What We Learnt from the Roma Game

We did lose 2-0 to Jose Mourinho’s AS Roma side on Wednesday, but we learnt plenty of things about the lads that maybe we didn’t know before.

Although it was only our second ‘official’ pre-season game, and it was at the end of a very long week of training for the players, it became apparent how little squad depth we do have.

This wasn’t just from the Roma game either, in which Winchester played at centre back, but the Rangers game (if you can call it a game) too, where Luke O’Nien filled a gap as he’s so used to doing.

With Bailey Wright only just coming back into a full pre-season routine, and Danny Batth so frequently in and out of the treatment room, it leaves new boy Dan Ballard as the only senior centre back.

The other end of the pitch is an issue as well, with Ross Stewart picking up a knock in training, it left Alex Neil no choice but to play Leon Dajaku up there on his own. Let’s just say it didn’t go very well for the German with him squandering a good chance to put us ahead against the European (Conference League) Champions and struggling physically against big Chris Smalling.

The recruitment team certainly have a busy few weeks!

Jack Diamond.

Where to start with Jack Diamond. Whilst at Harrogate he looked so confident in himself, taking players on, getting crosses in, scoring goals. As soon as he comes back to Sunderland he seems to lose all confidence as soon as he steps on to the pitch. Every time he got the ball he would either turn back and play it to Gooch or just run blindly into the left back. Even with calls of ‘get at him’ from the sideline, the stands and his own team-mates, it seemed like Jack Diamond just didn’t believe in himself to provide that end product. It certainly begs the question of is he good enough for the Championship, which is a big step up from League One, let alone League Two, just ask Peterborough, Barnsley and Rotherham.