midds

He's had a good couple of minutes to consider what he's going to do once he (probably) scores too. He knows he's about to take a pen and decided to imitate an aeroplane and run 80 or 90 yards towards the Newcastle fans, it's not a spontaneous thing he's done, he's decided that's the best way to rub Newcastle fan's noses in it. Only he knows why he's done it, I'd like to think it's just ill-advised and crass rather than malicious but...it's Adam Johnson and he's been formally charged with grooming and sexual activity with a 15 year old lass...His decision-making in the past has obviously been 'questionable'.

The 38-40 point benchmark is a little misleading too. To stay up you've got to be better than 3 other sides, the points total doesn't really come into it and as poor as we are I think we'll finish above at least 3 other sides. We've had one of the worst starts to a league season in our history and are only 2 points behind 17th, 3 behind 16th etc. Not trying to spin this as success by any stretch but I think we'll survive.

I thought it was obvious tbh.

Waste of time. He was clumsy and had he defended it properly then the ref wouldn't even have had a decision to make.

He was given time and space today and still did nothing. They backed off him and he still just played the percentages, passing it sideways and backwards, not really getting involved too much and his touches were in areas where Sunderland knew he couldn't do too much damage. He did get kicked out of the game and that's not his fault. Any injury he's picked up was inflicted by that cunt Cattermole.

1 penalty awarded in the last 68 games I think. That came at Old Trafford in the 87th minute whilst we were 3-0 down... ...tie that in with the 13 red cards that we've been shown since the last time we've had a man advantage and it's the type of stat that gets you wondering and Jeff Stelling loves.

The run of fixtures from now til Xmas is huge. don't want to put a number on it atm but the next 7 or 8 games will decide which division we play in next year.

Regardless of opposition and referees it does highlight how our players have a huge problem with self-discipline and professionalism. Yes we've been shit for ages, yes some of those reds are debatable but the fact we've had so many means it's not a coincidence. It needs to be addressed, we're 10 games in and we've had 3 reds ffs.

The next shit red card we get we should pull the team off the pitch and concede the game. FA won't ignore that the fucking corrupt cunts. You can add Coloccini today to that list. It's now 13 reds since we played with a red card advantage.

bleurgh. I've decided I'm going to remember the first 43 minutes of the game and try to take a few positives from the game. Even with 10 men we still created chances but games hinge on big moments and they all went in Sunderland's favour today. If you don't score when you're on top you generally pay the price eventually.

I thought it was a pen like. The red was a little harsh but I can see why he's given it, had Coloccini not barged him out of the way then Fletcher would have had a chance to get on the end of the pass. don't think he would have got there in time, it was tight, but he wasn't given the chance to because he'd been knocked on his arse by Colo.

Un-fucking-believable.

His face looks like someone's set about a scrotum with a scalpel.

Be funny as fuck if someone reported it.

Think the stickers are Paul Bracewell, Peytar Reid, Derek Mountfield and I think it's Pat van den Hauwe with the jaw.

I expect to lose. I hope I'm wrong.

I'd be absolutely fine with him sitting in front of the CBs and not contributing anything in the final third. If that's his role then the onus is on someone else to create and score, it's the fact that's his role and he does it poorly imo. He provides no protection to the defence and can't help out at the sharp end either. It's the worst of both worlds with him.

We gave this bloke away. We did't sell him on, we gave him away for nothing.

Prefer Gouffran. Works harder.

The players looked like they enjoyed it today. First time in ages they were all smiling and happy, seemingly enjoying playing football and scoring goals. Far too often they look like they've just finished a shift in the salt-mines.

Still offers absolutely nothing in any area of the field. In a game is which we score 6 the only memorable thing this fucker does is to block a shot. It's embarrassing.

Still got no faith in us to have a go at them like we attacked Norwich today. Like Mick said, if we actually summon the bollocks up to have a real go at them then we've got a chance of outscoring them. We go behind early and I think we'll fold again. We're not resilient enough to come from behind and get something.

Nice to see the inter-play and link-up's between the front 5 or 6. Also nice to see the players still wanting to score that 7th goal even though we'd already notched 6 they still wanted to flood forward and attack. Still look far too brittle at the back and Colcack*/Tiote give no protection to the CBs. * this was a genuine typo but I'm leaving it in.

They're just trying to make it the best programme, pound for pound, in the premier league.