Match date: Saturday 20 September 2014
Final score: Burnley 0 – 0 Sunderland
Reflection…
What can I say?!
I would suggest in light of today’s performance, an appropriate word to sum up the game would be ‘disappointing’…
To put the scary lack of quality in the final third into perspective, it seems that the sides managed a not insignificant thirty-one shots between them… and managed to score a total of ZERO goals!
More on that in a moment.
The lads took to the pitch at Turf Moor and lined up as follows:
Starting eleven-
• Mannone (gk)
• Vergini
• van Aanholt
• Brown
• O’Shea (c)
• Cattermole
• Larsson
• Rodwell
• Johnson
• Giaccherini
• Wickham
Subs:
• Pantilimon (gk)
• Jones
• Bridcutt
• Gomez
• Altidore
• Graham
• Buckley
Before the game, I personally viewed this particular fixture simply as must win, no excuses affair. After all, Burnley are brand-shiny new to the Premier League, they have had a poor to average start to the season, and much like ourselves in actual fact, are struggling for goals.
However, we are an established Premier League side which, on paper at least, contains a better quality of player.
Right?!
From the off, Sunderland played some neat, pretty stuff, and overall had the better of the possession throughout, however the fact is that we are desperately lacking someone to put the ball in the net.
What was also a little concerning was a lack of effort in certain areas…
Anyway, ultimately we drew the game and failed to worry the opposition’s net too much.
At this stage, many will say that a huge portion of the goal-scoring responsibility should be placed on the shoulders of Connor Wickham, and to an extend I would agree, however I honestly don’t see him as a 15 to 20 goals a season striker; sadly, I believe him to be a good Championship level player at best (I do hope I am wrong, mind!).
I do think it is a mistake to pin our goal-scoring hopes on Connor purely on the strength of ‘potential’ and a few, granted, vital goals at the back end of last season which effectively kept us in the big-time.
And this is where lies my – and I’m sure the vast majority of my Sunderland brethren will agree – concern for the season. As much as I feel that the club is in very good hands at management, scouting and directorial levels, ultimately they collectively failed to address the worrying lack of fire-power at the club during the recent transfer window.
Regardless of our seemingly unrelenting, and ultimately fruitless pursuit of Fabio Borini, a definite plan B should have been in place from the start.
Personally, I’m still waiting to find out what Gus’s ‘surprise’ is!
This would be as good a time as any to assess what alternative striking options my beloved Sunderland have at their disposal…
…Altidore?
…Fletcher?
…Graham?
With respect, these names don’t exactly fill you with confidence, given their respective Premier League scoring records.
But I digress…
What to make of today’s game? I suppose it comes down to perspective really. I have always been an optimist, and I will remain so, therefore to be playing away from home, and managing to return home with what could be a vital point come the end of the season, both the Sunderland faithful and I should be happy today, surely?
Yes – We’ll go with happy!
Anyway, things could be a whole lot worse, eh?!
After all, we could all be unfortunate enough to support ‘them-up-the-road’!
*Note: Alan is doing a sterling job in my opinion! 😉
My Man Of The Match: Emanuele Giaccherini – Well worth the inclusion in the absence of Álvarez. Looked lively and showed his quality in a game seriously lacking in it over all.
It was a shame to see him leave the pitch with an injury.
Next up – Stoke City in the Capital One Cup at the SOL.
Keep The Faith. Always Believe.
Chris
