There was one moment where I thought he looked a little off - second half when their player went through a few of ours in the box and dragged a shot wide. Other than that was excellent, hope we can sign him but just have a feeling he might want to move to a team likely to be challenging for promotion.
Promotion-challenging teams tend to prefer flashy full-backs who can chip in with goals and assists. Matthews doesn't have that so much as part of his game so perhaps he'll be unfashionable enough for us to keep him...
Last three seasons have been a slow decline for him until he joined us, unless he's concerned about the shit in the background you'd hope he'll stick around as Bowyer has a habit of getting loyalty from his players
You can see signs of why he was so rated at Cardiff though
There was one moment where I thought he looked a little off - second half when their player went through a few of ours in the box and dragged a shot wide. Other than that was excellent, hope we can sign him but just have a feeling he might want to move to a team likely to be challenging for promotion.
Promotion-challenging teams tend to prefer flashy full-backs who can chip in with goals and assists. Matthews doesn't have that so much as part of his game so perhaps he'll be unfashionable enough for us to keep him...
True but that doesn’t necessarily stop him from hoping to join one and not signing a deal with us. Hope I'm wrong and he signs as we won't find better.
The guy is absolute class. Let's hope that we can sort out the ownership and get him signed up. I fear that the bigger Championship clubs will be ready to swoop.
When a players 'quality level' drops so quickly it is usually a confidence thing. I get the feeling that he likes us and we like him and we are the perfect club to rebuild a reputation.
Also noticed at least two Welsh flags in the ground today and the Valley reminds him of home.
I liked him from day one. He looked useful and a better bet than a disappointing Chris Solly. I expected the Purrington style seven out of ten every week but he has certainly surpassed that and must now be one of the first names on the team sheet. I honestly didn't expect him to be getting the plaudits he is now.
He had a slowish start, but once he got up to the fitness level Bowyer demands he hasn’t looked back. An outside bet for player of the year right now. You just don’t worry about attacks down our righthand side. Must be getting close to a recall to the welsh squad.
Very good again, I wasn’t a fan of his for the first few games he played for us but he seems to get better for us every week.
I don’t think he was fully fit when he first turned out for us - was definitely flagging towards the final 3rd of matches - now seems fully fit and definitely a class fullback - his run 2nd half when he matched Eze fir pace and then got his body between Eze and the ball was excellent
Unbelievable player. Can’t believe we got him on a free transfer. Bowyer & Gallen need to get his contract sorted ASAP. Cannot let him leave on a free.
Unbelievable player. Can’t believe we got him on a free transfer. Bowyer & Gallen need to get his contract sorted ASAP. Cannot let him leave on a free.
I'd love to know what Sunderland didnt see in him last season
His last game for them was the 2-1 defeat @ Southend in the last league game
Wasnt involved at all in the Play-Offs
Of course if he had played at Wembley he'd have potentially been the Right-Back tasked with stopping Cullen's cross
He was awful for Sunderland hence why they played a centre mid out of position.
Never seemed to settle there. Most probably because of the constant change of manager. Seems like he has here.
Think awful is bit extreme. There were threads on the Sunderland forum when he signed for us and it was about 50/50 for those that liked him and those that didn't. Most that didn't were bemoaning his injury record.
Comments
Last three seasons have been a slow decline for him until he joined us, unless he's concerned about the shit in the background you'd hope he'll stick around as Bowyer has a habit of getting loyalty from his players
You can see signs of why he was so rated at Cardiff though
Also noticed at least two Welsh flags in the ground today and the Valley reminds him of home.
His last game for them was the 2-1 defeat @ Southend in the last league game
Wasnt involved at all in the Play-Offs
Of course if he had played at Wembley he'd have potentially been the Right-Back tasked with stopping Cullen's cross
I think others like Phillips and Pratley are runaway for the top two though
Its probably been the best bit about our survival this year... Under Riga it was between Wilson and Poyet, no one else really stood out
This year there have been a good few players: Cullen | Matthews | Gallagher etc. who could have won it on their efforts