Why we need it to be Sunderland

[swgla1]

We will hammer them in final, very poor, lucky tonight, Coventry were all over them

 

[Silky Sabella]

Neither can we!!

Bet your pissing yourself now !

 

[bruce]

,

 

[Sydney Blade]

Wembley pitch is literally a different ball game !

Is it though? I see this a lot but new Wembley smaller than old Wembley. For arguments sake Wembley = 105 by 68, BDTBL = 102 by 66. So three meters longer and one wider each side is all there is. It’s hardly like going from a local oval to MCG.

Do agree though with the pace aspect. Mayenda and Isidor will need to be marshalled quickly and we can’t risk them turning us to many times.

 

[Chadders]

The way I see it. Sunderland can turn up anywhere between a 6 and a 9. More recently 6.
Cov are largely disciplined cloggers with a splash of talent and more than sum of parts, generally 6 to 8, with a lot of 8s recently and a big set piece threat.
Utd can be 5 to 10 and really Jekyll and Hyde. We get a 9 or 10 we win every time, turn up like the three recent loses and we get ground down - especially by cov who fight to the end and have a bee over Callum and Gus.

A couple of key injuries (nothing serious, just 4 weeks out) and reds in extra time please!

Numberwang

 

[CrookesBlade]

Looks like they think they’ve already won it judging by the celebrations

 

[bruce]

The way I see it. Sunderland can turn up anywhere between a 6 and a 9. More recently 6.
Cov are largely disciplined cloggers with a splash of talent and more than sum of parts, generally 6 to 8, with a lot of 8s recently and a big set piece threat.
Utd can be 5 to 10 and really Jekyll and Hyde. We get a 9 or 10 we win every time, turn up like the three recent loses and we get ground down - especially by cov who fight to the end and have a bee over Callum and Gus.

A couple of key injuries (nothing serious, just 4 weeks out) and reds in extra time please!

And yet we drew with Coventry at their place and outplayed them at our's.
Whereas Sunderland caused us far more problems over the two league games.

 

[Isar]

I don't see any concerns with Sunderland, a very poor team.

 

[Sheffsteel]

I don't see any concerns with Sunderland, a very poor team.

Agree they are currently poor because they are out of form and Coventry definitely looked the better team over 2 legs.

However Sunderland have some talented young players and have more potential that Coventry to give us a tough game but since we last played them we’ve substantially strengthened with new players where as they have become worse.

Don’t think well under estimate Sunderland and they will be a threat catching is on the break where as my fear was because we outclassed Coventry only a few weeks ago many of our fans would have been over confident assuming we’ll outclass them again but football doesn’t work like that and you can bet Frank would have been studying the video coming up with new tactics to ensure it’s not so easy next time.

 

[blade too long]

Sunderland had 10 men in their own 6 yard box for 80 per cent of the game....was only because Coventry had worn themselves out chasing the equaliser..visibly shattered 2nd half of extra time.
We are more than capable .with everyone fit now to show we are worthy of being 3rd

 

[JayGreen17]

This is our biggest and best chance

 

[CarlMcBlade]

Unfortunately Blades, if you get upset easily, I’d stay off social media and all the sport channels before the game. We will be now be cast as the unwanted guests to the Sunderland coronation.

 

[S64 Blade]

I wouldn’t read too much into last night’s game, or even the previous leg. We know from past experience it means nothing.

 

[Demon Blade]

Still not seeing much in Bellingham btw. Very basic player

Knows how to hit the floor after minimal contact, very sought after skill these days.

 

[Colombia Blade]

Just saw this on Facebook. Sunderland put hoardings round the pitch to stop Coventry taking long throw ins. Looks like they were scared of crosses/long throws into the box (and that's how they ended up conceding as well). Think Robbo and Moore are certs for the finals - could cause them a few problems...

 

[Kevincarterversion2.0]

Sunderland were acting like they’ve won promotion already. They also looked very workman like and a bit rubbish so I’m hoping these are good omens for Saturday-week.

Suspect they will be hard to break down though which we have struggled with this season.

 

[Yewsman]

I do worry about Sunderland using same tactics in Final as against Cov. Just park the bus and sit back and hit on the break. We are generally not good at breaking teams down who just get everyone behind the ball. Need a Plan A and Plan B and possibly Plan C. Hope CW and co get the tactics right.

 

[MojoMuffin]

I do worry about Sunderland using same tactics in Final as against Cov. Just park the bus and sit back and hit on the break. We are generally not good at breaking teams down who just get everyone behind the ball. Need a Plan A and Plan B and possibly Plan C. Hope CW and co get the tactics right.

Fully expect this, and why wouldn't they given where it's got them? My hope is that we've shown some good quality with corners recently and the law of averages state a JLT throw-in should at least do something one day. Fingers crossed either land on big keef or Anel and if they do make a clearance, it lands to Hamer on the edge of the box, where we've also shown some good attacking threat following a corner clearance.

 

[Blacksea]

I do worry about Sunderland using same tactics in Final as against Cov. Just park the bus and sit back and hit on the break. We are generally not good at breaking teams down who just get everyone behind the ball. Need a Plan A and Plan B and possibly Plan C. Hope CW and co get the tactics right.

We have plenty of options and formation possibilities now which can be interchanged throughout a game.
We have to be wary of them breaking from our attacking set plays,long throws and corners which if they quickly mop up and their goalie likes to get it out usually to the guy on the right touchline to run into open space,with JLT, Anel,Burrows involved in the set plays we need a plan to combat them getting a run on our defence being caught out of position when at our attacking set plays .

 

[WORKSOPBLADE]

Our recent style of play has numerous options in attack. The options off the bench and ability to switch styles is a major plus.

Our opponents seem to be one dimensional… let’s hope this is a telling factor!

 

[blade too long]

Fully expect this, and why wouldn't they given where it's got them? My hope is that we've shown some good quality with corners recently and the law of averages state a JLT throw-in should at least do something one day. Fingers crossed either land on big keef or Anel and if they do make a clearance, it lands to Hamer on the edge of the box, where we've also shown some good attacking threat following a corner clearance.

did everyone miss us setting a new record agg. win we won 6-0 without breaking sweat, if we can play as well as we can and just not be over awed we can at last get what we deserve, to finish earning 92 points and not going up is what is wrong with the play offs

 

[MojoMuffin]

did everyone miss us setting a new record agg. win we won 6-0 without breaking sweat, if we can play as well as we can and just not be over awed we can at last get what we deserve, to finish earning 92 points and not going up is what is wrong with the play offs

I said before the first leg that I didn't see any reason we didn't score at least 4 goals against Bristol City over the 2 legs.

Whilst there's always nerves around a final, I think we beat Sunderland in 90 mins.

 

[CarlMcBlade]

They can play for a draw if they like…Coops will earn his corn in the pens.

 

[CarlMcBlade]

We need to beat these c###s and beat em well.

 

[Berkshire Blade]

Sunderland have nearly as bad a play off record as us. Unfortunately their win wasn't that long ago in league one

 

[Bladesman]

Sunderland have nearly as bad a play off record as us. Unfortunately their win wasn't that long ago in league one

 

[MBH]

I'm not sure that people understand the way Sunderland are playing here.

Sunderland are playing a defensive style - that is as old as the hills in football. the tactic is to give the opposition the ball, invite them to break us down and the deal is that we will try and score on the break. This is a quite legitimate tactic that has won teams European Cups, league titles, Euros and major cup ties, especially in Europe.

You have two ways of looking at it. you can either say "we were all over them" or you can recognise that if the opposition plays this way they are quite happy to, for example, give Coventry City the ball 75% of the time, and have loads of attacks. We are inviting constant and sustained pressure.

We played this way against Sheffield United at the SOL earlier on this year and won 2 v 1, with goals from Isidor and Mayenda - exactly the same as the first leg against Coventry. The second leg against Coventry we were happy for them to have 75% of the possession and in 120 minutes they were so "all over us" that they scored 1 goal, drew and lost.

If we play this way at Wembley, which is very likely because we have played this way loads of times this season - Sheffield United will more than likely have 75% of the possession and will be "all over us". We couldn't care less. We are happy for this to happen. the opposition will tire - hopefully, as coventry did in the second game.

Coventry City could score just 2 goals in 210 minutes of football - that's it. We had 25% of the ball in both games and scored 3 goals. They had chances and missed. we had chances and missed - par for the course.

People in general don't like this style of football and sometimes they call it "anti football". That's fine. But the end justifies the means - if we win. There is nothing "lucky" about this if we win; it has been shown many times to be a deliberate and winning tactic. Football managers became world famous for playing this way eg Herrera.

We all go into this game knowing how Sunderland may well play and it's up to Sheffield United to break us down - if we do play in this defensive manner. If Sheffield United break us down and score 2 or 3 goals then they are worthy winners. If you don't and we score a goal or goals on the break then we are worthy winners and our tactic has worked.

But the tactic remains the same - give the opposition the ball, invite them on and we will look to counter you. The possession result will be the same as the Coventry game 75% v 25%. That's just fine by us and we are happy for you to be "all over us". Risk and reward.

 

[MBH]

They can play for a draw if they like…Coops will earn his corn in the pens.

Sunderland will look to finish the game in 90 minutes but as you saw against coventry the latter physically tired in the second period of extra time as they had done so much of the running. Sunderland got a new lease of life in the second period of extra time and scored right at the death.

What uses up the most energy - constantly attacking and making the play or constantly defending. Against Coventry it was the former. They were completely out on their feet.

 

[ZoneManWilf]

What uses up the most energy - constantly attacking and making the play or constantly defending.

Constantly defending.

 

[Selly]

I'm not sure that people understand the way Sunderland are playing here.

Sunderland are playing a defensive style - that is as old as the hills in football. the tactic is to give the opposition the ball, invite them to break us down and the deal is that we will try and score on the break. This is a quite legitimate tactic that has won teams European Cups, league titles, Euros and major cup ties, especially in Europe.

You have two ways of looking at it. you can either say "we were all over them" or you can recognise that if the opposition plays this way they are quite happy to, for example, give Coventry City the ball 75% of the time, and have loads of attacks. We are inviting constant and sustained pressure.

We played this way against Sheffield United at the SOL earlier on this year and won 2 v 1, with goals from Isidor and Mayenda - exactly the same as the first leg against Coventry. The second leg against Coventry we were happy for them to have 75% of the possession and in 120 minutes they were so "all over us" that they scored 1 goal, drew and lost.

If we play this way at Wembley, which is very likely because we have played this way loads of times this season - Sheffield United will more than likely have 75% of the possession and will be "all over us". We couldn't care less. We are happy for this to happen. the opposition will tire - hopefully, as coventry did in the second game.

Coventry City could score just 2 goals in 210 minutes of football - that's it. We had 25% of the ball in both games and scored 3 goals. They had chances and missed. we had chances and missed - par for the course.

People in general don't like this style of football and sometimes they call it "anti football". That's fine. But the end justifies the means - if we win. There is nothing "lucky" about this if we win; it has been shown many times to be a deliberate and winning tactic. Football managers became world famous for playing this way eg Herrera.

We all go into this game knowing how Sunderland may well play and it's up to Sheffield United to break us down - if we do play in this defensive manner. If Sheffield United break us down and score 2 or 3 goals then they are worthy winners. If you don't and we score a goal or goals on the break then we are worthy winners and our tactic has worked.

But the tactic remains the same - give the opposition the ball, invite them on and we will look to counter you. The possession result will be the same as the Coventry game 75% v 25%. That's just fine by us and we are happy for you to be "all over us". Risk and reward.

I think people understand exactly what Sunderland are doing.

What might be interesting is what happens if you go one down - something that never happened across the Semi finals - what's the tactic then?