Sunderland away Buildup thread

[SB]

At best I would have expected 4 points from our first 3 matches. And the irony is that the match I'd have expected nothing is where we got our only point.

[SB]

4th match of the season & it's a bloody must win. Hoping like crazy no-one picks up an injury on int duty.

So who's away on Int duty?

Glo Jo
Agger
Skrtel
Allen
Stevie
Suarez
Downing
Pepe (bench)
Sahin?

Assuming we get out of it with no injuries are we expecting the same starting X1 from the arse match? Or Downing for Enrique? Assidi for the bench?

[SB]

Can't rely on you lot for info so insert moony smiley here.

The Premier League season is only three games old and already it's time for yet another international break. Still, football is always better than no football. Unless a Liverpool player picks up an injury, of course, in which case it's much, much worse. At least this time around the vast majority of games are World Cup 2014 qualifiers and so have some kind of meaning attached to them, and no matter what might happen we've got you covered with a rundown of all the internationals with Liverpool involvement over the next week to help you set your schedule/figure out when it's okay to stop worrying…



Moldova v. England - Friday, September 7 - 7:45PM BST/2:45PM EST
England v. Ukraine - Tuesday, September 11 - 8PM BST/3PM EST
Steven Gerrard and Glen Johnson have both been called up by Roy Hodgson as England kick off their World Cup 2014 qualification campaign against Moldova on Friday before hosting the Ukraine on Tuesday. Moldova should be an easy three points for England if they expect to make it to Brazil, but Ukraine could offer a tougher test with the Euro 2012 co-hosts out for revenge after a 1-0 defeat at the hands of the English denied them a place in the knockout rounds.

Lithuania v. Slovakia - Friday, September 7 - 7:15PM BST/2:15PM EST
Slovakia v. Liechtenstein - Tuesday, September 11 - 7:15PM BST/2:15PM EST
Martin Skrtel will captain Slovakia against Lithuania and Liechtenstein in a pair of games they will be heavy favourites to take maximum points from. Having only qualified for the World Cup finals once on four attempts, in a group that also includes Latvia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, and Greece the Slovaks should this time around be favourites to at least advance to the playoffs as a second-place side, and automatically qualifying as group champions doesn't seem out of the question.

Denmark v. Czech Republic - Saturday, September 8 - 7:15PM BST/2:15PM EST
Like his defensive partner, Daniel Agger will also captain his national side, and with Denmark only having one match scheduled for the international break that means a little less to worry about for Liverpool fans. It's a tougher match than most, though, as the danes host the Czech Republic on Saturday in one of the more intriguing matches of the break.

Bulgaria v. Italy - Friday, September 7 - 7:45PM BST/2:45PM EST
Italy v. Malta - Tuesday, September 11 - 7:45PM BST/2:45PM EST
Joining Denmark and the Czechs in a top-heavy Group B, Italy kick off their qualification campaign against Bulgaria and Malta. Fabio Borini has been called up to the team and will at least make the bench, but going off recent Italy games one would expect his involvement to remain limited to a substitute appearance or two.

Wales v. Belgium - Friday, September 7 - 7:45PM BST/2:45PM EST
Serbia v. Wales - Tuesday, September 11 - 7:30PM BST/2:30PM EST
Wales won't be favourites to advance from a group that sees Croatia, Belgium, and maybe even Serbia likely to be favoured ahead of them, but hosting the Belgians on Friday before traveling to take on the Serbs on Tuesday gives Joe Allen and ex-Liverpool attacker Craig Bellamy a chance to make some noise in Group A. Three or four points would have supporters dreaming of Brazil; it's just as likely however that by next Wednesday morning Wales will find themselves at the back of the pack.

Saudi Arabia v. Spain (friendly) - Friday, September 7 - 9PM BST/4PM EST
Spain v. Georgia - Tuesday, September 11 - 6:30PM BST/1:30PM EST
Pepe Reina will watch Spain slaughter Georgia from the bench, with his drop in form over the last few seasons having ended any discussion as to whether he might at least deserve the chance to unseat Iker Casillas as Spain's top choice. There is the chance he could see action against Saudi Arabia on Friday in another of Spain's countless friendlies meant to line the pockets of RFEF.

Netherlands v. Turkey - Friday, September 7 - 7:30PM BST/2:30PM EST
Turkey v. Estonia - Tuesday, September 11 - 7:00PM BST/2:00PM EST
With Nuri Sahin's arrival at Anfield on loan, fans have a new national side to watch/enjoy/be nervous about, and in one of the round's marquee matches, Sahin and Turkey will take on the Netherlands on Friday before hosting Estonia in their second qualifying match.

Colombia v. Uruguay - Friday, September 7 - 9:30PM BST/4:30PM EST
Uruguay v. Ecuador - Tuesday, September 11 - 10:30PM BST/5:30PM EST
Even Istanbul is a short jaunt compared to the travel facing Luis Suarez and Sebastian Coates, with the two Uruguayans off to take on Colombia in Barranquilla before heading home to Montevideo to host Ecuador. With Brazil already qualified as hosts, the remaining nine South American confederations play each other home and away for four automatic qualification spots and a fifth-place playoff between CONMEBOL and the Asian Football Confederation, and with Uruguay strong in second place after five games their advancement already seems close to certain.

Mozambique v. Morocco (Africa Cup of Nations) - Sunday, September 9 - 3PM BST/10AM EST
Another player facing a potentially onerous travel schedule over the next week is Oussama Assaidi, who hasn't played a minute yet for Liverpool and as late as Monday wasn't considered ready to take part in a reserves match due to lingering injury concerns. Despite that, he's expected to be involved for Morocco when they travel to Mozambique for the first leg of the two countries' second round qualification playoff for the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations. The return leg will take place in Morocco next month.



Elsewhere, Brad Jones joins up with Australia when they travel to face Lebanon and Jordan, while Martin Kelly, Jonjo Shelvey, and Jordan Henderson have all been called up by Stuart Pearce for England's U21 European Championship qualification campaign.

[yamiedo]

You're right - he does make less challenges than the rest of the team.

I do believe when *he* does challenge, he does it well and he does it successfully.

We both know he's not gonna throw himself into tackles, but I do think he reads the game well enough to tackle well ... just not that often.

Obviously he doesn't read the game too well then if he is making less challenges than everyone else. Considering Henderson is pretty anonymous in most games he plays for us the least you can expect is him to be chipping in with tackles every 20-30 mins or so. He should be doubling/trebling his current rate as a central midfielder.

[the rev leeroy brown]

Obviously he doesn't read the game too well then if he is making less challenges than everyone else. Considering Henderson is pretty anonymous in most games he plays for us the least you can expect is him to be chipping in with tackles every 20-30 mins or so. He should be doubling/trebling his current rate as a central midfielder.

he shouldnt at present be anywhere near our first team. he's an athletic box to box running around midfielder who doesnt like a tackle, doesnt chip in with goals or assists and isnt really suited to a patient passing game. a midfield of allen, sahin and shelvey is young, fit, passing competent, patient and (sahin aside from what i can see) more than happy to put a strong foot in to a tackle / interception. henderson needs a spell out on loan or in the reserves.

[SB]

Are any of the Sunderland players involved in intermational's ?

[Slinky Skills]

I haven't been feeling that positive after our start to the season but I'm starting to get a good feeling we'll beat Sunderland and also United too and we'll kick on and move up the table.

[SB]

I haven't been feeling that positive after our start to the season but I'm starting to get a good feeling we'll beat Sunderland and also United too and we'll kick on and move up the table.

It's surprising what a few drinks will do confidence wise.

[Nicey]

Yep I echo these sentiments ... if we can manage to pull of a tough away win .... sets up nicely for United who we are always up for .... they have been very shaky at the back .. could be 6 points from 2 having beaten united in the process

[malg]

Another tough game, as normal don't feel we will get much out of this one.

[The_weatherman]

It's on saturday isn't it? Anyway can't seeing us getting much joy out this one, or out any game for that matter, I'm actually preparing for next season mentally, I think we'll be top four challengers then

[SB]

Yes it is

I'm Really looking forward to seeing what youngsters get a chance & what they do when they do get a chance. Raheem has proven to be a real talent & I'd expect Suso to do similar.

[RedReet]

Interesting few days ahead. Play Chelsea reserves on Friday then obviously Sunderland on Saturday. Next Gen is then on Wednesday and Young Boys match on Thursday. United follow on Saturday and then the Carling cup on the Wednesday.

Be interesting to see where our priorities lie. Are we gonna field full strength teams in the cups. Will our fringe players be spared reserve duty. At least we should definitely see our new players in action in a few of the games.

[SB]

I hope to see Oussama off the bench this weekend.

[-V-]

This is a match in which we will really get to see the mentality of the players. Away from home against a team who can cause us problems, time to find out whether these players have the mental toughness to bounce back and show what they can do