Sunderland Match Thread

[carrsim]

We're looking the part early on. Hopefully this continues ... Rafa's rotation policy will be key to that.

is this our best start under rafa? considering we always finish well under rafa (a few dead rubbers in the lead up to athens aside) its very encouraging

and to think of the players not involved for whatever reason its great stuff

2 away wins out of 2. we only won 6 all of last season

[Gazzla]

Great result today against one of those teams that try to kick there way through us, Torres looks a bargain at £20M and should have had a hattrick today but you have to give there keeper all the credit for keeping the score down.

We rotated the team today and showed we have strength all of the pitch especially when you consider the players that weren't even in the squad today like Gerrard, Crouch, Benayoun, Lucas, Kewell, Leto & Aurellio

We have the squad to be challenging on all fronts this year and maybe the shopping isn't quite yet either.

Good result and a good 3 points away from home

[spud_gun]

Confirmed on 5Live

Sami has a broken nose
Carra has a broken rib.

[slimbimjim]

**** it. I wonder if we will up our bid for Chiellini?

[HotSwine]

is this our best start under rafa? considering we always finish well under rafa (a few dead rubbers in the lead up to athens aside) its very encouraging

and to think of the players not involved for whatever reason its great stuff

2 away wins out of 2. we only won 6 all of last season

[spud_gun]

**** it. I wonder if we will up our bid for Chiellini?

I think it's safe to assume that we'll sign a new defender before the end of next week.

[carrsim]

the players that weren't even in the squad today like Gerrard, Crouch, Benayoun, Lucas, Kewell, Leto & Aurellio

frightening

arguably 7 players who would form the backbone of a pretty handy keegan-esque premiership side

[RedProf]

Great result and good team performance with notable praise for Torres, Voronin, Pennant and Arbeloa.

How much will Voronin be worth on the open market??? £8M at least I'd have thought. Great shrewd signing by Rafa.

Worried about Carra. I bust my ribs 6 years ago and it's agony. I was meant to be playing 5 a side later that day and **** me, it was agony to even breath. I wasn't comfortable standing up, and no more so sat down. Incredibly painful. And there's nothing drs can do - just give you some painkillers and wait for it to heal naturally. So I'd reckon it's minimum 4 weeks. Bearing in mind the physical nature of football, to be sure and pain free, it will probably be 6 weeks I'd have thought. And even then he wont be pain free for quite some months (hopefully that wont affect his game).

I just hope Rafa brings in some quality cover this week. We've had a great start and it would be a shame to blow it through lack of quality CBs. All it takes now is for Agger to pull a muscle and be out for a few weeks and we could be in a mini crisis.

[Shaggy]

Sissoko for first goal 33/1. Bargain!

Did you back it?!

[dww]

I was very impressed by Sissoko and Pennant today.

Momo looked a bit short of his usual phenomenal workrate but his passing was so much better than it has been recently and his goal was excellent.

Pennant was our main creative influence and towards the end of the first and offered a great outlet. Even ran into the back post on a couple of occasions which is always nice to see.

[paulcooper4]

Momo looked like gerrard with a bronzey

[carrsim]

is this our best start under rafa?

so is that a yes?

[Craig_H]

Sissoko for first goal 33/1. Bargain!

That's incredible!

Did you actually back it?

[Craig_H]

How much will Voronin be worth on the open market??? £8M at least I'd have thought.

Can i sell something to you? Anything will do

[Kenneth]

Can i sell something to you? Anything will do

Well the question was how much WILL he cost. If he plays as he has for a whole seaon, he will be worth a decent wedge I would think. He's only 26.