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Haven't seen it mentioned explicitly anywhere but I thought Pizzaro when he came on was the catalyst for the comeback. He was demanding the ball, getting it out to Johnson quickly, linking the play, and playing with an urgency. Something thats sorely lacking from our team far too often.

Great cameo.

If he had been on 5 minutes earlier, I think we would have won.

Well played Dave

It was a good cameo.

I think, as you have alluded to, speed of passing was the key. There is a minimum of fuss with this guy. He knows how to move it about and knows the value of an early release. He played with a sense of purpose and an intensity even in doing something simple such as a short square ball.

I'm watching Roma now and his replacement there, Fernando Gago, could do with a lesson or two.

Yesterday there was again a lack of tempo, quick first time passing and passing with a purpose not just retaining the ball at the back. Since Xmas our energy/hunger has been poor and just like at Stoke we needed the opposition to spark the squad into any kind of action. The only players with urgency on the ball were Yaya, Pizzaro, AJ, and Tevez. This group were the ones running at the defence trying to pull defenders out of position and disrupt the Mackems shape.

Silva has needed to be dropped for the last few games as he has had little to no impact. His game is all about keeping the ball moving and dictating a high tempo for our team. He isn't doing it. After his good Chelski performance why wasn't Nasri left in as the key man?

A refresher course on pass AND MOVE would also be a good idea. Our player on the ball for the last month is lucky if he has one option. Why are our players suddenly like statues off the ball or hiding behind the opposition offering nothing?

This is without making any mention of our shocking defensive attitude in the last month. Where has the 'if you cross that halfway line you're a dead man' attitude gone? Sunderlands first goal was coming from the off, easy build up with no pressing and always an extra man around the box. With half the coaching staff being Italian City should be ashamed!

steveo_88 wrote:Yesterday there was again a lack of tempo, quick first time passing and passing with a purpose not just retaining the ball at the back. Since Xmas our energy/hunger has been poor and just like at Stoke we needed the opposition to spark the squad into any kind of action. The only players with urgency on the ball were Yaya, Pizzaro, AJ, and Tevez. This group were the ones running at the defence trying to pull defenders out of position and disrupt the Mackems shape.

Silva has needed to be dropped for the last few games as he has had little to no impact. His game is all about keeping the ball moving and dictating a high tempo for our team. He isn't doing it. After his good Chelski performance why wasn't Nasri left in as the key man?

A refresher course on pass AND MOVE would also be a good idea. Our player on the ball for the last month is lucky if he has one option. Why are our players suddenly like statues off the ball or hiding behind the opposition offering nothing?

This is without making any mention of our shocking defensive attitude in the last month. Where has the 'if you cross that halfway line you're a dead man' attitude gone? Sunderlands first goal was coming from the off, easy build up with no pressing and always an extra man around the box. With half the coaching staff being Italian City should be ashamed!

Nasri's injured.

I took my mate yesterday, who supports Blackburn, and he'd never heard of Pizzaro or seen him play. After Pizza came on my mate was literally creaming his knickers!! Everytime he got the ball he was on the edge of his seat loving every pass he made. Mentioned he was like Tugay when he played.

Much in agreement with the OP. We need players like Pizza who are prepared to take a game by the balls and make things happen at pace. Quick one-twos, balls played to feet at pace, quick balls into space - that's what we need. Slow, negative passing doesn't work as it only allows the oppo to get men behind the ball and organise their defence. Most of our players seem too frightened of losing the ball to actually want to do anything positive with it.

Nice little cameo but as the other players had performed so poorly it wasnt hard for him to look good to be honest. I'd be amazed if he's still with us in August, and probably a little bit underwhelmed too.

Goaters 103 wrote:<null>

Now that is puzzling????
Perfect backup to Barry / Milner.

Bingo Lewis wrote:
Now that is puzzling????
Perfect backup to Barry / Milner.

Does Milner need a backup? He was one bench game away from a missing persons report.

I think he's the missing puzzle in our midfield. I would like him to start and move Yaya behind the striker. Yaya didn't do his tracking back at all against Sunderland, and he left De Jong alone running around. At less give him more game time.

Biamp wrote:I think he's the missing puzzle in our midfield. I would like him to start and move Yaya behind the striker. Yaya didn't do his tracking back at all against Sunderland, and he left De Jong alone running around. At less give him more game time.

he started the other week and was completely overrun. Hecis the prfect foil with 20 minutes to go.

Despite his jadedness you still have to start silva if fit, he will snap out of his recent poor form, so why not up the Arse on sunday, so to speak.

Like yaya, their presence from the beginning is very important to the team.

Grob wrote:Haven't seen it mentioned explicitly anywhere but I thought Pizzaro when he came on was the catalyst for the comeback. He was demanding the ball, getting it out to Johnson quickly, linking the play, and playing with an urgency. Something thats sorely lacking from our team far too often.

Great cameo.

If he had been on 5 minutes earlier, I think we would have won.

Well played Dave

This.

Someone mentioned on here months ago that hes the only player other than david that can spread amazing, attacking passes. He might've been right.

Grob wrote:Haven't seen it mentioned explicitly anywhere but I thought Pizzaro when he came on was the catalyst for the comeback. He was demanding the ball, getting it out to Johnson quickly, linking the play, and playing with an urgency. Something thats sorely lacking from our team far too often.

Great cameo.

If he had been on 5 minutes earlier, I think we would have won.

Well played Dave

I wont even read reactions to this....your spot on! The guy came in and played like a magician. At times I get so bored with watching how lazy and uncreative we are on the offensive side of the ball! He switched fields, made runs, stiff passing. Tevez moved off the ball very well again, which helped get the comeback in motion and tied up....I keep Pizzarro on and give him a shot at starting...I dont care, call me crazy, I do it this week.