Sunderland Preview Thread

[WILF]

So less than 48 hours until our next away test. This is precisely the sort of game which will indicate whether we have made any progress regarding our biggest weakness,away form.

Sunderland will be "up for it" and having scored twice in the 90th min , winner v Spurs and equaliser v Brum away ,they obviously will not just roll over and give up even if (when) we take the lead. We MUST win this game , and after going one up I hope we show a bit of killer instinct and score another, not just sit back and relax as has been our wont in the past.

I do not underestimate The Black Cats, but if we fail to get 3 points it will sow major seeds of doubt in many people's minds.

So providing everyone has returned fron Intl duty unscathed (I haven't heard of any injuries???) who will Rafa pick??

I think Sami will replace Agger alongside Carra and I presume Arbeloa and Finnan will be the fullbacks.

Midfield??? No idea. Benni,Masher,Momo,Babel ??

Up front do we stick with Torres after his good goal at Anfield and keep developing his partnership with Dirk or give big Pete and the Crow a game?
Possibilities, possibilities.

My guess at a line up

----------------Reina-----------------

Finnan-----Carra----Sami------Arbeloa

---------------Masher----------------

Pennant----------Momo----------Babel

-----------Crouch-----Torres----------

Subs
Itanjde
Agger
JAR
Xabi
Benni
Crow
Kuyt

We are allowed 7 subs per game now aren't we

[Parr_Zee]

You think Stevie will be left out of the whole squad??

[Fubar]

i agree that stevie wont feature at all.. pointless risking him doing serious damage when we have a ****ing great midfield without him.


-----------------------Reina-----------------------
---------------------------------------------------
Finnan-------Carragher---------Agger-------Arbeloa
----------------------Mascher---------------------
Benayoun--------------------------------babel/Leto
-----------------lucas/Xabi------------------------
-----------------the Crow-------------------------
-------------------------Torres--------------------


i seriously doubt theat there is any hope in hell that this would be the team but i would love to see the new boys get a good chance together whislt keeping the strongest defence in the prem together.

[Parr_Zee]

----------------Reina-------------
-Finnan---Carra---Agger---Riise---
-Benayoun-Sissoko-Gerrard-Kewell-
---------Torres-----Crouch-------

2-0 to us (Torres, Riise)

[WILF]

You think Stevie will be left out of the whole squad??

Yep, rest time for Stevie

[dom9]

Wouldn't surprise me if Crouch and the Crow started up front.

[Craig_H]

If SG doesnt feature, i'd play Yossi through the middle with Masher. Pennant right and Babel left. Torres and Crouch up front.

JR
SF JC DA JAR
JP YB JM RB
FT PC

[JohnDoe]

Think we'll see something like this:

Reina
Finnan Carragher Agger Riise
Pennant Alonso Mascherano Babel
Kuyt Torres

But I wouldn't rule Gerrard out of this, I think he could be in the team.

[Kenneth]

Will Rafa keep Torres in the line up to see if he can get on a roll, or rest him and play more 'appropriate' players for Sunderland away?

[Shaggy]

Will Rafa keep Torres in the line up to see if he can get on a roll, or rest him and play more 'appropriate' players for Sunderland away?

The former, for me. You don't pay near enough £20m for a striker to rotate him.

[WILF]

If SG doesnt feature, i'd play Yossi through the middle with Masher. Pennant right and Babel left. Torres and Crouch up front.

JR
SF JC DA JAR
JP YB JM RB
FT PC

Interesting idea playing Yossi centrally. He would certainly provide some cute passes threaded through the Sunderland defence for the srtikers (whoever they may be)

[redblood]

Think we'll see something like this:

Reina
Finnan Carragher Agger Riise
Pennant Alonso Mascherano Babel
Kuyt Torres

But I wouldn't rule Gerrard out of this, I think he could be in the team.

That line up or Arbeloa at LB and Riise at LM I would think which would give us the same line up as Villa except for Stevie obviously.

[sonsofthedesert]

Think we'll see something like this:

Reina
Finnan Carragher Agger Riise
Pennant Alonso Mascherano Babel
Kuyt Torres

But I wouldn't rule Gerrard out of this, I think he could be in the team.

That's wouldn't suprise me at all.

[Johnny]

That's wouldn't suprise me at all.

It about time Voronin got a chance.

[Kenneth]

That's wouldn't suprise me at all.

With Rafa, not much would to be honest.