Match Thread Sunderland - Coventry City Match Thread - Tuesday 13th May (75 Viewers)

[quinn1971]

Ideally he prepares the team for both eventualities and we're able to switch accordingly.

they‘ll be mad if they try and do anything different, we couldn’t create much at home, they’ll be so confident, hopefully over

 

---

[steve101]

To beat the low block and destabilise the opposing defence, you need to:
1) Raise the tempo and play quick 1 or 2 touch passes in triangles around opposing players or play direct forward passes to exploit half spaces behind opposing players
2) Players must move quickly forward or sideways (to create an overload on one side) to pin opposing players back and/or draw opposing players to one side to free up space on the other side to be exploited
3) Effectively press the opponents into making errors

The key word is "quick" as highlighted above. If you watch Leeds this season, they implement this strategy very effectively. The problem is we are too ponderous and just keep moving sideways and backwards without any forward thrust. Our press is poor and easily bypassed with minimal fuss. There were moments yesterday where I could clearly see half spaces where Rudoni had taken up position and was signaling for the ball to be played to his feet, but we didn't risk it.

We cannot afford to dawdle on the ball and let them sit back and set up. We need to move quickly and show some urgency. All players must be in constant motion, know how to take up positions, know where to be for passes, know how to win back the ball and/or recycle the play if we are thwarted in our initial forays.

For these reasons I would bring Allen in to replace Sheaf

 

[steve101]

Their two strikers stepped up on Friday. We need ours to do likewise. I think we also need to take more shots from outside the box, rather than always looking to get the ball wide.

 

[AOM]

Even if we dont get an early goal, if we can create a decent chance or 2 and start to sow some seeds of doubt

I'm feeling really confident again for some reason it's the hope that kills you

 

[Flying Fokker]

I’m enjoying us being a top 6 Championship side. If we get through to the final we will thoroughly deserve it. However, this season is further progression towards that target.

 

[Sky_Blue_Dreamer]

If I were Sunderland boss you'd have to be thinking of just playing the same tactics again. They have a lead so can afford to and we've shown all season we struggle to beat it.

But at the same time because they're at home the fans are likely to get restless at them seemingly inviting pressure all game even though it would seem a sensible thing to do and that could make them be a bit more attacking and open.

With the players we have it's difficult to factor in that flexibility to switch tactics depending on which they go for. If they sit deep I'd definitely play the two strikers, but if we do that then Sakamoto is likely to be ineffective as we'd play a narrower formation. We also need Grimes higher up the pitch if they sit in. It's useless him looking good where the opposition aren't being affected in the slightest. Either way we have to be more urgent and be looking to play the ball in or shoot earlier.

I fear FL doesn't have that flexibility though and we'll line up in the usual 4-3-3 regardless.

 

[shepardo01]

Will they sit back or try to finish off. I’d give us a 25% chance of going through to the final.

Think their game plan will be the same.
They don't need to win.
They know we'll give up chances.
We weren't good enough to break them down at home despite everyone saying how they weren't even that good
Not sure how we'll do it away.

2-0 Sunderland

 

[Flying Fokker]

If I were Sunderland boss you'd have to be thinking of just playing the same tactics again. They have a lead so can afford to and we've shown all season we struggle to beat it.

But at the same time because they're at home the fans are likely to get restless at them seemingly inviting pressure all game even though it would seem a sensible thing to do and that could make them be a bit more attacking and open.

With the players we have it's difficult to factor in that flexibility to switch tactics depending on which they go for. If they sit deep I'd definitely play the two strikers, but if we do that then Sakamoto is likely to be ineffective as we'd play a narrower formation. We also need Grimes higher up the pitch if they sit in. It's useless him looking good where the opposition aren't being affected in the slightest. Either way we have to be more urgent and be looking to play the ball in or shoot earlier.

I fear FL doesn't have that flexibility though and we'll line up in the usual 4-3-3 regardless.

Haven’t were switched tactics on more than one occasion this season? FL played a blinder through taking Simms of and putting Paterson on.

 

[SkyBlue_Bear83]

Let me show you something that will alter how you feel about " we get results because of 1 player " mentality

View attachment 43093

We should drop rudoni wright Thomas and sheaf immediately

Get your point but it's not wrong on Collins, Bassette and Binks though so can see some of the reasoning

 

[shepardo01]

If they play as they did in the first leg, we’ll beat them imo. I thought they offered nothing and we gave away two poor goals. Thankfully, the team has the chance to make amends.

We couldn't break them down at home playing the way they did.
What makes you think we can do at their place!?

 

[Flying Fokker]

I'm feeling really confident again for some reason it's the hope that kills you

They have 90 minutes to hang on. Couldn’t do that for 2 minutes on Friday, and it was our own error that gifted them the win. So I’m still in for a city win.

 

[quinn1971]

We couldn't break them down at home playing the way they did.
What makes you think we can do at their place!?

That’s my worry, we haven’t got that type of player who can do it,

 

[The Big G]

Lots of people saying we need to go for it, we are only 1-0 down, I'd just play similar to last night tbh, I'm not sure they will play low block at home, we just need to stay in the game and obviously defend a lot better or they will just pick us off its definitely not beyond us to win by 1 or even 2 but our recent away form is an issue. I'd play Simms for Asante . Maybe Allen for Sheaf but do t think Frank will do that.

 

[Macca]

They will score so we need to score 3 or 2 and win a penalty shoot out. Not feeling it

 

[quinn1971]

They have 90 minutes to hang on. Couldn’t do that for 2 minutes on Friday, and it was our own error that gifted them the win. So I’m still in for a city win.

Good point, but we’ve always got one of those in us,

 

[clint van damme]

If I were Sunderland boss you'd have to be thinking of just playing the same tactics again. They have a lead so can afford to and we've shown all season we struggle to beat it.

But at the same time because they're at home the fans are likely to get restless at them seemingly inviting pressure all game even though it would seem a sensible thing to do and that could make them be a bit more attacking and open.

With the players we have it's difficult to factor in that flexibility to switch tactics depending on which they go for. If they sit deep I'd definitely play the two strikers, but if we do that then Sakamoto is likely to be ineffective as we'd play a narrower formation. We also need Grimes higher up the pitch if they sit in. It's useless him looking good where the opposition aren't being affected in the slightest. Either way we have to be more urgent and be looking to play the ball in or shoot earlier.

I fear FL doesn't have that flexibility though and we'll line up in the usual 4-3-3 regardless.

Since reverting to a back 4 we've played 6 away games and took 4 points.
We're 20th in the last 6 away form table.
We've heavily dominated possession in 4 of those games, had the majority of possession against Sheffield U and obviously had our backs to the wall v Luton due to the red card. It isnt working on our travels.
If we play the same tactics on Tuesday I fear the outcome will be the same.

You may be right that Lampard has little room for flexibility with the current squad and he's certainly not been helped by the performances of the strikers. But we had more success away with 3 at the back and definitely think we should consider some variation of it for Tuesday, or at least be prepared to switch to it depending on how they're set up.

 

[SkyBlue_Bear83]

Woud be a brave decision but would consider having Sheaf on the bench and playing one of Allen or Eccles.

Sheaf either wants to play in the same place as Grimes or he's trying to play a little further ahead like Torp was but isn't very good at that aspect of the game

 

[quinn1971]

Lots of people saying we need to go for it, we are only 1-0 down, I'd just play similar to last night tbh, I'm not sure they will play low block at home, we just need to stay in the game and obviously defend a lot better or they will just pick us off its definitely not beyond us to win by 1 or even 2 but our recent away form is an issue. I'd play Simms for Asante . Maybe Allen for Sheaf but do t think Frank will do that.

I reckon EMC starts and we put wright down the middle, get him running at them, he’s wasted out on the left, bet the Sunderland centre halves were loving it when they saw they were up against Asante

 

[Evo1883]

Get your point but it's not wrong on Collins, Bassette and Binks though so can see some of the reasoning

I would see it too if simms did anything

 

[quinn1971]

Why did we change the team that beat Mboro ? I know they came here having to win, but we looked good There was no advantage to dropping simms and starting BTA ?

 

[clint van damme]

Why did we change the team that beat Mboro ? I know they came here having to win, but we looked good There was no advantage to dropping simms and starting BTA ?

I assume because BTA looked better than Simms when he came on.

 

[JAM See]

Why did we change the team that beat Mboro ? I know they came here having to win, but we looked good There was no advantage to dropping simms and starting BTA ?

You might as well ask...

"Why did we move the centre forward who scored a hat trick against Sunderland to left wing"?

I've no idea. But I'm not a professional football manager.

 

[Gleneagles65]

Think their game plan will be the same.
They don't need to win.
They know we'll give up chances.
We weren't good enough to break them down at home despite everyone saying how they weren't even that good
Not sure how we'll do it away.

2-0 Sunderland

First goal on Tuesday keeps the tie alive or kills it. No one knows what’s coming.

 

[shepardo01]

First goal on Tuesday keeps the tie alive or kills it. No one knows what’s coming.

Yes, for us to get it, we need to break them down.
We couldn't do that in our own turf on Friday!

 

[quinn1971]

You might as well ask...

"Why did we move the centre forward who scored a hat trick against Sunderland to left wing"?

I've no idea. But I'm not a professional football manager.

I honestly thought we’d brought Asante in to play on the left, he set up the 2nd goal against Mboro from there, our plan was to get wide and get crosses in or try and nick one from a corner, at least simms gives you something to worry about, had to win that first leg, wrong team,

 

[Macca]

First goal on Tuesday keeps the tie alive or kills it. No one knows what’s coming.

Feel our only chance is to keep a clean sheet

 

[Mucca Mad Boys]

We couldn't break them down at home playing the way they did.
What makes you think we can do at their place!?

We came close a few times where a kind bounce of the ball leads to a material chance.

It’s a new game, we’ve put 6 goals past this Sunderland defence this year and confident we can put more past them on Tuesday.

 

[wingy]

Isn't it a bit like Boro but in reverse?
In terms of the dynamics of the situation from their POV?

 

[Super Graham Withey]

Feel our only chance is to keep a clean sheet

Not kept a clean sheet away from home since February 1st

 

[SkyblueTexan]

Woud be a brave decision but would consider having Sheaf on the bench and playing one of Allen or Eccles.

Sheaf either wants to play in the same place as Grimes or he's trying to play a little further ahead like Torp was but isn't very good at that aspect of the game

Exactly this. Allen's bicycle kick was closer to the target than Sheaf's easy chance in the first half which he skied miles wide. Sheaf's shooting is so poor and he dawdles on the ball, commits silly fouls, gives away possession and operates so close to Grimes and others and gets in their way sometimes. For someone who's a midfielder I am surprised Sheaf has not improved at all under Lampard unlike Torp and Rudoni.

 

[Macca]

Not kept a clean sheet away from home since February 1st

Yep hence my lack of optimism. That late goal was such a killer. Would have fancied us going there level

 

[Gynnsthetonic]

They will score so we need to score 3 or 2 and win a penalty shoot out. Not feeling it

I don't think they will score, pressure is all on them and they'll freeze.

 

[Macca]

I don't think they will score, pressure is all on them and they'll freeze.

Always that defensive mistake in us

 

[Macca]

I don't think they will score, pressure is all on them and they'll freeze.

Your username must have been the most frequent Pink headline back in the day along with "Sky high Sky Blues"

 

[Super Graham Withey]

Always that defensive mistake in us

For all the criticism of Simms and Wright our defence has been the weak link all season.