Sunderland v Wrexham was live on S4C and at a sensible time. Having ploughed through the Sunday papers in the garden this morning and finished a book this afternoon I couldn’t think of a reason not to so…
Sunderland have played less pre season games than us yet were plainly fitter. I’ll pin it on the plane travel for now but I’m not convinced.
They were also pretty impressive. Brobbey was a nightmare. His hold up play could be seen in direct comparison to Keiffer Moore and the latter was pathetic. Young Chris Rigg looked stupendous. Angulo, the Ecuadorean who was MOTM against Germany in the WC, also looked superb. All 3 exposed the continued lack of pace in our team.
Their winning goal was made by Brobbey but should have been a routine save for Arthur, who continues to show he’s going to struggle to keep his place this season. All that height and he just doesn’t want to dominate his box. Hyam is looking as he did at the end of last season i.e. a spent force reduced to dragging players down. I’m still waiting for Vyner to show me anything and… it’s just not happening. If he starts at RB ahead of young Max then, alongside Hyam, I think we have real issues.
Midfield is hard to judge because Sheaf is again unfit and we have an embarrassment of riches all at broadly the same level. Only Dobbo plays on the front foot though.
Up front is easy. Moore was anonymous and awful. Cadamarteri and Smith look increasingly impressive. Keillor-Dunne just needs a goal to settle him.
The wing back issue needs resolving although once again Cacace, now clearly fit after the WC, looked decent and Barney again showed he’s something to offer which is far better than Longman. Parky seems to have decided not though for reasons which escape me. All quiet on the Devlin et al front though. Imray was impressive defensively on his debut though. Need to see more of him going forward.
Sunderland brought Patterson on in goal, which rather suggested he might not be signing for us. No way of judging him in that short time.
Enjoyed the ref. Played advantages whilst indicating fouls that he’d come back to. Never did. Refused to accept the game was a friendly so booked a Sunderland player before they could sub him. Player was raging.
Think Sunderland have it in them to do a bit more than last season. I continue to think that mid table will be a good season for us, get the kop built and then push on the season after next.
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