Sunderland Preview Thread

[Dan]

---------------------Reina---------------------
Finnan------Carra-------------Agger-------Riise
-----------------------------------------------
Benny--------Momo-------Mascher--------Babel
-----------------------------------------------
---------------Voronin---Torres----------------

Subs:
Itanjde
Hyypia
Xabi
Crouch
Kuyt

[El Jefecito]

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

I like that line up with the exception of Yosser in the middle. I just can't see Rafa doing that. I think Yosser will be on the right and Momo and Xabi/El Jefecito in the middle.

[Shaggy]

I would be absolutely stunned if Rafa picked Benayoun as one of two CMs. Stunned. He'll only ever play on either flank or off a frontman - a la Garcia.

[Joe King]

Reina
Finnan, Carra, Agger, Arbeloa

Babel, Momo, Xabi, Riise

Torres, Crow

[Shaggy]

Reina

Finnan
Carra
Agger
Arbeloa

Pennant
Mascherano
Xabi
Benayoun

Crouch
Torres

[Joe King]

Shaggy, you think Benayoun will play? I think he will come on if we are winning to make those little through balls for Torres to stretch the defence with. Did Babel play for Holland? If not, I think he might start, he likes the aggressive tyoe

[kurtangle01]

Shaggy, you think Benayoun will play? I think he will come on if we are winning to make those little through balls for Torres to stretch the defence with. Did Babel play for Holland? If not, I think he might start, he likes the aggressive tyoe

Babel played the second half last night.

I think he stands a good chance of playing on Saturday but I doubt Benayoun will feature. I do expect that Benayoun will start against toulouse though.

[Shaggy]

Shaggy, you think Benayoun will play? I think he will come on if we are winning to make those little through balls for Torres to stretch the defence with. Did Babel play for Holland? If not, I think he might start, he likes the aggressive tyoe

Well who knows mate. I'm sure there'll be a selection out of left-field, so to speak, as there's usually one - and Benayoun's due a game. Riise stiffens things up a bit when it's Gerrard plus one in the middle, but with Xabi and Masher in the centre (or Momo) it frees up the left-side to be a bit more attack-minded.

[Craig_H]

For those negative souls picking two out of Momo, Masher and Xabi in central midfield....hang your heads in shame!

Sunderland are gash. If we have any kind of attacking & passing intent, we'll muller them.

Yossi in the middle to release Torres, Crouch helping to link up with Nando & Babel coming in from the left, Masher sitting there and getting involved if Sunderland have the audacity to enter our half and Pennant getting crosses in from the right.

Let's fecking batter them 4-0! They're ****e. We're good. Fecking have it!!

[Shaggy]

For those negative souls picking two out of Momo, Masher and Xabi in central midfield....hang your heads in shame!

Sunderland are gash. If we have any kind of attacking & passing intent, we'll muller them.

Yossi in the middle to release Torres, Crouch helping to link up with Nando & Babel coming in from the left, Masher sitting there and getting involved if Sunderland have the audacity to enter our half and Pennant getting crosses in from the right.

Let's fecking batter them 4-0! They're ****e. We're good. Fecking have it!!

I know what you mean and if I was picking a team for Sunderland away on Footy Manager, I certainly wouldn't pick two out of Masher, Xabi or Momo.

I don't think picking, say, Masher & Xabi is particularly negative. I'd say realistic. Also, Xabi can play a more advanced role. He plays without shackles when he's not alongside SG, and he CAN BE a potent attacking threat with Masher alongside/behind him.

[Craig_H]

I know what you mean and if I was picking a team for Sunderland away on Footy Manager, I certainly wouldn't pick two out of Masher, Xabi or Momo.

I don't think picking, say, Masher & Xabi is particularly negative. I'd say realistic. Also, Xabi can play a more advanced role. He plays without shackles when he's not alongside SG, and he CAN BE a potent attacking threat with Masher alongside/behind him.

Baloney!

Let's fecking destroy the wannabe geordies!!!!

[paulcooper4]

I know what you mean and if I was picking a team for Sunderland away on Footy Manager, I certainly wouldn't pick two out of Masher, Xabi or Momo.

I don't think picking, say, Masher & Xabi is particularly negative. I'd say realistic. Also, Xabi can play a more advanced role. He plays without shackles when he's not alongside SG, and he CAN BE a potent attacking threat with Masher alongside/behind him.

Also, did you see that run mascher made against toulouse? the one where he done a 1-2 with arbeloa, knocked the ball one side of the defender and ran him the other side then hit the byline? Ball ended up just going behind the line like but **** me I thought I was watching the great Redondo for a minute there

[paulcooper4]

Baloney!

Let's fecking destroy the wannabe geordies!!!!

We are going to destroy them mate

But NOT by playing benayoun in the engine room ffs

[Craig_H]

You're talking as if he's a 10 year old kid who's suddenly going to be chucked in with adults...

[Shaggy]

Also, did you see that run mascher made against toulouse? the one where he done a 1-2 with arbeloa, knocked the ball one side of the defender and ran him the other side then hit the byline? Ball ended up just going behind the line like but **** me I thought I was watching the great Redondo for a minute there

Yeah I saw that and I'd love to see a bit more of it from him. He's gonna be an absolutely top, top player, I reckon. If he isn't already, that is. I hope we don't under-use him.