Holmes_and_Watson

So many defensive errors there.

Oh sod...

I'd only done a bit of my post on rating the transfer window, and it's going to sound a little sour and based on this half, rather than what I'd typed 🙂 Some of that was based on my unfamiliarity with the players. But with Baz, we've seen plenty of games, and we're seeing the same errors all the time. The window did offer us a chance to bring in competition. But 1) we're desperately trying to push McCarthy out the door and 2) The SR dream is poisiton blind. If Tino and Lavia are worth bucketloads, why not a 'keeper of the same age. While numerous, affordable goalkeepers passed us by. Yes, he is not helped by plenty of errors elsewhere for a lot of the goals we concede. Yes, he's not helped by the tactics that leave massive gaps, and a defence pulled all over. The first was a deflection too. Lots of reasons, but it can;t be good when every shot on our goal, I expect to go in. There have been a few posts about Martin's tactics. One was a reminder of the fragility of playing a single style or tactic with gradual tweaks to it. Sunderland didn;t take a minute to suss it out, break it and score. Gaps we've already seen plenty of time this season. Like Baz, yes it's early days in the season. Yes, we've had a large player turnover, and yes, we're not playing any of our top two strikers. Yes, we'd expect to improve. But they are big gaps to fill. Midfield balance is off today, and we need an attacker. Martin will have been guted by that first 45 and no surprise to see Che and Fraser on. Yet, in the first seconds, Sunderland again exploit that massive gap at full back and get a chance in.

"Gavin Bazunu: Caught by the surprise element" "Gavin Bazunu: Caught out by a shot on target." more like. >sigh<

Sunderland knew exactly how to exploit Martin's tactic. In addition, we made it very easy for them. So, I don;t know if the midfield balance was always off, or it's because we've had to react. I think the former. But Chalres with Downes and 1 more attacking option would be the better balance. Stu too direct and runs with the ball. So far, Smallbone did well working with JWP, wo created lots of space for him to exploit. This set up doesn;t allow that. Also, we've got a disjointed front three for them to pass to. Mara hasn;t offered any link ups, Edozie's end product iffy anyway, and AA not getting much joy (and not in his best poisiton anyway). And another one goes in, just as I was typing that as usual opponents are stronger than us.

Baz: That looked like he had sight of that enough to parry it away. Instead, right back into danger. Hmmm.

Baz saves! Elsewhere, Dak has us sussed. Loads of space in the middle, but he knows where those spaces are going to be and pings it into them early.

Good that Edozie got into poisiton to intercept. Possibly AA in a better poistion. 2 mins laster, he takes someone on too deep. Had that gone to an opponent, we would have been racing back again.

we're having soe chances to get back into it. But Sunderland will be ready for us passing it around them, and waiting to pounce.

Free kick in deecent position... got a comfortable save...

Defence are just going through the motions. Taking some positions with no purpose and little reaction to the game. A lot coming down the flanks in the gaps left by our fullbacks being forward. That's Martin's tactic.

Points for Baz for being quick. Minus a few for it being a pants header.

Oh Mr Martin... I think your position of the fullbacks in your tactic has been sussed out (it was in the opening games too, but Sunderland able to take full advantage). Still bags of time left to get back into it...

Allowed Sunderland to pass it across, didn;t close down... deflected or am I being kind to Baz?

Oh heck!

I remember games where Sunderland's support take a bit to get get going. When they fell behind it went quiet. But that's not going to be the case today.

Edozie positioning very poor. But then, he's no defender.

CMYR! AA with an early shot. Very fluid options in that front three with Maria supportinng AA, but that might change. We get our usual caught on the break immediately though. And sod...

Meanwhile, it's another lonely night for Jessica. "Why does Lighthouse play so hard to get?" she sobs. "Why is the transfer window more important than me?"

Seemed to sneak out right on the deadline. Fairly quiet in Spanish women's football at the moment, so I wonder what the reaction to this news will be. 🙂

Still, the U21s will be bolstered by having Sully and ABK in it, if no deals go through. 🙂

Agreed. Any player who hasn't been committed in training or helping the group can be brought in, but only after they've earned it. It's not fair on, and disruptive to, those that have got their heads down. And that's hoping that any moans and sulks stop, and they aren't bad influences,moaning about not being first choice, getting "injured" or generally stinking the place out.

No doubt River Casserole-Dish would cook in the Championship. 🙂

Sad to see KWP go, but the new back line of Beinn, Airigh, Charr and Manning is decent for this level. Irish Stu is a direct swap for Scottish Stu, and will do well alongside Downes. Fraser, Warren and Chang supporting goal machine AA. It's going to be a busy time before that window SLAMS shut!

Say "See ya later alligator," to Krokodil.