Sunderland need to take more tactical risks, says talisman Adam Johnson

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He is absolutely correct. Shame, it will just mean that he sweeps he changing rooms instead of sitting on the bench.

Astounding that our most creative player has to miss out to Buckly.
 


Kelly said:
ADAM JOHNSON says Sunderland need to address their attacking deficiencies, as well as cutting out the howlers at the back.

Individual defensive errors have cost Sunderland dear in their last two games, with back-to-back defeats against Southampton and Arsenal propelling the Black Cats into the Premier League’s bottom three.

But Sunderland also struggled going forward against the Gunners, with Gus Poyet’s men failing to muster a meaningful effort on the opposition goal.

Finding the net has proved to be a problem throughout the campaign, with Sunderland drawing a blank in five of their opening nine Premier League games.

And winger Johnson, restored to the starting XI last weekend after two games on the bench, believes that is the area which Sunderland must improve in Monday night’s trip to fifth bottom Crystal Palace.

Johnson told the Echo: “Obviously we’ve made mistakes, but I think we need to look like scoring more as well.

“We need to take more risks going forward.

“Everyone gets behind the ball and we can’t get out because everyone’s so deep.

“If we can rectify both ends of the pitch and just play like we know we can, we’ll be fine.

“We huffed and puffed and worked hard against Arsenal and pressed around the pitch.

“But it’s about putting the ball in the net as well. That’s how you win games.

“We’ve got to start creating more chances and putting them away when we get them.”

Johnson admits there was a tentativeness to Sunderland’s play against Arsenal after the previous weekend’s 8-0 drubbing at Southampton.

And the Easington-born winger believes Sunderland need to restore some self-belief if they are to become a more potent outfit.

He added: “As a team, we need to get our confidence back. That’s maybe what it’s down to, being more confident going forwards and not worrying about losing a game so much.

“I think if we got a result at Southampton and got beat by Arsenal at home, it wouldn’t have been as bad.

“But back-to-back defeats is tough. We need to put that right on Monday.

“I don’t think it was necessary Southampton. I think maybe, with Arsenal coming to the Stadium of Light, everyone was just a bit edgy.

“We were behind the ball and letting them have it, but eventually they’ll hurt you. I know they didn’t really hurt us, but if you give them chances, they’re going to punish you and Arsenal don’t take those gifts and not put them in.”
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Amen
 
In the rush to light your torch and sharpen your pitchfork, consider how likely it is that SAFC have condoned one of their employees doing an interview with a newspaper they have good links with in which said employee casts doubt over his immediate superior's abilities.

Think ffs.
 
Maravilla said:
A clear dig at Poyet but can't say I blame him in the slightest, he must be sick to death of being treated as Poyet's scapegoat when things aren't going well. Even more so when he gets taken off for Jozy f***ing Altidore.
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What if Johnson was refusing to stick to the plan or not good enough to carry the plan out and the plan was breaking down because of him?.
If you were manager Would you not want him on the bench.
All I'm saying is it's possible, he's a player that HAS TOO receive the ball in the last third of the field and that's not the way Gus has his team set up.
 
Boris Day said:
What if Johnson was refusing to stick to the plan or not good enough to carry the plan out and the plan was breaking down because of him?.
If you were manager Would you not want him on the bench.
All I'm saying is it's possible, he's a player that HAS TOO receive the ball in the last third of the field and that's not the way Gus has his team set up.
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You are right there. We do not get the ball in the final third as we are to slow and predictable. It's pretty pathetic.
 
So says a player that can't get past a defender lately
He needs to learn how to f***ing run faster before spouting out
Opposing teams push up on him and he is fucked
 
Smiler said:
We should have Johnson, Giac and Alvarez once fit starting every game. They can all swap positions and they're all far superior to Buckley. We can then have Cattermole and Rodwell providing cover behind. Shame two of them are injured, not that we'd set up that way under Poyet anyway
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I agree with all that, but as you said, two of those are injured. I was going off current options. I see that might not have been clear from the reference to Jones if fit - I just saw that Jones is out another 3 weeks, which is a lot longer than I thought.
 
If our strikers continue not to strike, i'd be tempted to give Alvarez a go up front. Reckon his close control might cause a bit of bother.
 
it was plain to see from last season, and it become even worse this one, poyet brand of boring slow predicable football is killing us, even the players are starting to say it
 
Definitely a dig at Poyet that.

Along with Poyet's digs at the board, this is not going to end well.
 
Poyet's dislike of AJ is blatant and the absurdity is he really believes Buckley is a better player.
 
Pisses me off gus not playing Johnson, out of form or not, hes our most creative player, top clubs keep playing their best player till they come back in form, as a team we need to start playing to our better players strengths. I cant help but think Gus is trying to be too tactical in a league where you dont need to be
 
The Exile said:
In the rush to light your torch and sharpen your pitchfork, consider how likely it is that SAFC have condoned one of their employees doing an interview with a newspaper they have good links with in which said employee casts doubt over his immediate superior's abilities.

Think ffs.
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You reckon Ellis has been watching House of Cards? If only be was that crafty in general.
 
He's absolutely spot on

The football this season has been a lot worse than under MON
 
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