BigJim

I have been a big critic in the past but fair play to him today, he put a real shift in defensively. Unfortunately he was a bit of a waste of space offensively.

Could be. You have to think that picking up a freak injury like that makes you start to really appreciate every game you are fit enough to play. Maybe you realise that any game could be your last.

I'd like to think he would stay with us if we could just manage to build a team to hold our own above mid table. That in itself is asking a lot considering most of today's lot are on loan, too old, or just not good enough for the top flight. If we spend season after season near the drop zone I fear he would cut his ties and move on.

On top of his brilliant work with the ball at his feet, his tackling back was awesome. I wonder if any of us realise how far this lad can go in the game?

Most likely he'll be brought on when we're chasing the game, too much pressure to expect him to perform in those circumstances

Tough call. I fancy us far more away than at home. H: QPR, Reading A: Wednesday, Sunderland, Hull, Bolton, Ipswich, Millwall Now I've put it down, it looks incredibly unlikely .

Yes, he looked amazing then. Hard to know what has happened, unless that was just an extraordinary flash in the pan.

Never seen us look less likely to score

Keep the faith TRO. We can do it.

So your wife is more religious than you are... I'm in the same position. Mine is a very devout Catholic, I'm just a poor lapsed Anglican. I still believe in God though, and go with her to Mass because she wants me to and because I do get something out of it even if much of it irritates me. I don't think I could ever convert because there's some important stuff I can't buy into, I'm still searching really. I would encourage you to do the same. Don't be put off by the snipers on here.

Derby also have a moderately tough run coming up

Simply great to watch. Always the highlight of our games for me.

Haven't said it often before - if at all - but well done SB. Looks a very useful addition for the run-in.

Yep, there are just too many question marks around Ross. We can't be relying on him, even as back up, at this crucial stage.

So, 2 weeks off and he comes back... ready to join the squad? I can't see it. That would be yet another 2 weeks to shed some excess lbs no doubt and then some reserve games to get back up to speed. Where does that take us? - another half a dozen games minimum he wouldn't be a part of. So he might be available for the last dozen games run in. WE NEED ANOTHER STRIKER

I just watched him too. Must have been a different video, more notable for awful misses than good goals. But he does look powerful, fast and mobile.

Ah well, that clears it up then. I did wonder what the problem was, but I never thought it was anything to do with what's going on on the pitch.

Hang on a minute. If I say that I am being abused by someone's posts on here, does that mean they should be banned? Of course not. There have to be objective standards to measure this sort of thing. There's a disturbing trend in society in general where everyone wants to be a victim. This can lead to crazy laws being drafted which say somebody only has to make a complaint, and that is practically sufficient of itself to convict the supposed perpetrator. Sheer madness. I have every sympathy with this young man if he feels he's been treated unfairly, but equally I have a lot of respect for K Mac based on what I have read about him. It may be he wasn't able to deal properly with this particular youth. In that case he should have that pointed out to him and perhaps have some extra training in dealing with the very sensitive. But no way should he be hounded out of a role he appears to have performed so admirably for so long.

I was trying to make a list of undisputably "lucky" football events and this was the first one that occurred to me. Is still maintain that scoring with a deflected shot, especially if originally off target, is lucky. Injuries are usually considered unlucky. Penalties are a bit of a lottery, from getting the decision to choosing the right way to dive to save it.

If you don't accept there's an element of luck when a deflected shot goes in, then you probably exclude the whole idea of luck in a football game. Which is fair enough. I would think most Sunderland fans probably feel they were unlucky though.

Onomah's deflected goal?

Right, and in any case, surely it's not a choice between attractive attacking football, or ugly defensive stuff? Regardless of whether you choose an expansive or a conservative style, stringing passes together is vital to success. Why are we so **** incompetent at it? (I didn't see the game but I understand we plumbed new depths, as we seem to do about every other week).

So what does that tell you about SB who has brought in Hourihane, Whelan and Lansbury ? Are they not good enough? - Then why did he bring them in? Or they are good enough - then why can't he get them to play together to take control of games? My own opinion is a bit of both - with the possible exception of Whelan, they are not good enough, and Bruce has singularly failed to get anything like the best out of them.

Isn't the fault at the manager's door whichever way you answer it? He's the one who brought half of them in and he's the one who picks all of them every week. Why would you keep selecting players who couldn't carry out your instructions?

Most people are happy as long as the results are coming. I get that. I'm thoroughly enjoying the wins myself, much as I'd like to see them achieved with a little more style. It feels good to be in the top 6, no matter how we got there. What worries me is your IFs. I happen to think he won't keep getting results unless he improves the way we play in possession, especially in the final third. It's been worrying me for a long time now, and I no longer think he is able to change it. Hope I'm wrong obviously. During one of our promotion seasons many moons ago, after a dour 1-0 away victory, the opposing manager said something to the effect that he'd rather sweep the streets than ask his team to play like we did. Sour grapes, of course, but I think I understand him better now.