Sunderland have a lot more work to do
Discipline and fighting spirit
Sunderland players were clearly out of their depth when compared in quality to the Tottenham side lined up in front of them, but they fought hard and (mostly) played to their strengths.
The last-gasp win will please the fans but the game has shown how much work Roy Keane still has to do at Sunderland if they are to be a regular fixture in the top flight.
Set pieces were the most obvious problem, but overall it was sloppy possession that put Sunderland under pressure most of the time. You would have expected the Sunderland central midfielders to sit back and protect the back four but there were times a few of the Sunderland players tried to be too cheeky or they didn’t look up before passing.
It was refreshing to see how the players play clever little flicks and execute quick turns on the ball, but more importantly the number of corners they won (thanks to the attacking license given to Richardson and Edwards) was good to see as well, and perhaps a lesson for Tottenham.
Player Ratings
Gordon - One nervy moment but it was a good move to rush out to prevent Berba from getting a clear shot.
Whitehead & Nosworthy - Composed, effective and impressive.
Paul McShane - Man of the Match, fantastic performance from him.
Carlos Edwards - Quality winger with a great attitude and willingness to run at the opposition defense. If Tottenham had him in their side they would have won this 3-0.
Anthony Stokes & Kieran Richardson - Disappointing, a lot more was expected from both of them.
Liam Miller - Not bad at all, could do well for Sunderland.
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Ahhhh balls Ahmed!! Last night I was picking my SquadGod squad and I wanted Carlos Edwards but they said he was injured. Edwards and Yorke. Gotta support my boys. I’m from Trinidad & Tobago too
Ahmed! You clearly know nothing about football!! How the hell can you say Sunderland were outclassed??!! The restricted Spurs and made them look average!!! You’re mad as an angry box of snapping turtles if you think we were anyting less than solid today!!! Haway the lads!! Last minute goals and 3 points are rarely just a matter of luck against top sides…just like today!!!
Out of their depth!!?? Youre nuts mate!!!
edwards is quality but is weak, from what i saw, a little nock and he’s on the ground! its not diving, its just lack of strength.
Mcshane nearlygave sunderland all the hope for a draw and a point in the bag but hell “apna desi” Chopra Got the final touch
gr8 match
Not forgetting Dickson Etuhu, who I felt also had a pretty good game, even if he was a little careless in possession at times.
Broke up play in the middle of the park quite well when Spurs sporadically threatened to attack.
I don’t know which part of the match you were watching, but i saw the whole thing & Spurs looked uninspired the whole time. Even Robbie Keane wasn’t getting his plays right & although Berbatov put on some displays, they were nowhere near as good as they should have been.
I totally agree about McShane. The guy was last line of defense & played great! But i think Richardson had a fair game as well. He was far from ‘disappointing’. On the whole Sunderland’s passing game was very good (relatively speaking) & they were very threatening many times but lacked finishing (that should improve with time).
Spurs played like crap the second half. They kept losing possession & Bent was average at best. Their plays kept breaking up in midfield. Defensively they were terrible. How much was Kaboul again? Played like crap. I don’t know what Jol’s team talk was. ‘I have a cunning plan! If we close our eyes & wish really, REALLY hard; shit will happen.’
After last night i can sleep easy that Arsenal are a little more secure in staying in the top 4.
Sunderland were hardly outclassed..they had pretty even possession and both sides were wasteful…Etuhu in my opinion was the weak link after Edwards in their midfield..tackled really well but crappy passing and holding the ball skills for a Def. Mid…. Liam Miller could’ve started well ahead of him(after all he was touted to be keano’s successor at OT), Mcshane was immense and Richardson i thought was unlucky despite making some key plays in the first half..didn’t really get going cos stokes and Yorke were just plain poor..Sunderland missed 3 or so sitters in front of the spurs..