My take ...

[pommpey]

I came with a thought yesterday (it didn't hurt much) as Norwood seemed to play with couple of pre set functions.
He did nothing wrong and had kinda solid game overal, but I remember seeing him mainly 1) playing long pass to Baldock and/or 2) taking corners/free kicks.
There is players like MGW, Khadra and Ndiaye who seems to have ability to create things out of nothing and Norwood seems to be at his best doing what he is told to do beforehand.

I don't know how correct my thought process is, but this might change the way I watch Norwood's actions in the pitch in the future.

You've only just noticed Norwood has pre-sets?

1. Receive pass from CB
2. Long ball to wingback

And that's it.

Last night however his corners were better and his general play in a roomy midfield was better. He even threaded a decent pass to get the second and had a good crack on target

pommpey

 

[Dnblade]

They seemed to be all over Ndaiye, doubling up on him and we couldn't bring him, Brewster and Mcatee into the game much first half, but Sunderland were well drilled and pressed really well...I thought Fleck did ok when he came on.. Norwood played well, great pass for Hodz, and I hoped it was Brewster tapping it in, as we need him to get amongst the goals....Berge was outstanding especially when moved further up the pitch, and Anel mom ofcourse..New lads did ok, McB did ok coming on aswell,we just need to cut out the sloppy play where we give away possession or commit needless fouls in dangerous areas.

 

[metalblade]

Really pleased at the overall performance and result but for once I can't agree with some of those marks pommps. Up to the deserved sending off (should have been two -O'Nien) we struggled, their midfield press had the predictable consequence on Norwood's performance and our left hand side looked suspect (RND & Lowe combination) and created little. Berge was pretty anonymous and ineffective first half playing deeper. Against 10 men some of those marks make more sense as Norwood had space and Berge was pushed further forward to better effect (wouldn't have given him 8.5 though). But it was 10 men and we struggled at times to exploit the man advantage we held. I had to keep reminding myself they were a man short at times especially after their goal (down to a panicky Egan pass across the back and McAtee not being switched on to the danger). The unnecessary free kick conceded by Anel late on gave them a chance to equalise (the only downside to a great performance). Their keeper played a blinder. Another night we could have had four, or equally have conceded a late equaliser. A good win to have and still a work in progress to my mind though it is concerning that we start a season patching up the left side of defence already and our forwards not striking terror in the opposition as yet. Goals look hard to come by for the forwards.

I'd agree with a lot of that I thought early on Lowe gave their winger too much space their only real chance came down that side with a low hard cross that Wes held onto with attackers sliding in Norwood never looks comfortable when pressed and moving Berge further back didn't work he has to play that forward role McAtee might have to take turns if he is here for that role.
On the performance against 10 men is it as much of a disadvantage with the new rules that you can use 5 subs in a game? At the end of the day that is half your team that you can rotate when they get tired.

 

[BushBlade]

Sunderland get a goal from those late corners and free kicks and to many, the reaction would have been "what a load of shit we are". Of course the truth lies somewhere in the middle

You don’t see many games in championship, where teams are relatively equally matched, that the result couldn’t have been different if the losers took their chances.

 

[FinBlade]

You've only just noticed Norwood has pre-sets?

1. Receive pass from CB
2. Long ball to wingback

And that's it.

Last night however his corners were better and his general play in a roomy midfield was better. He even threaded a decent pass to get the second and had a good crack on target

pommpey

Yeah, took this long as usually I've been kinda nervous and just hoped nothing bad to happend when he has been on ball, but yesterday there was moments when I was able to actually see/understand things like this.

 

[Blade58]

View attachment 141907

Top man, takes no shit from anybody

Quiz time! Which one is Cat Weasel?

 

[Maurice Maurice]

Geoffrey Bayldon of course

 

[Old Programme seller]

Their lad that scored the goal knew how to cross a ball built for a fight as well

 

[Keen Blade]

Really pleased at the overall performance and result but for once I can't agree with some of those marks pommps. Up to the deserved sending off (should have been two -O'Nien) we struggled, their midfield press had the predictable consequence on Norwood's performance and our left hand side looked suspect (RND & Lowe combination) and created little. Berge was pretty anonymous and ineffective first half playing deeper. Against 10 men some of those marks make more sense as Norwood had space and Berge was pushed further forward to better effect (wouldn't have given him 8.5 though). But it was 10 men and we struggled at times to exploit the man advantage we held. I had to keep reminding myself they were a man short at times especially after their goal (down to a panicky Egan pass across the back and McAtee not being switched on to the danger). The unnecessary free kick conceded by Anel late on gave them a chance to equalise (the only downside to a great performance). Their keeper played a blinder. Another night we could have had four, or equally have conceded a late equaliser. A good win to have and still a work in progress to my mind though it is concerning that we start a season patching up the left side of defence already and our forwards not striking terror in the opposition as yet. Goals look hard to come by for the forwards.

So much to discuss about this.
Firstly it was McAtee's first league start so he needs a little time to adjust , as he admitted in his post-match interview.
Also , Hecky had put him as AMF (maybe thought it was the lowest risk option for a new youngster) + pulled Berge back which caused further disruption to mf.
I agree that we were losing the mf battle until the sending-off + Hecky is going to have to think long & hard about that first 30 mins - how does he solve the (exciting) problem of blending in the 3 loanees without reducing Berge's effect as an AMF ?
In my view , Hecky can't ride 2 horses with one arse - he can't keep Norwood & Wilderball yet simultaneously introduce young fit fast ballers like Khadra , McAtee (maybe also Doyle ?) to dovetail with Berge.
Of course , one part of this "problem" disappears if Berge is sold , which I dread happening.
But even then , I honestly feel that Hecky needs to realise that he must choose between Norwood & Wilderball (slow & gentle build-up) and the new faster ball-carriers.
Maybe we have to have two different ways of playing and choose one or the other from match to match.
Norwood was pressed to fuck last night + so we got nowhere ... Then when we had a spare man + he had a bit of extra space & time , he was more effective.
Until we know whether Berge's leaving , I would play him as AMF + put McAtee or Doyle next to Norwood , with Fleck on the bench.
But once the window closes , Hecky will have to take a deep breath and decide which midfield he's going to play.
I doubt we would have won last night if they hadn't gone down to 10 men - certainly not if we'd kept the midfield as it was in the first 30 mins.
They were far too athletic in their press , Berge was less effective in his deeper role and Norwood had no time to operate slowly , as he prefers to do.
One point about the left side - Lowe was continually in loads of space on the left touchline , just waiting for a dink over their very square backline or an incisive pass INSIDE their fullback for him to run onto - none of our players made any use of this despite Sunderland being wide open down there - I hope Hecky could see it from his low vantage point coz it's something we need to exploit.

 

[blade67]

About ten minutes before the sending off, a long ball to Baldock led to a foul which should have been a red card (which would have changed the game), so I'm not sure that both of your points can be true.

I'd disagree.

In the first sentence I'm making a general point about Baldock's quality and how us building an attacking plan around him is flawed. That's my opinion and I understand that others may feel that it's a great plan.

The second sentence is a statement of fact really. The sending off changed the game.

Regarding that incident, it looked a foul to me but I was a very long away from it

 

[Ecco1889]

Your summary is right on the money- Scores also I agree with everyone of them- the 10 mins straight after the break including the second goal as you describe was a total joy. I know you are not his biggest fan but with extra man and space Norwood was pulling all the strings , dictating tempo- and we were destroying them because of it.

 

[Geordie Blade]

I'd disagree.

In the first sentence I'm making a general point about Baldock's quality and how us building an attacking plan around him is flawed. That's my opinion and I understand that others may feel that it's a great plan.

The second sentence is a statement of fact really. The sending off changed the game.

Regarding that incident, it looked a foul to me but I was a very long away from it

The point was that the long pass to Baldock drew a foul which would have been a red card had the ref seen it (or if VAR was in place) - 100% nailed on when you see the replay. That would have changed the game (just like the actual red card ten minutes later). So on that occasion, the long ball approach to Baldock definitely wasn't a flawed tactic - it worked very nicely (apart from the crap ref). If you think that the red card essentially changed the game (which I agree with), you ought to also agree that the long ball to Baldock should have done the same.

 

[blade67]

The point was that the long pass to Baldock drew a foul which would have been a red card had the ref seen it (or if VAR was in place) - 100% nailed on when you see the replay. That would have changed the game (just like the actual red card ten minutes later). So on that occasion, the long ball approach to Baldock definitely wasn't a flawed tactic - it worked very nicely (apart from the crap ref). If you think that the red card essentially changed the game (which I agree with), you ought to also agree that the long ball to Baldock should have done the same.

I'm not saying that hitting a long ball to Baldock will never pay off. Clearly it would have changed the game in the same way as the actual red card. What I am saying is that us adopting that tactic when we can't play through Norwood is a crap idea generally as I don't think he's got enough quality about him. Is that clearer?

 

[Nick Jansky]

To be fair to Foderingham, it's a messy situation as he's positioned for us to have possession in that phase, not for us to cough it up cheaply. Sunderland's break was excellent and Stewart's ball was perfect. Hindsight is a wonderful thing but the blame for the goal for me is squarely on Egan, not on Foderingham.

And Egan held his hand up to it in the post match interview.

 

[VictoryBlade]

I think we all need to lay off Norwood tbh, I remember John Gannon getting loads of shite in Bassets team, but if the manager says he's good enough, good enough for me! UTB!

 

[Barney Rubble]

I think we made a tactical adjustment in midfield at the first half drinks break. Berge had started playing as deep as Norwood but we moved him a little further forward and we then got more into the game even before the sending off.
Sunderland were more adventurous than most sides that come to the Lane will be, so I think that playing one defensive midfielder, three attack minded midfielders and a lone striker could work.
Wes's kicking was weak last night but I'm wondering if he is still suffering from the injury that kept him out in preseason. I think we should consider whether Egan is the right man to bring the ball out as well, distribution has never been the strong point of his game. Could Norwood drop back to collect the ball from Wes?

 

[John Street West Terrace]

Good hard fought win & good game of football from 2 teams going at it & a good 3 points to go with it . Credit to Sunderland as they gave as good as they got even with 10 men , credit to Hecky releasing the shackles at bit more . Only small criticism is we needed to open things out a bit more to make the extra man count . 2nd goal from us was a quality pass & move goal & there second a quality finish . Well done lads great game to go watch

 

[BushBlade]

And Egan held his hand up to it in the post match interview.

He literally held his hand up as soon as he’d done it, after the goal went in he looked straight at Norwood and pointed to himself to say “my error”.

 

[Sean Thornton]

8.5 for Berge? Honestly this man just needs to lace his boots up and people love him.

Gave it away consistently when they had 11 and did absolutely nothing when they had 10, save for a superb dummy for the second goal.

If Norwood turns that performance in, he’s gets absolutely slated.

 

[Bladedog]

Hecky said when they pressed us we couldn't pick a pass to the spare man..maybe Doyle can....just sayin.