Howard starts. Jozy not in squad (some report of an injury tho BBC mentions others but not him.) 0-0 at the half. Borini had a shot cleared off the line. Bardsley, Johnson and Borini seem most active.
0-0 at the half. Everton is outshooting Sunderland 12(2) to 6(1), with corner kicks 4 to 3 and 60% of the possession. What Sunderland have going for them is they haven't yet let in a goal. A loss (or even a tie) at home would further cement their status as basement dwellers. Everton meanwhile have everything to play for, with European competition on the horizon for next season. Then again, Poyet has said he's moving on from Jozy. His moving on from Sunderland will likely come at the end of the season when they are relegated. F him and Sunderland where the sun doesn't shine. This move was a terrible fit for Jozy and he is well and truly humbled as a result. Money can't buy happiness and he clearly isn't happy. I wonder if AZ will take him back?
Winner winner Chicken dinner! (my day is complete.) I spent a good minute searching the forum cause I was surprised it was not up yet. Tim Howard - hohum. I'm thinking these mooks slip into 4th and hold on somehow. Be so glad to see a couple of "regulars" out of the running this season. Keeping my fingers crossed.
They haven't let in a goal because Vergimmie is on the bench. "well and truly humbled?" I hope not. This is sports. The point is to push yourself to the highest level you can. If it was easy and 100% successful I'd be doing it. I hope he feels like someone parked a bottle of hotsauce up his backbits and he's ready to belch fire in Brazil. If the dude doesn't come out of this season raring to show folks he's not a donkey, then he doesn't deserve to be in a top league anyway.
Nice stretch by Howard to tip a dangerous cross out off the head of Ki. I am starting to wonder if he could get some votes for Team of the Year.
Sunderland actually had two good crosses in a row. Someone hold me, I'm scared. Howard's not looking that great on these crosses.
Sunderland enjoying one of those rare stretches in a match where they look like an actual team. Somebody said it in the regular thread, they have been far worse than the sum of their parts.
Poyet's actions speak pretty loudly. Sending him down with so little time left in the season doesn't give Jozy much of a chance to climb his way back out. Even when his competitors are pretty poor, too, Jozy is still the one singled out.
Well, I've watched Jozy long enough to know that he takes some motivation. He's not going to run through a brick wall, but that isn't to say that he has no competitive desire. I just don't think what Poyet is doing is well designed to get him on track.
That I agree with. Verbeek benching you and telling you exactly what you need to do to get back in the starting line-up is a coach with a plan - good or bad. Same with JK. Poyet is just a dude out of his depth. And Wes Brown plays provider - for the other team - for the second week in a row.