The Fish

Knackered. Both the little man and the Mrs have the Flu. He's been coughing and not himself for a few days, took him into the GP who said it was a viral infection, probably the flu and to keep an eye on how much he's feeding, if he's dehyrdated and for any marks on his body. Saturday he's properly listless, and there's a mark on his shoulder so we phone 111, they send an ambulance sharpish. Paramedics look him over, but by now he's fed and had another power nap. HE's brighter and the paramedic says that the mark is probably just a mark from the carseat or his cot or wherever. Then some over-zealous GP he phones insists we take Little Fish to Hospital. Paramedic apologises for being unprofessional then says that we should go to hospital if we're at all worried and it's definitely the absolute safest thing to do, but it's his personal opinion that the GP is passing the buck and has ignored the information and opinion he gave over the phone. We're at Hospital for 6 hours, all the while little laddy is getting more uncomfortable and fed up, and the wife is the same. One Doctor examined him then remarked "Oh, he's a bit grumpy isn't he?" "Aye", I said, "He's not slept properly in 4hrs, and people keep waking him up to poke and prod him" Mrs Fish wasn't happy with me. Then they have to take bloods, so I'm restraining my son as he thrashes and screams bloody murder because the nurse can't complete the task right and has to get a doctor to help. Get sent to paediatrics, then after 2hrs waiting they check the results, give him a once over and send us home because he's got the flu. Total waste of our time, and the hospital staff's, all because some out of hour GP didn't trust the paramedic. anyway, I'm fucking exhausted and needed some catharsis.

Missed a trick there. Shit. Sorry.

The fuck did I do?

We played defensive, counter attack football with an actual targetman, and a number 10 who harrassed their back line all game. We played further up the pitch because of that and so Rondon and Perez weren't as isolated as Joelinton is. We played with centre backs who would spray the ball about confidently but who were just as comfortable keeping the ball when possible. Now, we're humping balls up to nobody, or to Carroll when he's on the pitch. Joelinton is entirely on his own, Almiron and Saint Maximin need to beat two or three men before they get close to the opposition box and our defence is our biggest attacking threat. Also, I'd say that Benitez' defensive displays owed more to organisation and design, than to passion and individual ability.

It wasn't exactly the same though, was it.

Given the variety of abuse that goes on in Wearside car parks, I'd say verbal is the preferred option.

Protesting the ownership is out, mind you. Very Mag-like behaviour apparently. I mean, it's fine to boo the manager, jeer the players and desert the stadium when you're losing... But God help you if you boycott in the first place.

Benitez was more focussed/comfortable playing that pragmatic style with the squad he had, and Bruce hasn't the wherewithal to play differently with any degree of success. Had Benitez been in control of transfers I'm convinced he would have signed improvements for central midfield to permit more possession-based play.

It'sa really confusing time for them, some are actually willing Newcastle to win simply because we liked Benitez and were not impressed with Bruce's appointment. As if Bruce's "success" somehow proves our admiration for Benitez was unfounded. At first I thought there was some kind of change of heart as quite a few posters are giving our back line praise, but reckon it's just that the usual crowd who crow the loudest in their anti-Newcastle fervour have gone suspiciously quiet. I'm sure they'll come back if/when we have a bad run. A third year in the third tier will knacker them for them for ages, and it's not like they've begun the process of turning the ship around yet. It's still travelling full steam ahead towards the iceberg.

Partly because we've had to play Shelvey who has no interest in short passes, partly because that season we were aiming for Rondon as quickly as possible. In Schar, Lejeune and to a lesser extent Clark & Fernandez we've got centre back who're very comfortable on the ball. With a decent defensive midfielder we could definitely play a more patient game.

I think there Almiron, Joelinton and ASM are good players, I'm just not sure all 3 fit into the same system and I'm not sure we're playing a system that any of them will shine in. Joelinton needs support possibly as part of a front 3 ASM need plenty of opportunities to run at defenders, but we're sitting so deep he's having to beat 3 - 4 men each time. Almiron similarly needs to be playing further up the pitch, receiving the ball to feet and enjoying quick 1-2s with the fullback and central midfield or striker.

Pardew for Everton please, or Moyes. Love to see them go down after spunking a fortune on players and a new stadium.

If subtelty is an artform, this is finger painting.

Atmosphere is fucking dire for the Burnley game.

God, that reads like a teenager's blog.

The Queen? Or so says twitter.

And there aren't loads of weddings.

Available to take some part, but clearly not ready to start.

Schar is coming back from injury Carroll is injured Don't fear Google, it is your friend.

plus the Man City players for Shelvey's, also the officials, and the Swiss and the Moon.

Cowards

Good result, still remain unconvinced by Bruse's set up though.

I agree we could benefit from 3 in midfield, but I worry our back line is way more comfortable with 3 centrebacks. Maybe a 5-3-2? with Willems and Yedling as wingbacks, ASM played more like a striker? as an aside, Betvictor have ManCity to 'win to nil' at 21-20, which is a license to print money imo

Moaning because he's mentioned Newcastle in it. Well, two things; 1. They're guilty of bringing us into nigh on every football conversation, so turn about's fair, no? 2. It's a national newspaper, people need to be reminded exactly who Sunderland are. Newcastle's local "rivals" is a useful short cut.

Exactly, and also dropping £40m on a striker against the wishes of the then manager. It's rotten. I have to say when he's played well and has been supported I've liked the look of Joelinton, but he's much better suited to playing as part of a front 3, by all accounts, and we don't have the players for that. Also begs the question, why sign Saint Maximin who doesn't fit into a front three in the same way, surely there were other strikers who do, who could have complimented Joelinton?