Sunderland (H) - Sat 6th Dec, 15:00 | PL | Pre-Match Thread

Match Result Prediction?

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One thing is clear from last night, Bernardo Silva has been fantastic for us, but he looked way off it last night, he cannot play a game every three days and needs to be used more sparingly. We need to actually use more of the players we signed, play Ait nouri at left back and play O Reilly in the middle.
Marmoush and Cherki getting 5 or 10 minute cameos, if at all, is not enough. Why did we sign Kushanov? Play him for fuck sake.
 
I fear for us in this game unless we can add some physicality to that midfield. Nico is doing the job of two men. I love Bernardo and can’t fault his work rate or ability on the ball but teams are beating us in the midfield battle with pace and power at the minute and I don’t think we have the tools to match it currently but we can at least try and up the level so it’s not such a stark contrast. Oh how I’d love Rodri to be fit enough for 60 mins in this game.
 
Mighty men said:
One thing is clear from last night, Bernardo Silva has been fantastic for us, but he looked way off it last night, he cannot play a game every three days and needs to be used more sparingly. We need to actually use more of the players we signed, play Ait nouri at left back and play O Reilly in the middle.
Marmoush and Cherki getting 5 or 10 minute cameos, if at all, is not enough. Why did we sign Kushanov? Play him for fuck sake.
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Khusanov's moment may come but if we have a problem I think it's in midfield rather than defence,

In my opinion, City took our foot off the pedal at 5-1 and panic set in. That does happen in football. We also took off Gonzalez to rest him as he's our only fit DM.
 
This is a high risk game because of the proximity of the Real Madrid game.

If I were Pep, I'd play our strongest side because that is often a less demanding route than resting players and losing control of a game. We can't make many changes in this game and expect to win as we found out recently.
 
IrishBloodEnglishHeart said:
Play Cherki
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Who gives way. We have 3 no. 10s in Foden, Cherki and Reijnders. If you play Cherki for Reijnders we get even weaker off the ball. Reijnders is playing as a no. 8 but the best part of his game is his attacking ability, and ability to run with it. Still he is probably stronger defensively than Cherki.

A lot of people will suddenly be concerned with our defensive play. I think Pep's idiotic game plan for Leverkusen has now presented us with a major problem in that the Real Madrid game has become key and it falls between awkward games. That's what I think Pep is going to struggle with.
 
Sunderland in a patchy run of form at the moment. One win in four, they got battered by Fulham (they should have lost by much more), got a bit lucky against Arsenal, and were pretty naff against Everton before that. But they played the perfect game against Chelsea, having almost none of the ball while creating high quality chances, and got that rousing win against Bournemouth last weekend. They have so much fight, energy, and a bit of quality to go with it, which is a nightmare combo for us at the moment.

I think we've got to go solid back four, two defensive DMs, and then four attacking players for this one. Try to let them have the ball, a la Bournemouth, Liverpool, and United, in the hopes that we just let them punch themselves out. I think if we try to "play" they will just sit tight, hit us fast on the transitions, and do us in. Leeds were the better team for 45 minutes last weekend and Sunderland will be looking at what they did. Isidor is more of a threat than Calvert-Lewin and I'd want Stones in for Bernardo for extra height.

Donnarumma
Khusanov, Stones, Dias, Gvardiol
Gonzalez, O'Reilly
Foden, Cherki, Doku
Haaland

Nunes has played too much football recently and looks like a mistake could happen at any moment for him. Bernardo too looks like he can't play as much football as he's being asked to, plus we need Stones' height and experience at the back right now. Reijnders is looking better, and took his goal well against Fulham, but I think we need Cherki just to help us keep the ball up the pitch for longer periods - and every time he comes on the pitch he creates something, which will be needed in a tight game.

Hopefully Sunderland give 100% of everything at Liverpool tonight and end up knackered for Saturday.
 
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youngbob said:
Sunderland in a patchy run of form at the moment. One win in four, they got battered by Fulham (they should have lost by much more), got a bit lucky against Arsenal, and were pretty naff against Everton before that. But they played the perfect game against Chelsea, having almost none of the ball while creating high quality chances, and got that rousing win against Bournemouth last weekend. They have so much fight, energy, and a bit of quality to go with it, which is a nightmare combo for us at the moment.

I think we've got to go solid back four, two defensive DMs, and then four attacking players for this one. Try to let them have the ball, a la Bournemouth, Liverpool, and United, in the hopes that we just let them punch themselves out. I think if we try to "play" they will just sit tight, hit us fast on the transitions, and do us in. Leeds were the better team for 45 minutes last weekend and Sunderland will be looking at what they did. Isidor is more of a threat than Calvert-Lewin and I'd want Stones in for Bernardo for extra height.

Donnarumma
Khusanov, Stones, Dias, Gvardiol
Gonzalez, O'Reilly
Foden, Cherki, Doku
Haaland

Nunes has played too much football recently and looks like a mistake could happen at any moment for him. Bernardo too looks like he can't play as much football as he's being asked to, plus we need Stones' height and experience at the back right now. Reijnders is looking better, and took his goal well against Fulham, but I think we need Cherki just to help us keep the ball up the pitch for longer periods - and every time he comes on the pitch he creates something, which will be needed in a tight game.

Hopefully Sunderland give 100% of everything at Liverpool tonight and end up knackered for Saturday.
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Pep tinkers but why have we not tried O'Reilly in midfield earlier?

Reijnders goal was top quality. Reijnders is playing as a no.8 but his attacking game is much better than his defensive game
 
Marvin. said:
Who gives way. We have 3 no. 10s in Foden, Cherki and Reijnders. If you play Cherki for Reijnders we get even weaker off the ball. Reijnders is playing as a no. 8 but the best part of his game is his attacking ability, and ability to run with it. Still he is probably stronger defensively than Cherki.

A lot of people will suddenly be concerned with our defensive play. I think Pep's idiotic game plan for Leverkusen has now presented us with a major problem in that the Real Madrid game has become key and it falls between awkward games. That's what I think Pep is going to struggle with.
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Reijnders or Bernardo. Move Foden central
 
Sunderland have been more than decent at home. But they're not at home.
WIll they play with a low block in a 5-4-1 and try to hit us on the transition? Of course they fucking will. WIll they try and press us high for 15 minutes in an attempt to sneak a goal early, maybe. They remind me of Forest from last year. We have shown we can play through any press and I'm confident we can create enough good chances for Haaland and Foden to win the game. Can we stop them getting at least 1? Not so sure, but I suspect it will only be a consolation.
Looking forward to the game and the Sunderland lot are a decent bunch, at least those that I have ever met. Always route for them in the T&W derby.
 
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