Sunderland Build Up

[-V-]

Was Voronin not recalled from International duty for some reason or another? Maybe Rafa is intent on starting him

[PTP]

Was Voronin not recalled from International duty for some reason or another? Maybe Rafa is intent on starting him

i'd be annoyed if that was the case! we can call voronin back, but can't with gerrard/torres etc!

[MrMichael]

In the absence of Nicey.... **** it, we'll hammer these lot, grow some balls you lot ffs!..RAAAAHHHHHHH

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qjvqY-U9gV0"]YouTube - Carl Orff - Carmina Burana[/ame]

[dww]

Can't see mascherano playing. He just played 2 massive games then travelled back to argentina and then back to england. He's probably just got back a couple of hours ago so I can't see anyway how he will be ready to go to sunderland for another game

Lucas im sure will play as he has hardly been involved

Mascher is certainly the least likely to start.

I expect us to go for something like:

Reina
Johnson Carragher Skrtel Insua
Lucas Aurelio
Babel Benayoun Riera
Kuyt

Possibly with Babel and Kuyt swapped but I think that Rafa feels that Babel lacks the discipline to spearhead a team. I also like the idea of his pace from deeper.

[Vermilion]

woooo...grr, we'll batter them no probs, again...grrr

[Baracus]

Yep, could always drop Ngog, stick Babel upfront and bring Dossena on the left or a fit Reira

Revised team line up 3


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

Johnson-----------Carra------------Skrtel------------Dossena

-Benayoun----------Lucas---------Auerlio----------Reira
-------------------Voronin----------
--------------------------Babel

With Gerrard and Torres out, i'll stick with this team as most likely with the exception of Voronin, it will now be Kuyt. I do believe Lucas, despite the long journey he has had to make back will play and Masch & Insua won't. With Kyut fit now, he'll play the Dutch tractor boy.

However abit of player position changing

Revised teamline up 4

____________________Reina_______________
--Johnson --- Carra - ------Srktel-------Dossena
------------------ Lucas--------------------
------------------------Aurelio--------------
Kyut-------------------------------------Riera
--------------Benayoun--------------------
---------------------------Babel--------------

[-V-]

...............Reina
Johnson Carra Skrtle Dossena

Yossi Lucas Aurelio Riera

...........Kuyt Babel

The more i think about it the more I think this team is almost certain. Only change i can see to it is possibly Insua playing but has to be unlikely if we have an Italian international defender fitter and ready

[Deano]

deleted

[Exiled_red]

To be honest i really hope Aurelio doesn't play in of centre midfield, he was awful in his last game there I'd rather see us play Spearing there than him.

[The Erectile Banana]

The more i think about it the more I think this team is almost certain. Only change i can see to it is possibly Insua playing but has to be unlikely if we have an Italian international defender fitter and ready

I think that's pretty close to the team he will field. Rafa may be tempted to start with Mascher though.

[The Birdman]

When have we EVER played 4-4-2 like people are posting on here???

[Big Dave]

Does nobody think that Spearing might get a start? I can't see Mascherano starting after his International exertions and the Aurelio experiment was a bit of a disaster, and I think he's more likely to start at LB anyway.

There was an article on the official site interviewing Spearing and he was saying that Rafa had been coaching him for the Masher role!

[CincyRed]

Does nobody think that Spearing might get a start? I can't see Mascherano starting after his International exertions and the Aurelio experiment was a bit of a disaster, and I think he's more likely to start at LB anyway.

There was an article on the official site interviewing Spearing and he was saying that Rafa had been coaching him for the Masher role!

I think this is a good shout. Even though I picked him in my XI at CM, I think that Fabio was poor in that role earlier this season. Personally I too would like to see Spearing deployed next to Lucas in midfield and Fabio pushed back to LB.

[billy_mac]

This is set up for Rafa to give a masterclass in european away style counter attacking football. Just hope he can remember what he did in previous seasons and not what he did in Florence.

There is enough craft in Yossi and effort in Dirk to get a goal, its whether we can keep them out is the thing.

[dww]

I think Rafa would have played him or had him on the bench more often if he had faith in Spearing. Rafa always seems inclined to either trust someone fully or not at all. I think that while Aurelio was poor this season in that role Rafa has seen him before and he has done a good job. I have always felt Aurelio has taken a few games to get into the swing of playing when recovering from injury. I think he will do better if given another chance give his (presumably) improved fitness.

It would be very interesting to see Spearing play.