Sunderland Match Thread (17th October 2009)

[stringvest]

We won plenty of plenty of games last year without Torres and Gerrard. Kuyt and Lucas missing wouldn't have a negative effect on the team anyway, so where's the problem?

[SpeedyG]

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

Johnson--Skrtel---Carragher-Aurelio

-------Mascherano--Lucas

Benayoun------Kuyt------Riera

---------------N'Gog

 

Walkover.

[hamstrung]

Best I can come up with is

 

Reina

 

Johnson Skrtel Carra Insua/Aurelio

 

Babel Masch Lucas Riera

 

Benny Noon

 

Kuyt

[Kevin D]

Think I'm right in saying Stoke away was the last time Dirk played up top on his own. If we are going to play him there, I'd be more confident if he had a partner like Ngog or even Babel.

[05 Milan]

Reina

Johnson Carra Skrtel Aurelio

Kuyt Masch Lucas Babel

Yossi

Voronin

[Guest LFD]

Babel is shite on the left.

[Carra_is_legend]

Babel is shite

 

Fixed.

[SpeedyG]

Anyone care to speculate why a) Yossi has never played as the 2nd striker and b) why this would change all of a sudden?

[PaulMcC]

If we're playing Kuyt up front we have to play someone up with him.

 

I do't like him up front on his own but Rafa seems to think it's all right.

[Guest the boy]

The league is far more important to the fans

 

speak for yourself. I've seen us lift three European Cups, two other finals besides. Nothing compares. 20 year wait or no 20 year wait, I'd still take success in Europe over the league any day.

[The Chef]

Confirmed SSN.......Gerrard and Torres out of Sunderland game

[Xherdan]

[The Golden Eel]

Reina

 

Johnson

Insua/Aurelio

Carra

Skrtel

 

Masch

Lucas

Benayoun

Riera

 

Kuyt

 

Babel

 

If Kuyt's not fit then, Voronin in that role...

[PaulMcC]

N'Gog deserves a game ahead of Voronin.

[05 Milan]

Babel is shite on the left.

 

Babel has shown promising signs lately. As long as he has confidence it doesn't matter if he plays on the wing or up front. I want real pace and shooting ability on at least one of our flanks, and since the opposite side is filled by Dirk, Babel must be included over Riera (who really has shown nothing so far).

[05 Milan]

N'Gog deserves a game ahead of Voronin.

 

N'Gog severely lacks presence in these types of games, especially as a lone striker. I'd easily play him with Voronin up front and put Yossi on the left, but that could easily cause us to be overrun in midfield, with Tired south-american legs being against the rested Cattermole and the "energetic" Cana.

 

I guess it depends on if Bruce has the bollocks to go with both Bent and Jones upfront. I suspect he does.

[old skool tom]

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

 

Johnson--Skrtel---Carragher-Aurelio

 

Yossi---Masher---Spearing---Riera

 

---------Babbel----Kuyt--------

 

 

got to have pace up front away from home for the counter attacks!

[Dan Vito Corleone]

Don't fancy us one bit tomorrow I'm afraid.

[Carra_is_legend]

I guess it depends on if Bruce has the bollocks to go with both Bent and Jones upfront. I suspect he does.

 

Defo. He certainly knows how to beat a Rafa's team.

 

They will be all over us from the 1st minute I reckon.

[PaulMcC]

N'Gog severely lacks presence in these types of games, especially as a lone striker. I'd easily play him with Voronin up front and put Yossi on the left, but that could easily cause us to be overrun in midfield, with Tired south-american legs being against the rested Cattermole and the "energetic" Cana.

 

I guess it depends on if Bruce has the bollocks to go with both Bent and Jones upfront. I suspect he does.

 

I reckon N'Gog is better at holding the ball up than Babel. Babel is really bad at winning any ball that isn't straight to his feet.

 

Bruce played both at Old Trafford, I think he'll definitely play both against our dodgy defence.

[PaulMcC]

I'm gonna jump on the 'We're Doomed' bandwagon i think.

[The 5th Benitel]

------------Riena--------------

 

Johnson--Carra---Skrtle--Aurelio

 

---Lucas/Spearing---Masch---

 

Babel-----Yossi-----Riera----

 

----------Kuyt-------------

[05 Milan]

Yossi will be the key in this one.

[t1971]

I'm gonna jump on the 'We're Doomed' bandwagon i think.

 

Me too. Sunderland are more than decent. We arent in great form, our most important players are out. Our midfield of Masch and Lucas isnt great together and they only just got back from south america. Im worried.

[GJM]

I was fairly downbeat about our chances of a win this weekend, and that was with Gerrard and Torres. Was always going to happen that we would have to play some games without one or both of them, but a real kick in the bollocks that it's come on the back of defeats to Fiorentina and Chelsea, and a difficult away game too.

 

Hard to know what to do in the circumstances, but I would favor Babel over Kuyt to play the lone striker, with Benayoun in behind. Not ideal but Benitez will never play 2 up away from home in this game and the Kuyt just doesn't work as a lone gun.

 

Not exactly brimming with optimism right now.