and Sunderland will find it hard. If he does, 2-O to us and a good performance. UP THE TOWN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
1

Ardentitfc1978 added 11:13 - Sep 26
Celina a must.....let him start MM !!! Should nick this but.........by 1 goal. Hoping for more though.
2

IamSpartacus added 13:10 - Sep 26
Good one Harry.

I like the fact the Sunderland fan says he backed Grayson and has been 'more than patient'...9 games into the season! Haha!
2


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