Sunderland (A) - Thu 1st Jan, 20:00 | PL | Pre-Match Thread

[Sleeping_Easy]

Gonzalez hasn't been part of the Spanish national team so he's been resting during the 3 international breaks. He should be fine. Rest him for the FA Cup.

Yea he has to play from the start. The midfield looks unbalanced without him. If Rodri is fit enough and we're leading then rest him after 60 mins.

Same 11 for me and get an early lead. Once things are comfortable then go for:

Foden -> Savio
Gvardiol -> Ake
Nico -> Rodri
Rico -> Bernardo

 

[jimharri]

I was being sarcastic about the heinous crimes committed by the Don. Ridiculous he’s sitting on a ban when you look at it like that

Pretty sure the yellow cards are wiped after 19 games? So; come the final whistle on thursday night, all the players have a clean sheet.

 

[Goodlove]

Pretty sure the yellow cards are wiped after 19 games? So; come the final whistle on thursday night, all the players have a clean sheet.

If he gets through it!

 

[jimharri]

If he gets through it!

True. Someone on the coaching staff needs to have a word with him, tell him to keep his mouth shut. IMO, yellow cards for dissent are stupid. Yes; some of the decisions he's been carded for are baffling, but he needs to learn to count to 10!


And yes; it is indeed very easy for me to say!

 

[mdj0520]

It’s more putting Nunes at DM is trouble against this lot. I personally think the Chelsea match is easier as it’s at home and there’s more chance Rodri can feature in a double pivot for it.

Yeah but that isn't what I said. I said that we need to use the only couple of players on the bench that pep trusts to rotate one player every now and then.

For Sunderland I'd have gvardiol at left back and either khusa or Ake in for NOR.

Then three days later if have khusa in for nunes against Chelsea.

Then three days after that against Brighton we need to somehow sit Nico G down. Pep has been using nunes to get him off early, that's why I suggested it. Unless you want to see Rico there then that seems to be the preference ATM.

The amount of work the fullbacks and Nico G get through we are going to have a serious problem if he keeps starting the same 11. I'd rather have one of them rotat d for a one off than be forced into starting nunes at 6 for the rest of the season because we ran Nico G I to the ground. Maybe rodri could offer some support but I don't think we can rely on his fitness this season either.

 

[citizen_maine]

Pretty sure the yellow cards are wiped after 19 games? So; come the final whistle on thursday night, all the players have a clean sheet.

They're not wiped, but the threshold for a ban rises to 10 yellows

 

[jimharri]

They're not wiped, but the threshold for a ban rises to 10 yellows

Oh; okay. I thought they were wiped. In that case, Donna Summer needs to learn to bite his lip. Is it still a one game ban for 10 yellows?

 

[Stockport mackem]

Sunderland knew the possible consequences, when they signed these players.

It’s only for a few matches, and I’d have thought anyone connected with Sunderland would have bitten off your hand, if you’d suggested, pre-season, that they’d be in the position they find themselves at the end of the year.

@Stockport mackem

100% correct.... we are still targeting 17th, and we will go from there.

We've lost 2 key massive players (Reinildo and Sadiki)...
Diarra has been injured most of the season.. and Sadiki has effectively replaced him alongside Xhaka.

We've also lost our starting wide men in Talbi and Traore.... although arguably, Mundle and Adringa aren't too far below their level.

Gertruuda can fill in for Sadiki to a degree....

But you then throw in the Ballard injury...which gives us a problem with replacing him and Reinildo....hence we return to 2 lads from the championship.

Not great planning no....but we are on 28 points..and so far, without the players, have drawn away to Brighton and Leeds...

Another few weeks of struggle awaits... you are definitely playing us at a good time

 

[sarcastico]

Villa make Arsenal drop points this week.

Must win.

 

[K-Bo]

Gotta pounce on their weakened team, anything but 3 points is a bad result I think. Probably an easier game than forest away with the context of Afcon

 

[SWP's back]

Oh; okay. I thought they were wiped. In that case, Donna Summer needs to learn to bite his lip. Is it still a one game ban for 10 yellows?

Yes after the 19th game.

 

[Xhavenjoe]

Oh; okay. I thought they were wiped. In that case, Donna Summer needs to learn to bite his lip. Is it still a one game ban for 10 yellows?

No , its a 2 game booking if they hit 10 yellow cards.

 

[.db.]

Pretty sure the yellow cards are wiped after 19 games? So; come the final whistle on thursday night, all the players have a clean sheet.

Sort of. The bar gets raised from 5 yellow cards to 10 after MW19, rather than the cards players have accumulated getting wiped.

So anyone on 4 yellow cards now, will still have 4 yellow cards to their name, but their next yellow card won’t mean a suspension. However, if they get 6 further yellow cards between MW20-32, they’ll get a 2-game ban as they’ll have hit the 10 yellows limit.

Then the bar gets raised to 15 yellows. Anyone who hits their 15th yellow card of the season after MW32 serves a 3-game ban.

 

[jimharri]

Sort of yeah. The bar gets raised from 5 yellow cards to 10 after MW19, rather than the cards players have accumulated getting wiped.

So anyone on 4 yellow cards now, will still have 4 yellow cards to their name, but their next yellow card won’t mean a suspension. However, if they get 6 further yellow cards between game 20-32, they’ll get a 2-game ban as they’ll have hit the 10 yellows limit.

Yep; already been explained a couple of times since my original post.

 

[Bri1975]

Recent forms hasn't been particularly good won 2 drawn 5 lost 2 of their last 9, still unbeaten at home in the league though :

 

[LesBleuMiserable]

Don't need silly tackles; how did Donnarmma pick up 4 yellows??

They like to express themselves. Not as polite as KDB asking for permission to [let me] to speak.

 

[chickaroon]

Oh; okay. I thought they were wiped. In that case, Donna Summer needs to learn to bite his lip. Is it still a one game ban for 10 yellows?

No 2.

 

[alexmcity]

Villa make Arsenal drop points this week.

Must win.

And it will be even more of a must win if Arsenal don't drop points.

On a serious note, it's a bit early for must wins, given we are 2 pts off the top. If Arsenal were 8 pts clear, then yes, the game would have been a must win.

 

[hertsblue]

Players are going to have to be very careful with fouls and dissent given the usual media highlighing the crap coming out of Forest

 

[stan bowles]

Players are going to have to be very careful with fouls and dissent given the usual media highlighing the crap coming out of Forest

Refs wouldn't be human if they weren't influenced by the likes of Dyche and the media pile on that "City are getting away with a lot". Beware yellow cards and VAR going against us.