Sunderland build up

[JBOX]

I think Jay should/will start ahead of Lucas for the game on sat considering LL hasn't played any part in our pre season realy. Jay has been playing well and will add a bit of bite in midfield. I'm one of LL biggest fans, but I think Jay will be ready for this game!!

[Fan65]

Considering the form of the back four pre season and the uncertainty of the selection due to injuries etc I suggest Lucas must play, he is a rock at the back, for me the best DM in the league. His match fitness is good and he'll want to stamp his mark on the team early and if fit I think he'll start every game.

[Darkon]

Great banner from the Sunderland fans..

http://desmond.yfrog.com/Himg619/sca...=640&ysize=640

that is class

[Darkon]

Not sure if it's been posted elsewhere but I read somewhere on Twitter that Agger is being rested and sent home early for Denmark's friendly game.

Great news if true!

I think it's yet another twitter story pulled out of the a** - he is still training with the danish squad and for there is no story on that whatsoever in Denmark.

[kris90210]

If given a choice, would fans rather have Agger guaranteed fully fit for a whole season or Gerrard?

For real?? Gerrard any day of the week

[dww]

If given a choice, would fans rather have Agger guaranteed fully fit for a whole season or Gerrard?

Interesting question - given our current squad. I think in the long term having a solid defensive base would help develop the rest of the team more. Gerrard better to watch individually but in terms of the way the entire team plays and is set up Agger is more important IMO.

That said if Carroll doesn't fire we will be looking for goals from somewhere else and relying on Suarez alone would be foolish.

[Bender]

unfair question both are exceptionally good in their respective positions,more so gerrard as ager has had less games but you can see his potential and effectivness

[PTP]

if i had to pick one it'd be gerrard without a shadow of doubt - i'd also guess that Danny Agger would probably agree too

[Rich]

Agger is more more important to the team now. We should be able to cover Gerrard much easier than we can cover Agger.

Gerrard is still the better player though.

[RedReet]

if i had to pick one it'd be gerrard without a shadow of doubt - i'd also guess that Danny Agger would probably agree too

Just to clarify, the scenario wasn't if one is fit for the whole season the the other one would be out for the whole season. If you could pick one to be fit and the other to continue with their usual injury problems.

My thinking was similar to Dave's. A fully fit Agger gives us shape and stability at the back. At the minute we have no one to take his place effectively when he's out. Agger coming in and out of the team can prove a disruptive influence.

With Gerrard, we have a lot of cover in his position and even if he only played half the games he could still have a big influence. This would give us much more stability.

I then think a fully fit Gerrard for the season could be worth the value of two players.

Just a thought that crossed my mind at the time…

[Lee]

Interesting question - given our current squad. I think in the long term having a solid defensive base would help develop the rest of the team more. Gerrard better to watch individually but in terms of the way the entire team plays and is set up Agger is more important IMO.

That said if Carroll doesn't fire we will be looking for goals from somewhere else and relying on Suarez alone would be foolish.

Agger is more more important to the team now. We should be able to cover Gerrard much easier than we can cover Agger.

Gerrard is still the better player though.

Well said guys. Agree with this.

[PTP]

i'm still sticking with gerrard

injuries aside he's our best player - inspirational and a match winner - we only have one other in Suarez

a fully fit for the season gerrard - with suarez, carroll, kuyt, downing and adam all creating would be so much stronger attacking that i don't htink defence would be too much of a worry - plus it looks like we may still sign a centre back anyway.

[topscorer]

............................reina................. .............

kelly...........carra............agger............ ..aurelio..

.....................lucas............adam........ ..................

........kuyt...............aquilani..............d owning......

............................carroll............... ................

I like that.

No chance Aqu will play instead of him.

Just think that Kenny has spent nearly 20m on Henderson. That money isn't to warm the bench. He's for here and now I think.

----------Carroll
Downing-----------Dirk Kuyt
------Adam----Hendo
----------Lucas
Aurelio-Agger-Carra-Kelly
----------Reina

Subs:
Doni
Soto
Maxi
Aquilani
N'gog
Suarez

Pretty strong bench...

This more likely.

Suarez will definitely come on as a sub I think.

I'm so excited, I cannot believe the new season is about to start already

CD & Striker before end of August please. I know we all want a new left back but I just don't care so much about that anymore. Aurelio, Johnson & Robinson - we can cope.

[Shaggy]

Major boost for Liverpool as John O'Shea is ruled out of the game.

[anfieldanfield]

Any other injuries for Sunderland ? Who are their best players ?