Sunderland v Spurs
The last encounter brought back fond memories apart from the adoration that gifted them a goal. We don't need to be giving them those sort of gifts in what will be a tougher game.
Sunderland were solid in defence against QPR but fell to a set piece and only conceded the solitary goal against Manchester United. Defensively it would appear, at this early stage anyway, to be that they are improving under Gus Poyet.
Kevin Phillips tells us that a lot of time is spent on the training field practising defending corners and free-kicks, both in defensive and attacking situations. We are at the moment a bit of a mess at corners with Kaboul particularly like a rabbit in headlights looking as if he doesn't know what he should be doing.
As an attacking force we have scored from a corner but we have not been the greatest threat over the last few years, except when Gareth Bale was taking direct free kicks.
Sunderland have new signings, Argentinian attacking midfielder Ricky Alvarez and Uruguyan, centre-back Sebastian Coates on loan from Liverpool. Both be hoping to make their debuts.
The Black Cats didn't stop there though, winger Will Buckley arrived from Brighton, right-back Billy Jones from WBA, goalkeeper Costel Pantilimon was signed after he didn't have his contract renewed by Manchester City, left-back Patrick van Aanholt arrived from Chelsea, right-back Santiago Vergini on loan again from Argentinian side Estudiantes, midfielder Jordi Gomez from Wigan, and midfielder Jack Rodwell also from Manchester City.
We had problems with 7 new signing last season, yet 14 Premier League sides have made 7 signings or more each during the summer transfer window. Of the rest we have made 6 signings, Everton, Man City, Chelsea and Aston Villa have also made 6 while Arsenal have made 5. None of them seem to see a raft of new signings as a problem so there was certainly an element of hiding behind excuses for us last season.
Federicio Fazio hopefully will make his debut, the defence needs him with Kaboul looking a shadow of the player we saw for a season in 2011/12. Sunderland will need a little time to gel where we are now learning a new system so there is an element of uncertaincy about and a positive result will do us no end of good, we don't need any doubt creeping in within the team. If we hope to be challenging then these are games we need to be winning.
Recent Articles:
Tottenham News Shorts - Issue 60
Spurs keeper Archer stars in final game for Scotland U21's
Pochettino assures Archer he has a future at Spurs
Feeling no pressure will help Pochettino
Rose responds to Ben Davies challenge
Eriksen happy to switch roles
Vertonghen and Fazio
Thus far Sunderland have favoured attacking down the left which will be occupied by either Eriksen or Lamela who switch roles, with Naughton or Dier behind them and probably Fazio on the right side of defence. Will Buckley had a good game against Manchester United and can be deployed on either wing so I'd expect him to see a lot of the ball but whichever wing he is on I'd expect a busy day for our full-backs.
If Sunderland do continue to attack mainly down the left then they'll probably be attacking a new combination. You'd expect Fazio to come in to deal with Connor Wickham so how he works with Naughton or Dier gel will be important, Sunderland are sure to target the inside left channel to test them.
The local Shields Gazette in Wearside reports that Gus Poyet thinks Emanuele Giaccherini could be his team's secret weapon against Tottenham.
They are a team developing in the mould of Poyet who may well start to improve them after a spell fighting relegation. I'm not expecting Sunderland to go down this season, bottom half yes, but to be reasonably safe. Let's hope Gus Poyet is saying the same words he said last time Sunderland played Spurs.
I'll settle for Gus thinking he needs a miracle again.
Sunderland were solid in defence against QPR but fell to a set piece and only conceded the solitary goal against Manchester United. Defensively it would appear, at this early stage anyway, to be that they are improving under Gus Poyet.
Kevin Phillips tells us that a lot of time is spent on the training field practising defending corners and free-kicks, both in defensive and attacking situations. We are at the moment a bit of a mess at corners with Kaboul particularly like a rabbit in headlights looking as if he doesn't know what he should be doing.
As an attacking force we have scored from a corner but we have not been the greatest threat over the last few years, except when Gareth Bale was taking direct free kicks.
Sunderland have new signings, Argentinian attacking midfielder Ricky Alvarez and Uruguyan, centre-back Sebastian Coates on loan from Liverpool. Both be hoping to make their debuts.
The Black Cats didn't stop there though, winger Will Buckley arrived from Brighton, right-back Billy Jones from WBA, goalkeeper Costel Pantilimon was signed after he didn't have his contract renewed by Manchester City, left-back Patrick van Aanholt arrived from Chelsea, right-back Santiago Vergini on loan again from Argentinian side Estudiantes, midfielder Jordi Gomez from Wigan, and midfielder Jack Rodwell also from Manchester City.
We had problems with 7 new signing last season, yet 14 Premier League sides have made 7 signings or more each during the summer transfer window. Of the rest we have made 6 signings, Everton, Man City, Chelsea and Aston Villa have also made 6 while Arsenal have made 5. None of them seem to see a raft of new signings as a problem so there was certainly an element of hiding behind excuses for us last season.
Federicio Fazio hopefully will make his debut, the defence needs him with Kaboul looking a shadow of the player we saw for a season in 2011/12. Sunderland will need a little time to gel where we are now learning a new system so there is an element of uncertaincy about and a positive result will do us no end of good, we don't need any doubt creeping in within the team. If we hope to be challenging then these are games we need to be winning.
Recent Articles:
Tottenham News Shorts - Issue 60
Spurs keeper Archer stars in final game for Scotland U21's
Pochettino assures Archer he has a future at Spurs
Feeling no pressure will help Pochettino
Rose responds to Ben Davies challenge
Eriksen happy to switch roles
Vertonghen and Fazio
Thus far Sunderland have favoured attacking down the left which will be occupied by either Eriksen or Lamela who switch roles, with Naughton or Dier behind them and probably Fazio on the right side of defence. Will Buckley had a good game against Manchester United and can be deployed on either wing so I'd expect him to see a lot of the ball but whichever wing he is on I'd expect a busy day for our full-backs.
If Sunderland do continue to attack mainly down the left then they'll probably be attacking a new combination. You'd expect Fazio to come in to deal with Connor Wickham so how he works with Naughton or Dier gel will be important, Sunderland are sure to target the inside left channel to test them.
The local Shields Gazette in Wearside reports that Gus Poyet thinks Emanuele Giaccherini could be his team's secret weapon against Tottenham.
"To have him back is fantastic for us because this is the best I've seen him.
"Throughout pre-season, and since he's come back from an injury setback, he has been great. But the competition for places in our midfield now is massive, massive - it's even difficult to make the bench now."
They are a team developing in the mould of Poyet who may well start to improve them after a spell fighting relegation. I'm not expecting Sunderland to go down this season, bottom half yes, but to be reasonably safe. Let's hope Gus Poyet is saying the same words he said last time Sunderland played Spurs.
"I think we need a miracle. We need something unique, a shock because if not I cannot see it coming."
I'll settle for Gus thinking he needs a miracle again.
Post a Comment