Blackpool v Sunderland Official Matchday Thread 17.04.21

Sunderland played more long balls than we did and 50% of their passes were in their own half.
We weren't on it today, the passing was off, attacking threat was very limited. Yates did nothing all game.

It was a tight game but too many times we gave it away needlessly and invited pressure.

We've seen in the past we've come unstuck from that approach, it worked today.

I think Critch will say we should have used the ball better.

Good defensive performance, bad passing and attacking performance. We win, we move and and must improve on that display, but in the great run not every game can be amazing.
 
Last saturday we played some great football and somehow ended up only drawing. This week Sunderland did a job on us and we have picked up 3 points with our most undeserved win of the season. That's how football works out sometimes.

Great effort and determination from the players with Ballard absolutely outstanding. We are down to the bare bones and still this group managed to grind out results. Terrible refereeing at times, the non-booking being the worst.

Take McGeady out of their team and they are very short of any attacking quality - good and passing the ball around the back/midfield but lacking around the box. I'd also have Jerry over Wyke any day of the week.

We probably need 7 points from last 6 games to secure a PO place. Hopefully we will have 2 or 3 players back if we do make them as we do need some more options, even if just on the bench.

Very relieved today as a loss would have made these last 6 games a lot more challenging than they have now become.
I know what you're getting at but I think it was us that did a job on Sunderland.
 
Right, that bloody referee!
From early doors it was clear he was a wrong 'un. Pushes in the back of our players when he was 5 yards from the action, and no fouls given. It gave Sunderland the green light to be agricultural and weigh in on our players. Kaikai was thrown around like a rag doll!
Thank goodness for Ballard and Gretarsson. They performed heroically. Now, Ballard's a unit and was able to deal with the thuggery. Gretarsson is more of a cultured defender and should have had proper protection from the referee. But he didn't get it. Result? They continued hammering the Viking until he had to go off injured. If it's bad (cross everything that it's not) then that sod of a ref is to blame for allowing the Mackems to get away with the heavy stuff
As for the foul on Gabriel....only a corrupt bastard could do what he did.
Fuming doesn't cover it!

Edit: courtesy of Rotterdam +Sussex. The foul was on Mitchell.
 
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Big win that, I think it’ll fly under the radar somewhat given the early kick off and Phillip’s funeral.

Two teams that set up to cancel each other out - we obviously got the rub of the green we needed with Garbutts deflected effort squirming in whilst McGeidys effor hits the post and pings out. Neither side could create enough to truly be happy with their display.

Defending has become our staple now, with Ballard putting on the best performance of his career. He could go very very far in the game. I hope some of it’s with us. Dougall’s been tailing off for a few weeks now and today was really poor from him for me not sure what’s up with him, no pre season and a gruelling schedule I’d presume.

Last word on the Ref, I thought he’d done an ok job up to the only real decision he had to make and then completely shit his pants. I hope stuff like that comes up in his assessment. Total shite
 
Big win that, I think it’ll fly under the radar somewhat given the early kick off and Phillip’s funeral.

Two teams that set up to cancel each other out - we obviously got the rub of the green we needed with Garbutts deflected effort squirming in whilst McGeidys effor hits the post and pings out. Neither side could create enough to truly be happy with their display.

Defending has become our staple now, with Ballard putting on the best performance of his career. He could go very very far in the game. I hope some of it’s with us. Dougall’s been railing off for a few weeks now and today was really poor from him for me not sure what’s up with him, no pre season and a gruelling schedule I’d presume.

Last word on the Ref, I thought he’d done an ok job up to the only real decision he had to make and then completely shit his pants. I hope stuff like that comes up in his assessment. Total shite
Good post. I made a critical post about Dougall in the first half and I stand by it. That said, he did make two very good clearances that found our men in attacking positions on the right.
 
Right, that bloody referee!
From early doors it was clear he was a wrong 'un. Pushes in the back of our players when he was 5 yards from the action, and no fouls given. It gave Sunderland the green light to be agricultural and weigh in on our players. Kaikai was thrown around like a rag doll!
Thank goodness for Ballard and Gretarsson. They performed heroically. Now, Ballard's a unit and was able to deal with the thuggery. Gretarsson is more of a cultured defender and should have had proper protection from the referee. But he didn't get it. Result? They continued hammering the Viking until he had to go off injured. If it's bad (cross everything that it's not) then that sod of a ref is to blame for allowing the Mackems to get away with the heavy stuff
As for the foul on Gabriel....only a corrupt bastard could do what he did.
Fuming doesn't cover it!
Spot on assessment. Except that the foul was on Mitchell. 🙂
 
If we make the playoffs we might get a week off without a game for the first time in months. That could work wonders for the squad's fitness. All these delayed matches are beginning to tell. Some tired legs out there, which was the main reason for the long ball. That win was massive, and a credit to the spirit in the camp. As Critch was saying early season, 'we need to find a way to win the football match.' Do that and you get promoted. We know we can play much better than that, but would anyone swap performance and result today? Bet most of their fans would.
I agree with a lot of what you say but can't really understand why a long ball strategy would benefit a tiring team? I would have thought playing to feet, and keeping possession, would require less energy. "Make the ball do the work", is the old adage. Not quibbling at all, just interested why teams would use this approach, which they often do. It seems massively counter-productive.
 
Good post. I made a critical post about Dougall in the first half and I stand by it. That said, he did make two very good clearances that found our men in attacking positions on the right.
Aye, think he’s suffered more than most with fitness due to the nature of the season and his Covid lay off. Like you say, there’s still a good player in there I think he’s just running on empty more than most and it’s showing in basic errors.
 
I think it's time for a Club statement on Madine. If he's not injured then we need him in the return fixture, to handle the rough stuff up front.
 
Thought Maxwell did well today against the big lumps. He was quick off his line and swept up well.
Hope Gret is ok - we are far more steady with him and Ballard rather than Thorniley.

I thought Critch should have removed Simms earlier as he was dead on his feet at around 70 mins and not pressing - this left Jerry chasing shadows as the press needs 3 or 4 to go at the same time.

I always think of us as an attacking team yet it’s clear we are well organised defensive unit that creates 2 or 3 clear chances a game and around 15 half chances (which we rarely take 😁)

That is a much harder team to beat than the Olly one that always needed 3 or 4 goals (and boy didn’t I love that!!)
 
Big win that, I think it’ll fly under the radar somewhat given the early kick off and Phillip’s funeral.

Two teams that set up to cancel each other out - we obviously got the rub of the green we needed with Garbutts deflected effort squirming in whilst McGeidys effor hits the post and pings out. Neither side could create enough to truly be happy with their display.

Defending has become our staple now, with Ballard putting on the best performance of his career. He could go very very far in the game. I hope some of it’s with us. Dougall’s been tailing off for a few weeks now and today was really poor from him for me not sure what’s up with him, no pre season and a gruelling schedule I’d presume.

Last word on the Ref, I thought he’d done an ok job up to the only real decision he had to make and then completely shit his pants. I hope stuff like that comes up in his assessment. Total shite
I disagree about Dougall. He is what he is. Ever since he pulled on a tangerine shirt his passing has included a serious amount of carelessness. But his energy, the distance he covers on the pitch, his disruptive play, his positional nous, they way he covers for his colleagues makes him first choice for me.
 
More fun from the Mackems forum


This is not Barcelona it’s Blackpool, we will pezzle these 3-0

How is it we never play against a team with a shite keeper? Is it that we’ve got them all?

0-0 would have been the correct result....they were dross and just hoof ball merchants......not a good side at all...

Performance wise, we've been decent and by far the better side in their own back yard. Id not fear these at all in the play offs.

Shame we have nobody that can play as a no10, someone like that Embleton kid at Blackpool.

You make it sound like we were playing Man City; this was Blackpool - Hull / Peterboro go a goal down and come back with 3 or 4. Not saying Pool were poor but reckon the top two would have turned them over.
 
Think it would have been a comfortable win today had the ref not bottled that second yellow card decision.

The more I see it the more I think probably one of the worst bottles by a ref I’ve ever seen.
 
I agree with a lot of what you say but can't really understand why a long ball strategy would benefit a tiring team? I would have thought playing to feet, and keeping possession, would require less energy. "Make the ball do the work", is the old adage. Not quibbling at all, just interested why teams would use this approach, which they often do. It seems massively counter-productive.
Exactly, it was just a panicky clear your lines to no one most the time, especially near the end.

I wonder if the groundsman is a bit perplexed, gets the pitch into fantastic condition and hardly any pool players want to play on it. 🤔😀

It absolutely made sense to keep the ball rather than pump it back to then to come again, if we have the ball we can't be hurt, sadly some players forgot how to pass again today.

Hope it was just a one off and we get back to what we've seen in the matches recently.
 
I disagree about Dougall. He is what he is. Ever since he pulled on a tangerine shirt his passing has included a serious amount of carelessness. But his energy, the distance he covers on the pitch, his disruptive play, his positional nous, they way he covers for his colleagues makes him first choice for me.
First 10 or so games with us I’d agree he was imperious.

He’s sort of cobbled it together since then I just thought he was way off it today caught out with balls in and around him and will have a really bad passing rating today.I’d never question his attitude or commitment because you can’t. His execution on and off the ball particularly today was poor.
 
Honestly can’t believe how that wasn’t a yellow card on Mitchell which should of resulted in a Red card,another poor performance from a referee taking one of our games.it’s getting beyond a joke now.anyway absolutely delighted with the result and character of this team.MOTM for me had to be Greterson👍🏼 immense he was,hope his injury isn’t a bad one.
UTMP
 
Thought Maxwell did well today against the big lumps. He was quick off his line and swept up well.
Hope Gret is ok - we are far more steady with him and Ballard rather than Thorniley.

I thought Critch should have removed Simms earlier as he was dead on his feet at around 70 mins and not pressing - this left Jerry chasing shadows as the press needs 3 or 4 to go at the same time.

I always think of us as an attacking team yet it’s clear we are well organised defensive unit that creates 2 or 3 clear chances a game and around 15 half chances (which we rarely take 😁)

That is a much harder team to beat than the Olly one that always needed 3 or 4 goals (and boy didn’t I love that!!)
Good post. I was thinking the same about Simms. Bit harsh on Thornily. Yes, I would start with Viking and Ballard but Thornily can do the defensive stuff whilst offering us more moving forward that Grets.
 
Apart from a cowardly Referee I think that was an excellent game of football.
So happy we won, wonder what the return will be like?
Backs to the wall I expect.
How many will be on the injured list? Gretarsson was outstanding, but I don't think he'll be fit for a few games, if at all.
Ballard was immense.
Was the reason the Ref didn't show a Red Card because the guy would not be playing in the return? Completely chickened out.
 
Thought Maxwell did well today against the big lumps. He was quick off his line and swept up well.
Hope Gret is ok - we are far more steady with him and Ballard rather than Thorniley.

I thought Critch should have removed Simms earlier as he was dead on his feet at around 70 mins and not pressing - this left Jerry chasing shadows as the press needs 3 or 4 to go at the same time.

I always think of us as an attacking team yet it’s clear we are well organised defensive unit that creates 2 or 3 clear chances a game and around 15 half chances (which we rarely take 😁)

That is a much harder team to beat than the Olly one that always needed 3 or 4 goals (and boy didn’t I love that!!)
I always get confused by that phrase. Do you mean that you really did like it or really didnt like it ? :) Its been a nervy , twitchy , heart pumping, blood racing sort of afternoon. Just about regaining my composure
 
I was wondering if that was a Play Off game (although, personally think it's unlikely we'd play them unless we both made the final) would things have been done any differently?
 
That was hard to watch but a performance, first ten to 15 minutes we seemed to have them penned back a little and we had a few decent openings. their defenders started with the little pushes on Kaikai, Simms and Yates, and the ref let them go and their defence just got bolder and bolder.

Cant say we played particularly well, but putting on tangerine specs, every time we got going the ref seemed to pull us back. After the goal we just sat too deep and let them come at us.

The Viking has been trod on, elbowed head butted, and im still not sure he really wanted to come off. Ballard was immense. their striker had 4 inches on him and Ballard generally owned him.

the ref nneds looking at, there is just no way an assesor could look at the game and say that the ref had a good game.

3 points, hard won, roll on tuesday
 
I always get confused by that phrase. Do you mean that you really did like it or really didnt like it ? :) Its been a nervy , twitchy , heart pumping, blood racing sort of afternoon. Just about regaining my composure
I loved watching Ollys team. Pure emotion
 
A few saying how poor we were and just hoofball merchants, nothing to fear from us.

Hard to disagree really with todays display.

Compare that to Lincoln away which we couldn't win and we created chance a after chance.

Goes without saying but if we get in the playoffs we MUST be batter with the ball again, today was like travelling back to the Grayson era.
Sometimes you win ugly. I agree against Lincoln we should have been out of sight, but we drew, today we had fewer chances but had the rub of the green, then put in a terrific defensive display. I’m made up 😄
 
I'm looking forward to hearing Critch's thinking after this one . He's usually very modest, impish , chuffed, twinkly , reserved but surely he'll have a mention of how many of his players got rough housed today.
Hopefully a couple coming off the injury list in the next few days for the busy end of season
 
We weren't on it today, the passing was off, attacking threat was very limited. Yates did nothing all game.

It was a tight game but too many times we gave it away needlessly and invited pressure.

We've seen in the past we've come unstuck from that approach, it worked today.

I think Critch will say we should have used the ball better.

Good defensive performance, bad passing and attacking performance. We win, we move and and must improve on that display, but in the great run not every game can be amazing.
The opposition performance has a big impact on our performance. Obviously. You can only play as well as you are allowed and our squad is depleted and Sunderland fighting for their lives.
 
I disagree about Dougall. He is what he is. Ever since he pulled on a tangerine shirt his passing has included a serious amount of carelessness. But his energy, the distance he covers on the pitch, his disruptive play, his positional nous, they way he covers for his colleagues makes him first choice for me.
Right on the money, well said. 👍
 
I don’t often go on other clubs’ boards but just looked at theirs.

Without exception they all think McFadzean was a very lucky guy. But the tone of all their comments are those who think their club have a divine right to be higher than they are.
 
Any chance SS can just ring Arsenal and offer them Whatever they want for Ballard. Immense performance toady from the young man.
 
Ballard my m.o.m. but all defence played well against their big lads ,apart from mcgeadys shot that hit post i dont think there was many clearcut chances by either side, maybe we got a bit of luck with the goal but they say it shows you are a good team when you can win ugly and what we have to remember is all the injuries we have had all over the park ,probably more than most in our league,so happy to take the points however they come the spirit in the squad seems to be amazing with all fighting for the team,even when coming off the bench so lets enjoy and see where we end up ...
 
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