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New Beginnings - January Update
Ok, the new year and we're sitting top of the table - yeah, that's right - you read correctly, Sunderland was top of the Premier League after twenty five games played, truely a remarkable achievement by our players and all at the football club. I wanted to start this month off brightly and keep the momentum in our favour as we travelled to London for the away game against QPR who we previously we beat earlier in the season at home.
Ok, that was too close for comfort from dropping valuable two points - we just getting started and QPR seemed the more hungrier side out of the two, the beat us to balls and won most of the headers and just overall deservedd there one nil advantage they took into half-time. I let they players have it, the performance wasnt acceptable, we wasnt where we was in the league by luck, we had been playing well and substitute Jack Colback got us back on level terms after the hour - QPR was still having too many chances for my liking and I feared they had done enough to get a point out of this until Titus Bramble made up for his earlier mistake by scoring a last minute winner and to keep us top of the table - delighted! Wasn't a great peformance but another three points and relief all around as we stayed top of the league.
Next up was Wigan Athletic, who was only a few more defeats away from being relegated. A game I was looking to win comfortably and told the players that I expected nothing less than a result - this was a game we should be smashing! Never mind just winning, Top of the league against a relegation candidate - I was expecting big.
Ok, now the result might not look that great - but seriously it wasn't a close game. We just didn't tae our chances and that scoreline would of felt like a point for Wigan, who was lucky to only escape with a 1-0 defeat. We out classed them everywhere in the pitch, but just didn't seem to have our shooting boots on. We got the goal what matters though, to give us another 3 points and keep the momentum going as we remained top.
Next up was the 3rd Round of the FA Cup as we travelled to League 1 side, Sheffield Wednesday - somewhat one of the League 1 giants, as many may see them - but I felt confident of going there and getting a result with no scares. I kept a strong line-out as i've said before, I want to win any competation im in, that mean's taking no chances - So we treated Sheffield Wednesday with respect as we played a near full team.
Ok, good performance, three goals and into the next round of the FA Cup, where we would take on Tottenham. Tougher draw than I would of liked, but none the less - was proud of the peformance and very good result in my opinion as we strolled into the next round of the FA Cup.
Carling Cup Semi Final time, Liverpool was in a good run and well so was we, so it was going to be close. A chance to get into a final - when was the last time Sunderland fans said that? It was going to be a very tough game, knowing that Liverpool a fully fit squad with no injuries, while we hadd a few key players missing such as Macheda and Donovan - but still I looked optomistic.
Il take that - i've gotta be honest, we was out played and out class and really should have lost this game, but poor finishing and some fine shot stopping for Craig Gordon kept Liverpool at bay, while we wasn't really able to create any chances during the game, it meant he had them at home - which gave us an advantage and hopefully do better than this and advance to the Carling Cup Final.
So after a good break from the Premier League - which I must say was needed, we faced an away game to Goodison Park. Which as you all know, I was grim about, i've already mentioned how many times I hate playing Everton and Im going to again - just have ha! But I was feeling that with the run of games we was on without a defeat a felt we could keep this run going, especially knowing that Chelsea and Manchester City was right on our tails.
Il take a result like that from Everton every week! Another tight game with Everton, as they always are, but we gritted our teeth and was able to end the game with the three points after Landon Donovan once again came back to haunt his old club by getting the only goal of the game and to more importantly keep us top of the table!
Blackburn Rovers was our next challengers as the busy January was coming close to an end, wasn't expecting so many games around this month, but the cup replay aswell and being in both cups which im not saying is a bad thing, would mean many more fixtures and was sure to adventually catch up on my players. I wasn't risking it as I changed the team around to take on struggling Blackburn.
Happy with that, especially when I put in a few youngsters to replace some key figures to get them a rest. Dissapointed in Jadson, yet ANOTHER red card - seems he will have to go in the summer, I know it's January, but dont wanna sell him after just six months. Anyways - he might still come in handy this season. But a good performance apart from the red card and another win - meant another 3 points.
The end of the month was two cup games and the first up was the Carling Cup Semi Final replay with Liverpool. After surviving a dominated game in the first game at Anfield, I was looking for a much better pefromance and a reaction from the players - I wanted them to go out and prove a point and play Liverpool of the park, like they did with us at Anfield, except I wanted to do it and win! Enthusiastic? Heh' we will see.
Ok, we didn't exactly play them off the park, but hey! We're in the final! Cracking result and absolute delighted to be in the Carling Cup Final. It was a even game in all fairness to Liverpool, but we took our chances which became the difference of the sides on the day, we've now got a Carling Cup Final against Hull City to look foward to and with us favourites, doe's it look like theres finally some silverware on they way back to Sunderland?
The final game of the month was the FA Cup 4th round tie away to Tottenham, which as I mentioned before - would of liked an easier tie than this, but then you cant have everything going your way. I had an ugly feel about this game, It just seemed to have the Liverpool game at Anfield written all over it, so I played it save and decided to start a very defensive line up and a counter attack style of play - hoping we could go for two domestic cups.
Ok, we're not out - another replay for us and it's at home again, so we've still got a real good chance to get into the next round of the FA Cup. Was gutted not to be able to hold for the win, but in all fairness Tottenham was the better side and would of been harsh on them to lose, not that I would of complained or that. It was a decent result to end what had been a very good month in my opinion.
We ended the month still top of the table and had even booked ourselves in the Carling Cup final against Hull City, we was also still in the FA Cup. Things are looking bright for Sunderland at the moment and i've got to be honest, from this position if I dont end the season with at least one trophy Im going to be devastated. The manager of the month award went to Chelsea manager Andre Villas-Boas which suprised me a little, but what can you do? It's on to February!
Ok, the new year and we're sitting top of the table - yeah, that's right - you read correctly, Sunderland was top of the Premier League after twenty five games played, truely a remarkable achievement by our players and all at the football club. I wanted to start this month off brightly and keep the momentum in our favour as we travelled to London for the away game against QPR who we previously we beat earlier in the season at home.
Ok, that was too close for comfort from dropping valuable two points - we just getting started and QPR seemed the more hungrier side out of the two, the beat us to balls and won most of the headers and just overall deservedd there one nil advantage they took into half-time. I let they players have it, the performance wasnt acceptable, we wasnt where we was in the league by luck, we had been playing well and substitute Jack Colback got us back on level terms after the hour - QPR was still having too many chances for my liking and I feared they had done enough to get a point out of this until Titus Bramble made up for his earlier mistake by scoring a last minute winner and to keep us top of the table - delighted! Wasn't a great peformance but another three points and relief all around as we stayed top of the league.
Next up was Wigan Athletic, who was only a few more defeats away from being relegated. A game I was looking to win comfortably and told the players that I expected nothing less than a result - this was a game we should be smashing! Never mind just winning, Top of the league against a relegation candidate - I was expecting big.
Ok, now the result might not look that great - but seriously it wasn't a close game. We just didn't tae our chances and that scoreline would of felt like a point for Wigan, who was lucky to only escape with a 1-0 defeat. We out classed them everywhere in the pitch, but just didn't seem to have our shooting boots on. We got the goal what matters though, to give us another 3 points and keep the momentum going as we remained top.
Next up was the 3rd Round of the FA Cup as we travelled to League 1 side, Sheffield Wednesday - somewhat one of the League 1 giants, as many may see them - but I felt confident of going there and getting a result with no scares. I kept a strong line-out as i've said before, I want to win any competation im in, that mean's taking no chances - So we treated Sheffield Wednesday with respect as we played a near full team.
Ok, good performance, three goals and into the next round of the FA Cup, where we would take on Tottenham. Tougher draw than I would of liked, but none the less - was proud of the peformance and very good result in my opinion as we strolled into the next round of the FA Cup.
Carling Cup Semi Final time, Liverpool was in a good run and well so was we, so it was going to be close. A chance to get into a final - when was the last time Sunderland fans said that? It was going to be a very tough game, knowing that Liverpool a fully fit squad with no injuries, while we hadd a few key players missing such as Macheda and Donovan - but still I looked optomistic.
Il take that - i've gotta be honest, we was out played and out class and really should have lost this game, but poor finishing and some fine shot stopping for Craig Gordon kept Liverpool at bay, while we wasn't really able to create any chances during the game, it meant he had them at home - which gave us an advantage and hopefully do better than this and advance to the Carling Cup Final.
So after a good break from the Premier League - which I must say was needed, we faced an away game to Goodison Park. Which as you all know, I was grim about, i've already mentioned how many times I hate playing Everton and Im going to again - just have ha! But I was feeling that with the run of games we was on without a defeat a felt we could keep this run going, especially knowing that Chelsea and Manchester City was right on our tails.
Il take a result like that from Everton every week! Another tight game with Everton, as they always are, but we gritted our teeth and was able to end the game with the three points after Landon Donovan once again came back to haunt his old club by getting the only goal of the game and to more importantly keep us top of the table!
Blackburn Rovers was our next challengers as the busy January was coming close to an end, wasn't expecting so many games around this month, but the cup replay aswell and being in both cups which im not saying is a bad thing, would mean many more fixtures and was sure to adventually catch up on my players. I wasn't risking it as I changed the team around to take on struggling Blackburn.
Happy with that, especially when I put in a few youngsters to replace some key figures to get them a rest. Dissapointed in Jadson, yet ANOTHER red card - seems he will have to go in the summer, I know it's January, but dont wanna sell him after just six months. Anyways - he might still come in handy this season. But a good performance apart from the red card and another win - meant another 3 points.
The end of the month was two cup games and the first up was the Carling Cup Semi Final replay with Liverpool. After surviving a dominated game in the first game at Anfield, I was looking for a much better pefromance and a reaction from the players - I wanted them to go out and prove a point and play Liverpool of the park, like they did with us at Anfield, except I wanted to do it and win! Enthusiastic? Heh' we will see.
Ok, we didn't exactly play them off the park, but hey! We're in the final! Cracking result and absolute delighted to be in the Carling Cup Final. It was a even game in all fairness to Liverpool, but we took our chances which became the difference of the sides on the day, we've now got a Carling Cup Final against Hull City to look foward to and with us favourites, doe's it look like theres finally some silverware on they way back to Sunderland?
The final game of the month was the FA Cup 4th round tie away to Tottenham, which as I mentioned before - would of liked an easier tie than this, but then you cant have everything going your way. I had an ugly feel about this game, It just seemed to have the Liverpool game at Anfield written all over it, so I played it save and decided to start a very defensive line up and a counter attack style of play - hoping we could go for two domestic cups.
Ok, we're not out - another replay for us and it's at home again, so we've still got a real good chance to get into the next round of the FA Cup. Was gutted not to be able to hold for the win, but in all fairness Tottenham was the better side and would of been harsh on them to lose, not that I would of complained or that. It was a decent result to end what had been a very good month in my opinion.
We ended the month still top of the table and had even booked ourselves in the Carling Cup final against Hull City, we was also still in the FA Cup. Things are looking bright for Sunderland at the moment and i've got to be honest, from this position if I dont end the season with at least one trophy Im going to be devastated. The manager of the month award went to Chelsea manager Andre Villas-Boas which suprised me a little, but what can you do? It's on to February!
