Barriecuda wrote:Cool, I learned something today!
1. "FTM"
2. Stay away from safcftm when he's on the piss up because he's got some closet homo tendencies
PS: What would you rate Bendy out of 10 this season? He seems like he's doing well under Mo'N but I haven't been following Sunderland very closely.
Being honest mate its pretty difficult to score him. When Gyan left us in the lurch, Bruce obviously needed a striker so thats what he was signed as but its painfully obvious to everyone that has a clue that he isnt one, not an out and out centre forward anyway. He's scored a couple of good headers but generally speaking his best work is done outside the box. If we are struggling for possession he does well when dropping deep and drifting wide- he gets the ball and has the ability to hold it up and find a teammate. His passing can be inventive, he's a clever player and on his day (like Man City away) he can destroy anyone.
Don't get me wrong, I love the lad but he does split opinions. A fair few of our fans think he's lazy (I'd love to see the distances covered stats because I think he's one of our hardest workers, he just doesnt race around chasing lost causes like a lunatic but every corner we defend he gets himself back and is up the pitch again swiftly) and there are a lot who find him frustrating- he will get the ball outside the box, take a nice touch and play a good ball out wide and we'll be begging him to get in the box but he'll either stay where he is or drift towards the other flank leaving no one up there for a cross coming in. But a lot of our fans think he's class. Like I say, he just isnt a striker and doesnt have that instinct, he needs to be played in behind with an out and out striker ahead of him. Some of those who criticise him are just the kind of fans who worship Bardsley and plodders like him and cant appreciate a quality player who conserves his energy
He's had his off games (often when he's had absolutely no service from midfield mind) but for me he is a quality little footballer who, used in the right system could easily play CL football. I'm not actually sure I'd sign him after all this mind- I think he's great but his best position, by far, is in behind an out and out striker. The trouble is that a certain Stephané Sessegnon plays there. Bendy, for me, is the 4th best forward we've had behind Phillips, Quinn and Bent despite not being an out and out striker but Sessegnon is the best footballer I have ever seen at Sunderland- not as effective as Quinn and Phillips (yet) but in terms of ability he pisses on everyone I've seen at the club and I wouldnt shift him to accommodate Bendy, and our wage bill unfortunately cant accommodate both. I'd take him in a flash if we could afford it, but I think he'll need to move on to Germany or Russia.
Mind, you lot have been linked with Sessegnon (as have Man United and PSG), if we did sell him (and if it isnt this year he'll leave next year but it would really have to be around £30m) then I'd be chuffed to see Bendtner take over his role. As a centre forward Bendy cant really get a massive mark out of ten but overall I'd give him an 8 to be honest- chipped in with important goals, played some lovely stuff, just a very good footballer and a canny lad aswell. He's better than Gyan, played properly he's up there with Bent, but he's no Sessegnon.
* disclaimer- another long post, I'm at work and bored
