A Week in the Eyes of a Kopite: From Beach Ball to Despair

Sunderland, the match where we were supposed to bounce back from two straight defeats and get our season back on track. It didn’t quite work like that, did it?

Beach ball or not, we were atrocious against the Black Cats on Saturday. We were totally out-muscled by a very resilient and organised side, who, on another day, could have easily been two or three up by the hour mark.

It was a nightmare, from start to finish. The three at the back did not work. We looked all over the place at times and failed to create any real clear cut chances until the last 10 minutes. It was a shame that the game was decided by such a freak goal, but that can be no excuse for what was an awful performance. Sunderland well and truly deserved the three points.

A vast improvement was needed.

Three defeats on the trot and next up was a difficult home tie against Lyon. If we played anything like we did against Sunderland we had no chance of gaining the three points required after losing out in Florence. However, another inept performance is exactly what we got.

The lack of commitment and desire from some of our players was clear to see. It was evidence once again that we have too many players not up to the standard we require. Lyon weren’t anything too special, but they deserved their win.

Four defeats in a row should be unthinkable for a club like ours. Things aren’t right at our club, on and off the pitch. However, we have the BIG ONE this weekend. We need to forget our problems for 90 minutes on Sunday and get behind the team.

Whatever you think of Benitez and his position at the club or anything else for that matter, just give the boys your all and hopefully they will do the same, unlike on Tuesday night.

A loss on Sunday, making it five in a row, is just not worth thinking about. One thing is for sure, the boys need to show a hell of a lot more than they did against Lyon and Sunderland to have any chance against United. If it is the same again, well, United will walk it.

Come on you Redmen!

Matt