Fan Letters: "Ineffective" — Experienced Sunderland pair come under fire from supporters
Yesterday at 02:00 AM
There are shots being fired left, right and centre in the wake of Sunderland's poor performance at Coventry, and everyone's getting it. Got something to say? Email us: RokerReport@yahoo.co.uk
Dear Roker Report,
I am writing in after a shite weekend that saw us get a spanking that's been a long time in coming and the unwashed winning a trophy (even longer).
The only positive I can take from the game at Coventry is that hopefully this will be a wake up call for some of the team. All these times we've come back to earn a point had left them feeling good about themselves after pretty shocking performances. Now they've had their shorts pulled down, maybe Le Bris and co can work the lethargy out of them and we can enter the playoffs in decent form.
I still don't fear anyone over two legs, but Wembley will be tough as usual. Come on lads... give us something to shout about after the break and let's start winning again!
Steve Poolton
Ed's Note [Gav]: If we are a team that is truly capable of promotion we'll use the disappointment of the Coventry game and performance to really spur us on after the break. I think the break was sorely needed, more for the mental reset over anything else. They're a tight group and everyone gets along but it might do them some good to get away from each other for a week or so as this run towards the end of the season requires us to fully focus on the task at hand, which is still promotion.
Somehow, we have to build momentum.
Dear Roker Report,
It's not easy commenting when not viewing the game but all comments from those present seem to be consistent. I certainly expected Coventry to be up for it and so was not surprised at the result. I think the writing was on the wall the last 15 minutes of the home game when they came back to draw 2-2 and would have won if there were another 5 minutes to play - in my opinion.
How does RLB take this forward? Well first, Roberts needs to be taken out of the firing line as he adds nothing to the team. Milan Aleksic needs to be given an opportunity in midfield. I would also try and beef up our ball-winning ability in midfield by playing Luke O'Nien there. Said it before but unlikely to happen but it is his best position. Mayenda and Mundle must play up front.
Hopefully Le Fee is also back for the Millwall game. Perhaps Neil, Rigg and Jobe need an extended rest. Getting momentum back is imperative if we are to make and progress through the playoffs.
Bill Fisher
Dear Roker Report,
I hope during this break RLB also has a rest and clears his head. Recent failings with selections and substitutions have lost us points but more importantly momentum. We'll never get points back but we must regain momentum.
I would like to see a front three of Mundle, Mayenda and Isidor - our three top scorers, also flexible enough to interchange positions. As much as I love him, O'Nien is not a central defender, unless he's one of a three. The return of ELF in central midfield could be vital.
If we don't go up this season, this team will be decimated. Okay we'll have money but getting a new team together will take time.
Do I think we will carry on with O'Nien at the back and the ineffective Roberts? Unfortunately yes.
J Wales
Ed's Note [Gav]: Luke O'Nien's played 133 games in his career at centre half and has been playing there for years now, under various managers, in a team currently sat fourth in the Championship. He was a centre mid playing for Gareth Ainsworth in League Two for Wycombe right at the start of his career and there are people who still think he should play there for us, which is baffling.
If he's not a centre half then I'm not sure what I've been watching with him there in the last few years! Always makes me laugh when I hear people say that.
I don't think your comments on Roberts are fair either — he gives the team a hell of a lot when we play on the front foot. On Saturday we barely had the ball for long enough to get him into the game, but when we do have a good spell it usually includes Roberts getting on the ball and moving it quickly. He gets a raw deal for me, even if I do agree with a lot of the criticisms around his end product.
Dear Roker Report,
So we've almost certainly missed out on automatic promotion due to all those dropped points.
But all need not be lost. As we are no longer giving 110% every game to battle for the automatics yet are fairly safely in the playoff spots it seems we have an advantage over other teams in being able to specifically prepare for these.
Coventry was not the way to do that.
Nonetheless, I do wonder whether we might find a balance of using our remaining games to their max less as must-win contests in themselves and more as preparation for three absolute must-win games.
The trick will be in balancing both physical and mental readiness. Half arsing our way to thrashings may help physical recovery but shatters morale.
Craig Tallentire
Ed's Note [Gav]: Completely agree Craig. We've got to build momentum, which is tough when you basically have nowt to play for. A lot of it is going to be on the players, this needs to come from within.
Dear Roker Report,
I might be a glass half empty type of person but surely even the happy clappers can see how poor we are? This isn't a reaction to the Coventry game, which most of us saw coming a mile off. We've been awful for months, throwing points away late and turning in embarrassing home performances against poor teams. When we win we barely scrape it by the odd goal. I think we've played well in two games all season which was against both Sheffield teams at home.
I get we are 4th in the league but I don't know how if I'm honest. And the manager, don't get me started. His game management, team selection and negative mentality when in the lead continue to baffle me. It's as if he still thinks he's in charge of Lorient in a relegation battle rather than a team chasing promotion. Simply not good enough.
