On the bench: 📝 Here we go... Simon Grayson has named his side to face @QPRFC at the @StadiumOfLight this afternoon pic.twitter.com/ILVDew61Zn— Sunderland AFC (@SunderlandAFC) October 14, 2017 DNP in a 1-1 draw.
On the bench: 📝@grabbs22 starts up front for #SAFC at @BrentfordFC!Here's how we line-up in full... pic.twitter.com/3NuWZU7LWn— Sunderland AFC (@SunderlandAFC) October 21, 2017
Came in for the last minute (plus 5 min stoppage) https://www.safc.com/news/team-news/2017/october/brentford/report-v-brentford
Another draw leaves them 2nd from bottom with the division's joint-worst defence. Maybe there's another relegation on the cards? Mind you, playing in League One should mean more PT for the lad. Shouldn't it?
http://sbisoccer.com/2017/11/follow...-lynden-gooch-faces-uncertainty-at-sunderland If the club’s next manager sees something in Gooch, the move could be a blessing in disguise. It’s not hard to fathom a young, speedy, energetic midfielder getting time for a team battling relegation, especially given his breakthrough in the Premier League last season. The midfielder possesses both power and speed and can play a number of positions from winger, to central midfielder to even withdrawn striker. Gooch has routinely showed he has the ability to change games, as his goal and assist numbers in limited minutes show. However, if Sunderland continues to face change after change and loss after loss, Gooch’s situation could rapidly become a frustrating one for a player that very much remains a candidate for the 2022 World Cup.
Gooch wasn't even on the bench for Grayson's last match, so the switch probably can't hurt. The problem is that for as awful as Sunderland has been, there's a load of reasonably creative players in the spots he plays - Watmore, McGeady, Williams, McMannaman, you could possibly throw Honeyman in there, although a stretch, he seemed to be ahead of Gooch. It would be nice if the new manager gave him an opportunity as a central midfielder. Not his best position, perhaps, but he was decent in a couple chances there last year, and the lot there have been pretty putrid. N'dong is underperforming, Catermole and Gibson are old and slow, and Rodwell is so Rodwell he's begged out of being a midfielder and wants only to play center half.
And now Sunderland are dead last, in danger of suffering double secret relegation. Bad situation for a club which historically bounces back right away from dropping out of the top division.
This is an interesting take: U.S. Men’s National Team turns to youth in wake of World Cup embarrassment
The article is a bit negative. Saying that Mckennie was called and only played 10 league games. Well, I think the season is only 11 games in, rather than praise the kid's fast development he implies how green he is.
I got as far as this (and the bit @LouisZ quoted is next) and knew I ought to have stopped immediately. Midfielder Lynden Gooch, 21, who has two U.S. caps, plays in the lower English leagues on loan and hasn’t played for Championship club Sunderland since 2015. I didn't, and lost two minutes of my life that I'll never have again. Publishers complain that readers don't pay for articles. That's one article where the publisher should pay readers for even looking at it.
I’m pretty sure Gooch hasn’t played for Sunderland since 2015 though. At least they were right about that.
He's made 10 Championship and 3 EFL Cup appearances, plus 1 EFL Trophy appearance this season. https://www.transfermarkt.com/lynde...ga/0/wettbewerb/GB2/pos/0/trainer_id/0/plus/1 So no, they're completely wrong about that.
📝Here's Chris Coleman's first line-up as #SAFC manager... pic.twitter.com/skw8NJ4rrN— Sunderland AFC (@SunderlandAFC) November 21, 2017 In the new managers first starting XI... big opportunity... hope he takes it.
2-0 Villa now. Gotta say Villa have been a little wasteful. Sunderland had a chance but it went wide. Gooch has been largely invisible all game. He is playing CM. More of a box to box role. Rarely getting the ball as well. He had one notable opportunity to deliver a good cross in, but hit the first man.
Gooch subbed off in the 63'. Probably the smartest move for Sunderland. Gooch has done nothing all match. I should add that no one has really done much for Sunderland all match. Very timid performance all around. Gooch was subbed off to bring on another striker it seems.
His national team performances may indicate he's better utilized as a winger. Otherwise he's just best equipped to be used as a super sub, beating opponents on effort and speed.
That's about what I see from him too--he's quick and works his butt off--but that's about it. That's not nothing (as several more talented players loafing through qualifiers for the USMNT showed), but I have a hard time imagining Gooch being anything more than a fringe player for the USMNT or any good Championship/lower-tier EPL team.
I'd be interested in what he'd look like at FB. He's pretty athletic, has a great motor and isn't a horrible crosser by our standards. Seems like he might project a little higher there.