Black Cats in the sack

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Sunderland’s last victory at Anfield was in October 1983. Yesterday they didn’t won either, but a 2:2 draw must feel like a victory for them. They were lucky to draw, as they sometimes looked rather clueless, and under these circumstances we should have done much better.

We now earned 6 points in 6 matches, that’s our worst start to a Premier League season in 18 years. A draw always is better than a defeat, but to draw 2:2 against Sunderland … at Anfield. With our best players on the pitch?! There’s something wrong going on there. It isn’t right. Instead of getting better it is getting worse and worse, and what options do we have? You have your say. I do not see any (do not come up with Ryan Babel, please. He won’t help us at all, and besides: this whole Babel discussion bores me s*******), but trying to work as team on the pitch, work hard, avoid mistakes and stay focused on the ball ergo trying to keep as much possession as possible.

Yesterday there were some positives, as visible determination for example. We started really good, pushing forward, but then we lowered the pressure and finished the first half as we got ourselves used to this season: intermingled. In fact, Sunderland even had more possession: 54%.

The second half was much better. Again. It became an odd habit, hasn’t it? Why we just can’t play proper football full 90 minutes? It has to change if we want to climb up the table. We need to play proper footie full 90 minutes. We have quality on the pitch, it just has to start to work. Our lads can do it, I do not know what they are waiting for?

What I liked yesterday was Raul Meireles’ performance. He did really, really well. It seems that he’s adapting to the English football very fast. That’s good news. Torres looking sharp and creating chances are good news, too. There’s this bad-luck-issue still hunting him, otherwise the score would have been different. Speaking of which … the injury saga carries on. Paul Konchesky suffered hamstring strain and Roy Hodgson now expects to be without him for the next two games at least. This means that Daniel Agger will be playing for sure. Good news? Yes, for me those are good news. But … yeah …

I hope Dirk Kuyt won’t get injured again. We need his energy on the pitch, I think yesterday he’s proven this, hasn’t he? Working hard as always, running he’s socks off for the team, showed great determination, and I like what I saw from him.

As for the rest … hmmm … Christian Poulsen? Hmm … Poulsen … he seems to adapting to the game, which is good, but those mistakes … Chris, what the hell were you doing? Get involved to the game, but please try to think, as well.

That was it for me, actually. No real highlights, to be honest. Skrtl’s run forward perhaps. O, of course. How could I forget this (maybe I am too gutted …) ? Stevie’s equaliser assisted by Fernando. I liked that. I want more of it. I want to see proper full time football again; this is the only way up, and it has to happen. Rapidly.

-Amanda

amanda@empireofthekop.com

More Stories Christian Poulsen Paul Konchesky Sunderland

4 Comments

  1. You “really really ” like Raul Meireles..?? Where was he ? he was mostly anonymous almost never present in linked up play..only now and then did he creep up but did apprx. nothing spectacular.
    (I think he still has a lot to improve..)

    You may ask who did ? Well, none and I think if Liverpool now don’t win all the way upto the Chelsea fixture..

    its not the Black Cats but Roy needs the Sack…till then I am ready to wait, however if we get a 9 point deduction due to administration..it would mean we would extremely lucky to end even where we did last year.

  2. I am happy lucas is not in the starting line up and I would have wished Stevie and Raul to be holding mildfieders, Paulsen can still be leaning our style from the bench

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