A mixed bag...
Bit of a huge update on the cards here I'm afraid, been pretty busy of late.
A quick reminder that the last reported result was a 4-1 victory over Man City, and this win ensured me the
Manager of the Month award for October!
This fabulous month for the club also saw Abdelaziz Kamara and Julio Arca claiming a significant one-two in the
Player of the Month award, and new signing André Ohlsson coming second in the
Young Player of the Month award. This shows just how much of a turnaround the club has been experiencing, and the coaches, the board, the fans and indeed myself are delighted that all the hard work being put in here at Sunderland has been recognised.
To the league...
2nd November 2008, 15:00 Manchester United 2
van Nistelrooy 41, 51
Sunderland 1
Farfan 32
It was a very ambitious and promising opening half hour for us, and an upset looked on the cards as Farfan and Ohlsson rained efforts down on Tim Howard's goal, with Farfan finally breaking the deadlock, heading in a cross following good work down the right from Liam Lawrence. However this hope was short-lived, as Utd broke away down the pitch, and van Nistelrooy was left with the simplest of finishes. After the break, another moment of madness from Ibrahim Kargbo allowed van Nistelrooy to get his second of the game, with perhaps an even easier finish than his first. Our belief ebbed away following this, and the game quietened down, although we were good enough for a point, and should have had that in the last few minutes as Farfan was through on goal, but Howard pulled off an outstanding save to deny us.
5th November 2008, 19:30 Sunderland 0
Arsenal 1
Defoe 51
The game was very open to begin with, Fabregas driving into the side netting for Arsenal, and Aguero heading over whilst unmarked and in a good position. Ohlsson then went close, and Custodio's effort on the rebound was unlucky to be blocked as Toure desperately dived in front of the ball. Ohlsson was again close, this time getting his head to a chipped freekick from deep, but Kameni saved well. After the break, my curse regarding Jermaine Defoe continued, with him getting extremely lucky from the stupidest of angles. Kameni was ridiculously good in goal for Arsenal, repeatedly denying Ohlsson and Trejo - we should have really won the game easily, based on chances and shots on target, but Arsenal scampered away with the three points.
15th November 2008, 15:00 Birmingham 1
Dagoberto 73
Sunderland 2
Trejo 51
Ohlsson 83
The tone for the game was set immediately, with Trejo hitting the Brummie bar after just 9 seconds :eek:! Ohlsson had a header from a deep Sousa cross saved well, before Walcott drove a good opportunity wide for the home side. Lawrence did the hard work for the first goal, putting in an excellent tackle and breaking down the right, before slipping Ohlsson free, who crossed for Trejo to head powerfully home into the far corner of the net. Mommers made some fantastic saves in goal, and as we settled down to play for the 1-0, substitute Dagoberto had an instant impression, finishing well. After playing so well for so long, I upped the tempo once again, and Ohlsson went close. However he finally got on the scoresheet following an Arca freekick, with Aguero flicking the ball to Kuqi, who pulled back for a sweet finish. Mommers made some great saves, and Dave will feel hard-done by here, but I feel we just edged what was a great game.
22nd November 2008, 15:00 Sunderland 1
Ohlsson 23
Liverpool 2
Pazzini 39, 48
My defence looked dodgy early on, and indeed for long periods of the game, but we held out initially, and Kamara put a long ball upfield for Ohlsson to provide a clinical finish to go one-nil up. The next few minutes were all Sunderland, and we should have scored at least one more in this great period of play, but we were unable to take advantage, and Pazzini equalised before half time. Straight after the break, Liverpool came out well and a flowing team move saw Pazzini get his second, and Liverpool eased the game out.
29th November 2008, 15:00
[b]Newcastle 0
Sunderland 2
Ohlsson 30
Sousa 45+1
My bad luck against all Newcastle teams has been dragging on for too long, and a good win was needed to please the fans and to get our campaign back on track.
An early Mommers clearance saw Aguero put through, but play was called back due to Ohlsson being offside, even though he was not in play.
6th December 2008, 15:00 Sunderland 0
Portsmouth 0
This was a very nondescript game, pretty boring really. On the few chances there were, we should have won, but we didn't take our chances and Pompey held on for a point.
13th December 2008, 15:00
[b]Sunderland 0
Chelsea 2
Vucinic 3, 6
Not got a clue what went wrong here - two goals in 6 minutes, and then I was thrown into the dressing room for making obscene gestures at a certain Mr. Vucinic and also at a certain Mr. Jackson, although the latter wouldn't have seen me as his tongue was working its way up a certain Mr. Abamovich's arse in the hope of a new contract, or more money.
20th December 2008, 15:00 Wolves 0
Kaufman s.o. 26
Sunderland 2
Aguero 15
Sousa pen. 23
The opening goal was always coming, with Rossi, Farfan, Sousa and Lawrence all going close. Sousa cut inside and passed to Farfan, who spotted the runner and slipped him in, Aguero applying the finish. Sousa then charged into the area, where he was unceremoniously hacked down by Kaufman, who recieved a yellow card, and Sousa blasted the penalty home for 2-0. Seconds later, Kaufman was shown a second yellow for another ridiculous challenge, and after that we sat back and toyed with Wolves, creating many chances but not really trying to finish them. The board were again pleased with the team performance.
26th December 2008, 15:00 Sunderland 2
Ohlsson 72
Martinez 88
Middlesborough 1
Mbesuma 67
Mendieta m/pen. 78
Ligs' Boro team has been under a lot of pressure with injuries lately, and his team morale has been crap
so I was looking for a win.
Sousa was sending in some good crosses, and John and Mbesuma were looking dangerous at the other end, but the first half and the first part of the second were goalless. A good Boro break saw John set up Mbesuma, who was never going to miss. Thankfully, Farfan was not in the mood to lose, and went all the way down the left before sending in a great cross for Ohlsson to fire in the equaliser. Then Kamara stupidly gave away a penalty, but Leao did excellently to save Mendieta's effort. This gave us a new gear, with Ohlsson going close, and then claiming a freekick on the right hand side of the Boro penalty area; Sousa whipped in a great cross, and Martinez got his head to it and glanced it into the corner to claim his first goal for the club, and three points for his team. Good stuff
and the board were again happy.
Martinez's goal earned him second in the Young Player of the Month award for December.
3rd January 2009, 15:00
FA Cup 3rd Round Tottenham 1
Rossi 90
Sunderland 1
Kargbo 8
Was away for this game, but saw the goals: Kargbo scored a simply amazing 40-yarder, it curled and curled into the top corner, and Robbo in goal couldn't believe it. We were better for the rest of the half, but were under severe pressure for the second half, and it told, when Rossi equalised deep into injury time.
10th January 2009, 15:00 West Ham 2
Zigic 1
Cani 7
Sunderland 2
Lawrence pen. 44
Aguero 53
I missed this game, as I was drunk and unconscious.
... no comment
14th January 2009, 19:30
FA Cup 3rd Round Replay Sunderland 3
Trejo 1, 3
Farfan 6
Tottenham 0
Lots of injuries for us here, with Arca, Custodio and Sousa out, and Ohlsson suspended - hopes weren't high, but didn't have much to worry about, as Trejo scored twice in the opening three minutes, and then Farfan netting the third, from three more or less identical moves. The tie was already over, the game finished this way, the board were pleased and we have Fulham in the fourth round.
17th January 2009, 15:00 Sunderland 2
Ohlsson 8, 73
Wigan 0
Ohlsson scored with the first real opportunity for either side; there were a number of other chances for both teams, but none were clear-cut, until Lawrence slipped Ohlsson through to grab his second with a quarter of an hour left on the clock. The board were very pleased, as was I with the performance of young Dean Higgins, who has become the youngest ever Sunderland player, and he played very well, too. Up to 7th in the table!
24th January 2009, 15:00
FA Cup 4th Round Sunderland 0
Fulham 1
Bowditch 38
I fielded a weakened team, as I expected a comfortable win, but Bowditch did well to give the visitors the lead, and we never really recovered from this. I'm disappointed to be out of both cups at relatively early stages, although our performances deserved for us to go out; however, we can at least now concentrate on the league.
28th January 2009, 15:00 Tottenham 4
Lennon 13, 73
Cavenaghi 34, 40
Sunderland 1
Farfan 74
Spurs were a lot better than in the two recent FA Cup games. That's all I can say, really. Four good goals, three long range stupid shots, but all well finished. The only good thing I could take out of this was Aguero's apparent ability to injure everyone, as Toro, Alexandre and Robinson all had to be taken off. Despite Bentley being forced to play in goal for 25 minutes, he did admirably, and although we got a smacking, I thoroughly enjoyed giving Pagi's team a physical bashing
31st January 2009, 15:00 Sunderland 2
Aguero 45+2
Farfan 85
Aston Villa 0
There were a number of chances for us in the first half, Aguero hit a piledriver on 33mins, but the keeper saved and held the ball well. Into injury time of the first half, Aguero slipped through Ohlsson; his first effort was well saved, his second was straight at the keeper, and Aguero was forced to run in to show out top scorer how to do it
, knocking the ball into the far corner. Ronaldo had the ball in the back of the net after the break, only to have it disallowed for a dubious offside decision, one that I will not be complaining about
. Farfan was full of running, and was unlucky not to score when one-on-one with the Villa keeper. Routledge somehow managed to only get a yellow card after elbowing Kargbo in the face, but the resultant freekick went to Kamara, who lofted the ball forward for Farfan to sprint onto and poke past the onrushing keeper, with a Thierry Henry-esque finish.
The January transfer window saw us sign young Brazilian keeper Julio Cesar for <£100k, and left-sided midfielder Luizinho as cover for the injured Sousa, for £900k.
7th February 2009, 15:00 Everton 1
McFadden 78
Sunderland 2
Ohlsson 20
Farfan 30
Steven Watt nearly gave Everton an early lead, his dodgy back header letting in McFadden, but Mommers pulled off a top notch save to deny the home team. Ohlsson looked dangerous, and a pullback following a good, penetrating run forward, was unfortunate to hit an Everton boot and bouce clear. The opener came soon, with Commons running well down the left, and sending in a teasing cross into the six-yard box, and Ohlsson rose highest to nod home. A similar move saw Commons fake the cross, cut inside and slip Farfan away, who sprinted onto the ball and hit it first-time into the corner. Everton responded as Cahill hit the base of the post, a Kanyuka header went well wide, and D'Alessandro was too complacent and placed his shot wide when one-on-one. McFadden got the goal Everton were looking like getting, a freekick falling to him at the far post and he slotted past Mommers. Then in injury time, Arteta had a great opportunity, but his effort was terrible, nearly knocking out the linesman on the far side of the pitch, who was nearer to the halfway line than the goal line.
An excellent away win sees us rise to 6th, and the board, fans and players are loving it.
21st February 2009, 15:00 Charlton 2
LuaLua 44
Wurtz pen. 68
Sunderland 4
Ohlsson 35, 54
Farfan 69
Whitehead 72
Farfan had an early effort disallowed for offside, before disposessing Gonzalez on his own 18 yard line; Ohlsson ran in to poke past the onrushing keeper from 25 yards. Martinez had an awful clearance that went straight to winger Timlin, and his cross was finished with a powerful header from LuaLua. Farfan had an immediate chance to put us ahead again, but blasted high and wide when in a good position. Ohlsson's second goal was an awesome team move. Farfan worked his way down the left, before darting infield and centering for Whitehead, who played a first-time, defence-splitting ball for Ohlsson to run onto and finish. However the game wasn't anywhere near over, as Kargbo decided to hack down LuaLua in the area, and Wurtz knocked home the resultant penalty. So, level again, I thought it would stay that way, but Faran recieved a long ball from Kamara, and hit a rising shot into the top right corner from a very tight angle. And the win was ensured seconds later, as Ohlsson showed a flash or two of brilliance. He dropped deep to collect a pass, whilst Whitehead had run on into the gap: Ohlsson sensed this, and sent a first-time ball over the top, perfectly placed for Whitehead's run, who coolly slid the ball under the keeper. Ohlsson was awesome here today, no other word for it, and he is going to get even better. The board was pleased, and league form is looking top-notch right now.
28th February 2009, 15:00 Sunderland 3
Lawrence pen. 18
Farfan 45+2
Whitehead 78
Leicester 2
Fenin 14, 71
A hard-fought victory against the bottom of the table, yet very determined Foxes side. We definitely made it harder through poor defending, and Leicester's long ball game saw Fenin put through and he applied the finish. Markel sent a high ball forward towards Ohlsson, who was fouled just inside the area, and Lawrence tucked the penalty home to equalise. On the stroke of half time, Leicester were pushing forwards, when Ohlsson intercepted a pass and weaved it through for Farfan to run onto. From the halfway line, he held off two players and blasted it in at the near post, a quality goal. Whitehead and Ohlsson went close with headers in the second half, as Leicester were put under heavy, heavy pressure, but the long-ball merchants saw Fenin put through again to grab his second. The game wasn't level for too long though, as Arca stormed down the left wing to cross for Whitehead, running in from deep, to nod into the corner. It should have been four as Farfan was one-on-one with Trejo in support, but the pullback to Trejo resulted in a fine save. Farfan had an excellent game, and we should have won in easire fashion, and by a greater margin.
7th March 2009, 15:00 Norwich 2
Lyons 16, 53
Sunderland 0
Brown managed to run down the right wing for ages, and had an equal length of time to pick his spot for the cross, which Lyons beat two defenders to and nodded in. Norwich got their second with the best break I've seen so far; Ohlsson had a shot well saved, and within ten seconds, Lyons was at the other end, placing a shot past Leao. It was a p*ss-poor performance.
Another good month, but for the last result, saw Farfan come second in the Player of the Month award, and come third in the Goal of the Month for his fabulous solo effort against Charlton. To match this, I was second in the Manager of the Month award... I'm sure that a win against Norwich would have seen me win the award.
14th March 2009, 15:00 Sunderland 1
Ohlsson 37
Bolton 2
Ashton 8, 15
I accidentally started the game with a negative team attitude, and Bolton quickly exploited this. Kargbo was very much at fault for the first goal, as he passed to Ashton in our area, who was all alone, and played dodge the keeper on the way to scoring. Kargbo again was caught out as Sosa curled a pass in towards Ashton, who is obviously a good finisher, as it put us 2-0 down, and we were all over the shop. A tactical shake-up straightened proceedings slightly, as Lawrence set Ohlsson up to pull one back in fashionable style. Farfan hit the bar, shots rained down on the Bolton goal, but we couldn't right our own wrongs in this game.
So Steve, a good few months for you?
Yeah, I can't complain too much really - some great scalps, and we're in a great league position, and we have a great squad.
Do you think you can keep this squad together?
Yes and no, really. We're a financially sound club, so don't need to sell, but football is a business, and every player has their price. Some are more ambitious than others, and will probably want to leave at some stage, although I would like to think that, for the most part, I can get most to sign new contracts.
Is there anywhere the squad needs strengthening, in your eyes?
It would be unprofessional to cite individuals, but I feel that there is definitely room for some improvement in certain areas, but I will address those in the summer.
What do you think of recent managerial news and moves?
You mean Pagi? He can fcuk off and eat as much pizza as he wants, as far as I'm concened
:p
And of Williams?
Well United are a crap team, and need managers to suit their quality and ambition, or lack of, so I'm sure Dave will fit in well there :p
That's a bit harsh, surely?!
*advances on reporter*
And? What you gonna do about it?
Errm, thanks for your time.
*reporter runs away*
You're welcome, any time
:thup:
God I'm tired after writing this lot up
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