Sunderland Build-up Thread

Going to be a long wait this next 2 weeks. Think this game will be far tougher prospect than Reading as they have got a few players with quality, it's more whether they will perform on the day.

If they beat Reading then I can see them getting something against us. Just hope we can put in a professional job, and get the win - would be huge for us.

They might be a better side man for man and have some decent players but they are out of form, low on confidence and struggling although they are hard to beat as they have draw 7, they just dont win many. the very least we should get is a point and there is no reason why we shouldn't beat them. Given our up turn on form then anything less than a win is a disapointing result.

Cattermole is out; and they have a tough run of fixtures coming up (Reading, Man U, Saints away, then Man CIty and Spurs at home). This is our chance to put some real daylight between us.

Their main issue is scoring.. they really don't get many. I'd fancy us to take this is a low scoring win, will be tight.

The other games being played while we sit out....

[TABLE]

[TR]

[TD]10/12

[/TD]

[TD]Fulham

[/TD]

[TD=colspan: 3, align: center]v.

[/TD]

[TD=align: right]Newcastle United

[/TD]

[TD]‎-20:00

[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD][/TD]

[TD=colspan: 5]

[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD]11/12

[/TD]

[TD]Sunderland

[/TD]

[TD=colspan: 3, align: center]v.

[/TD]

[TD=align: right]Reading

[/TD]

[TD]‎-19:45

[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD][/TD]

[TD=colspan: 5]

[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD]15/12

[/TD]

[TD]Newcastle United

[/TD]

[TD=colspan: 3, align: center]v.

[/TD]

[TD=align: right]Manchester City

[/TD]

[TD]‎-12:45

[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD][/TD]

[TD=colspan: 5]

[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD]15/12

[/TD]

[TD]Manchester United

[/TD]

[TD=colspan: 3, align: center]v.

[/TD]

[TD=align: right]Sunderland

[/TD]

[TD]‎-15:00

[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD][/TD]

[TD=colspan: 5]

[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD]15/12

[/TD]

[TD]Stoke City

[/TD]

[TD=colspan: 3, align: center]v.

[/TD]

[TD=align: right]Everton

[/TD]

[TD]‎-15:00

[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD][/TD]

[TD=colspan: 5]

[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD]15/12

[/TD]

[TD]Norwich City

[/TD]

[TD=colspan: 3, align: center]v.

[/TD]

[TD=align: right]Wigan Athletic

[/TD]

[TD]‎-15:00

[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD][/TD]

[TD=colspan: 5]

[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD]15/12

[/TD]

[TD]Chelsea

[/TD]

[TD=colspan: 3, align: center]v.

[/TD]

[TD=align: right]Southampton

[/TD]

[TD]‎-Postponed

[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD][/TD]

[TD=colspan: 5]

[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD]15/12

[/TD]

[TD]Queens Park Rangers

[/TD]

[TD=colspan: 3, align: center]v.

[/TD]

[TD=align: right]Fulham

[/TD]

[TD]‎-15:00

[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD][/TD]

[TD=colspan: 5]

[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD]15/12

[/TD]

[TD]Liverpool

[/TD]

[TD=colspan: 3, align: center]v.

[/TD]

[TD=align: right]Aston Villa

[/TD]

[TD]‎-15:00

[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD][/TD]

[TD=colspan: 5]

[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD]16/12

[/TD]

[TD]Tottenham Hotspur

[/TD]

[TD=colspan: 3, align: center]v.

[/TD]

[TD=align: right]Swansea City

[/TD]

[TD]‎-13:30

[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD][/TD]

[TD=colspan: 5]

[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD]16/12

[/TD]

[TD]West Bromwich Albion

[/TD]

[TD=colspan: 3, align: center]v.

[/TD]

[TD=align: right]West Ham United

[/TD]

[TD]‎-16:00

[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD][/TD]

[TD=colspan: 5]

[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD]17/12

[/TD]

[TD]Reading

[/TD]

[TD=colspan: 3, align: center]v.

[/TD]

[TD=align: right]Arsenal

[/TD]

[TD]‎-20:00

[/TD]

[/TR]

[/TABLE]

Looking at those games, it's not unreasonable to expect to be going into the Sunderland game still outside of the relegation zone and with a game in hand. Not playing next week should/could (in theory) work in our favour....

except our game in hand is away to Chelsea.......

Going to be a long wait this next 2 weeks. Think this game will be far tougher prospect than Reading as they have got a few players with quality, it's more whether they will perform on the day.

 

If they beat Reading then I can see them getting something against us. Just hope we can put in a professional job, and get the win - would be huge for us.

I was actually a lot more worried about Reading than I am about Sunderland.

Sunderland have looked awful when I've seen them this season but they have a fairly decent first team and surely have to come good at some point, hopefully that won't be against us. Given their run-in though, they will really be targeting our game for 3 points.

except our game in hand is away to Chelsea.......

This is true. Was just thinking along psychological terms. As in, not playing a game next week might be psychologically more stimulating going into the Christmas period than had we been tonked by Chelski. All ifs and buts but hey ho.

Anyone see Martin O'Neill in the post-match interview on Match of the Day on Saturday night, not a happy man at all!

Anyone see Martin O'Neill in the post-match interview on Match of the Day on Saturday night, not a happy man at all!

except our game in hand is away to Chelsea.......

Who knows what state they will be in when we actually get to play them, may even have a different manager, maybe some different players, assuming it is played after the xfer window. The beauty of football, I'd actually rather play them somewhen else rather than right now when they seem to have found a little bit of form again, whereas if you had asked me a week ago I would probably have said just the opposite.

The other games being played while we sit out....

 

[TABLE]

[TR]

[TD]10/12

[/TD]

[TD]Fulham

[/TD]

[TD=colspan: 3, align: center]v.

[/TD]

[TD=align: right]Newcastle United

[/TD]

[TD]‎-20:00. N/A

[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD][/TD]

[TD=colspan: 5]

[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD]11/12

[/TD]

[TD]Sunderland

[/TD]

[TD=colspan: 3, align: center]v.

[/TD]

[TD=align: right]Reading

[/TD]

[TD]‎-19:45 DRAW

[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD][/TD]

[TD=colspan: 5]

[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD]15/12

[/TD]

[TD]Newcastle United

[/TD]

[TD=colspan: 3, align: center]v.

[/TD]

[TD=align: right]Manchester City

[/TD]

[TD]‎-12:45 CITY WIN

[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD][/TD]

[TD=colspan: 5]

[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD]15/12

[/TD]

[TD]Manchester United

[/TD]

[TD=colspan: 3, align: center]v.

[/TD]

[TD=align: right]Sunderland

[/TD]

[TD]‎-15:00 UNITED WIN

[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD][/TD]

[TD=colspan: 5]

[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD]15/12

[/TD]

[TD]Stoke City

[/TD]

[TD=colspan: 3, align: center]v.

[/TD]

[TD=align: right]Everton

[/TD]

[TD]‎-15:00 N/A

[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD][/TD]

[TD=colspan: 5]

[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD]15/12

[/TD]

[TD]Norwich City

[/TD]

[TD=colspan: 3, align: center]v.

[/TD]

[TD=align: right]Wigan Athletic

[/TD]

[TD]‎-15:00 DRAW

[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD][/TD]

[TD=colspan: 5]

[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD]15/12

[/TD]

[TD]Chelsea

[/TD]

[TD=colspan: 3, align: center]v.

[/TD]

[TD=align: right]Southampton

[/TD]

[TD]‎-Postponed

[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD][/TD]

[TD=colspan: 5]

[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD]15/12

[/TD]

[TD]Queens Park Rangers

[/TD]

[TD=colspan: 3, align: center]v.

[/TD]

[TD=align: right]Fulham

[/TD]

[TD]‎-15:00 DRAW

[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD][/TD]

[TD=colspan: 5]

[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD]15/12

[/TD]

[TD]Liverpool

[/TD]

[TD=colspan: 3, align: center]v.

[/TD]

[TD=align: right]Aston Villa

[/TD]

[TD]‎-15:00 LIVERPOOL WIN

[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD][/TD]

[TD=colspan: 5]

[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD]16/12

[/TD]

[TD]Tottenham Hotspur

[/TD]

[TD=colspan: 3, align: center]v.

[/TD]

[TD=align: right]Swansea City

[/TD]

[TD]‎-13:30 N/A

[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD][/TD]

[TD=colspan: 5]

[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD]16/12

[/TD]

[TD]West Bromwich Albion

[/TD]

[TD=colspan: 3, align: center]v.

[/TD]

[TD=align: right]West Ham United

[/TD]

[TD]‎-16:00 N/A

[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD][/TD]

[TD=colspan: 5]

[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD]17/12

[/TD]

[TD]Reading

[/TD]

[TD=colspan: 3, align: center]v.

[/TD]

[TD=align: right]Arsenal

[/TD]

[TD]‎-20:00 ARSENAL WIN

[/TD]

[/TR]

[/TABLE]

 

Looking at those games, it's not unreasonable to expect to be going into the Sunderland game still outside of the relegation zone and with a game in hand. Not playing next week should/could (in theory) work in our favour....

The ideal results in Bold IMO

IF these results fall correctly and we beat Sunderland, we could be in a pretty healthy condition come 3 tough games over the Xmas period (Fulham A, Stoke A and Arsenal H) which IMO we'll be lucky to get 3 point (s) from + we still have the game in hand - albeit against Chelsea.

Still think West Ham are reachable, we're only 7 points behind them with and with Diame and Carroll both out injured, they are considerably weaker. Hope WBA beat them. and also a draw between Fulham and Newcaslte.

Just think this is the perfect moment for a two week break with Sunderland playing twice during it.

Good opportunity to get everyone back to peak fitness and everyone good and sharp for the game.

West Ham have a difficult set of games and they are catchable by the new year too.

Just think this is the perfect moment for a two week break with Sunderland playing twice during it.

 

Good opportunity to get everyone back to peak fitness and everyone good and sharp for the game.

 

West Ham have a difficult set of games and they are catchable by the new year too.

It's a real advantage for us to have at this stage if I'm honest, especially in the run-up to the busy festive schedule. We'll have the advantage over Sunderland in terms of freshness, that's for sure. Whether it effects our sharpness is another thing.

It's a real advantage for us to have at this stage if I'm honest, especially in the run-up to the busy festive schedule. We'll have the advantage over Sunderland in terms of freshness, that's for sure. Whether it effects our sharpness is another thing.

we are not always at our best after 2 week breaks, whether the other side having 2 games more in those 2 weeks will cancel that out remains to be seen. Still we're at home and we're none too dusty at SMS of late.

be good to see how Shaw handles johnson....

be good to see how Shaw handles johnson....

Based on his showings this year, it shouldn't be too hard.

Sunderland fans can't stand him. Fickle bunch, but a fair few of them want rid already.

Based on his showings this year, it shouldn't be too hard.Sunderland fans can't stand him. Fickle bunch, but a fair few of them want rid already.

be good to see how Shaw handles johnson....

Do they play Johnson on the right?

Do they play Johnson on the right?

Do they play Johnson on the right?

Do they play Johnson on the right?

They have been, but he's been more effective on the left in the last 2. However, he swaps during games.

if this is where you get all pedantic....poke it...(i have no idea by the way)

No, it was a genuine question as I wasn't sure. Hard to believe I know.

No, it was a genuine question as I wasn't sure. Hard to believe I know.

really odd on how bad they are doing.....on paper....good manager, good defenders, good players in the middle and a good striker.......just all going wrong and has been all year

Defensivley they're not a bad unit, they're just not creating chances. sessegnon has been a shadow of the player he was last year, Johnson has been a major flop so far and Fletcher is out injured. Other than that, they have very little creativity. Lots of ''crab like'' midfielders, i.e Colback, Gardner, Cattermole etc - but no real genuine class in there.

Rose at LB has been their shining light this year, if it's anyone we need to keep an eye on - it's him.

I actually feel quite confident about Clyne and Shaw dealing with most wide players in this league.

The ideal results in Bold IMO

 

IF these results fall correctly and we beat Sunderland, we could be in a pretty healthy condition come 3 tough games over the Xmas period (Fulham A, Stoke A and Arsenal H) which IMO we'll be lucky to get 3 point (s) from + we still have the game in hand - albeit against Chelsea.

Would rather have Norwich beat Wigan and Fulham beat QPR, think we want the teams around us to loose as much as possible, whilst it would be nice to push up the table ahead of the likes of Norwich or Fulham or Newcastle etc. at the end of the season all that matters is to be comfortably avoiding relegation, whether we finish 17th or 12th doesn't really matter so I'd rather see teams like Wigan and QPR on terrble loosing runs as it gives us a better chance of beating them, 18 pts still available against those around us. We are essentially in a mini-league with Wigan, Sunderland, Villa, Reading and QPR.

Hopefully Sunderland get hammered by Man Utd so they are really low on confidence byt he time they play us.

I actually feel quite confident about Clyne and Shaw dealing with most wide players in this league.

Can you put an exact percentage of the amount and/or name the ones you are not confident on, just so we are clear.

I have 1 x adult and 1 x under 11 ticket for sale in the family stand for the Sunderland game (sat together)

Want to go to stoke now with the son as want to tick off another ground and can't afford both.

I am not local to Soton but can post to you and have done this previously on here.

£31 in total please. (£28 plus the booking fee)

There is very limited avalibilty in the family stand so grab these.

richard_corben85@yahoo.co.uk

07787297194

On the assumption Lallana is out...

-------------------------------- Davis ------------------------------

Clyne ----------- Fonte --------------- Yoshida---------Shaw

---------- Schneiderln ------------------------ Cork -------------

Puncheon ------------------ Ramirez ----------------- Reeves

--------------------------------- Lambert ----------------------------

Subs: Gazza, Fox, Hooiveld, JWP, Guly, Rodriguez, Mayuka

Reeves ?! No thanks. Would play J-Rod, Guly or Mayuka over Reeves.

Reeves ?! No thanks. Would play J-Rod, Guly or Mayuka over Reeves.

Forgetting about age and experience for a second, isn't Reeves the most natural left midfielder out of those 4?

I would be surprised...at home to a poor team if it was not just a straight swap of lallana for ramirez on the left

Forgetting about age and experience for a second, isn't Reeves the most natural left midfielder out of those 4?

he's also the worst footballer, just leave it alone, he'll be off to Yeovil or Rochdale soon. You his Mum ?

We don't play with proper 'wingers' so no, I'd rather have any of them. I'd also probably include Davis and JWP before Reeves.

he's also the worst footballer, just leave it alone, he'll be off to Yeovil or Rochdale soon. You his Mum ?

Oh, ok then...

Isn't Morgan still walking the tightrope on a suspension?

Good that he's available for this one, more than happy for him to 'take one for the team' if required for this crucial game, he can miss Fulham away.

The ideal results in

15/12 Norwich City v. Wigan Athletic ‎-15:00 DRAW

 

15/12 Chelsea v. Southampton ‎-Postponed

 

15/12 Queens Park Rangers v. Fulham ‎-15:00 DRAW

 

Bold IMO

 

IF these results fall correctly and we beat Sunderland, we could be in a pretty healthy condition come 3 tough games over the Xmas period (Fulham A, Stoke A and Arsenal H) which IMO we'll be lucky to get 3 point (s) from + we still have the game in hand - albeit against Chelsea.

I would say these 3 are FAR from optimum. Apart from the pedantic saints beat Chelsea, surely Norwich and Fulham winning are much better for our (extremeley good IMHO) survival chances? Finish above either and we survive; the only other issue is europe, and neither of those teams will figure.

Fancy at least a point from this one.

We can score - they can't.

Fancy at least a point from this one.

 

We can score - they can't.

Now you've done it!

Despite last nights result, we will still beat them by a two goal margin.

Despite last nights result, we will still beat them by a two goal margin.

Well i certainly hope so because we need to boost our GD a bit because it might be primordial at the end of the season. If only we hadn't thrown away those 4 points against Swansea and Norwich, hope that doesn't come back to haunt us.

Well i certainly hope so because we need to boost our GD a bit because it might be primordial at the end of the season. If only we hadn't thrown away those 4 points against Swansea and Norwich, hope that doesn't come back to haunt us.

Er ... 'primordial'? Do you mean 'important'? That word has me all confused; sorry

Er ... 'primordial'? Do you mean 'important'? That word has me all confused; sorry

it means overriding, prime or vital. It's like important among importants if you like.

it might be primordial at the end of the season.

existing at or from the beginning of time; primeval:WTF RU ON?

it means overriding, prime or vital. It's like important among importants if you like.

No it doesn't, stay behind for detention silly boy!

I think we can nick this one, and hopefully be out of the bottom 3 for Christmas..... Woohoo!

Reeves ?! No thanks. Would play J-Rod, Guly or Mayuka over Reeves.

JRod and Guly no thanks ( it will be Guly though ), id prefer Reeves or Lee any day, both are left footed, Reeves will be better defensively but Lee's movement and pace with Ramirez passing, a very good combo in the making. Mayuka yes i like him yes he should be given a chance but he's a right sided player and Punch is playing very well on the right and has a good understanding with Clyne.