Fan Letters: Fans react to Sunderland's draw with Preston — Highs, lows & number nines!
Today at 01:00 AM
Three Sunderland fans share their views on the latest away performances and squad struggles as Sunderland's unbeaten streak stretches to seven games.
(Sent before the Preston game)
Dear Roker Report,
We seem to struggle against teams in the lower half of the league. Losing to Plymouth and Watford, then drawing with QPR — a game we should have won but only managed one shot on goal, while they had three. That's not promotion form. Jobe had a red-mist moment and was sent off, though credit to the team for holding out for a draw. Seven points lost!
All away games are tough, but we excelled against Hull and Luton, both strong teams. Next is PNE away, then Coventry at home — two tough teams. Hopefully six points are in sight, as the big teams are catching up, and we can't afford to slip up.
Bill Calvert
Ed's Note [Martin]: We need to be averaging two points per game over the course of the season to get promotion, and we're doing just that – and we'll still be doing that even if we draw against Coventry on Saturday. Promotion-winning teams are usually built on solid defences, and going away to QPR and Preston and restricting them to, what, one decent effort on goal is a clear step up from Watford and Plymouth, so personally, I'll take the positives out of that and look forward to Saturday. We've not been anywhere near our best in the past couple of games, but we've still picked up points. That's a good sign.
Dear Roker Report,
I'm not sure what game Andy was watching, but giving Neil a rating of 6 was generous, to say the least. He seems to have two modes at the moment — either amazing or terrible, with no in-between.
When you're struggling with simple 5-yard passes and turning your back on play, it's never going to be a good night.
Overall, we were poor as a team until the substitutions were made, and then we looked like a different side.
Still, another away point, seven games unbeaten, and another clean sheet. We go again on Saturday.
Steve Poolton
Ed's Note [Martin]: Thanks for the email Steve. I feel a bit sorry for Dan Neil, as he's being asked to play a role that he's really not cut out for. He'd be better deployed further up, and I do think he's struggling this season. He's had a few good moments – I thought he was excellent against Oxford – but when we're playing a team that gets at us and presses us, he struggles to dictate play, which we need that role to do. He's not yet signed a new contract either, and I wonder whether that's affecting things, too. That's an issue that's going to crop up again sooner rather than later, and the club will be thinking carefully about that one. They've obviously brought this Samed in to play that role eventually, but he's taking longer to get fit than they expected. The question when he is fit and in that role is which two do you pick from Jobe, Rigg, Neil and Browne in those positions ahead of him? At present, the first two are clearly ahead in the queue.
Dear Roker Report,
Half-time against PNE, and like thousands of others, I'm frustrated. We've been poor and, if anything, look a bit overconfident. Too many casual flicks and too many loose passes. Has anyone seen Dan Neil? He's not a holding midfielder, which means we don't have one.
We have three or four central strikers, yet none of them can hold the ball up. We need one who can get hold of the ball in central areas and hold it up until others get up the pitch. We need a proper number 9!
The second half has just begun, and they'll probably go and prove me wrong—here's hoping!
Alan Jackson
Ed's Note [Martin]: Well, things picked up a little in the second half, but not by much. We were poor on the ball last night – off the ball we were well organised – and I was disappointed in Connolly and Watson, who really didn't take their chance. We missed Isidor's presence up front, as he was isolated on the wing. Still, they're not going to all be firing on all cylinders every game, and we've had to go to Hull, Luton, QPR and Preston in just 18 days, as well as playing Oxford at home. I'd certainly have settled for 11 points from those five games, and hopefully we can make it 14 from six games with a win on Saturday.
