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

[Cheadle_hulmeBlue]

Feels like we have barely rotated the side this season

 

[xmusampa]

Bit unfair as my 8 year old grandson can hit a ball twice as hard as him!

Oops sorry wrong person to reply to

 

[yankblue]

Happy with the side. Chance for Savinho to turn the positive sub performances into an impactful start.

Ake being put on display here?

 

[Xhavenjoe]

What minute will Donna get booked?

As soon as he runs after the ref and starts mouthing off.
Hopefully Pep has had a word with him.

 

[BlueMoonRisin’]

Or a game he's shit in AGAIN.

I recommend you having a moan on the match day thread, you'll probably enjoy slating him on there; )

 

[bluemoon32]

Tell me then, what's his role? Being available? Because Rodri is much better at that than him (all stats shiw this), positioning? Rodri much better than him. Not to mention that Rodri is a powerhouse both offensively and defensively unlike Bernardo.

Literally Bernardo's only attribute now is being a smart player who is in the right place, it just happens that Rodri is better at what Bernardo is best at, and Bernardo is literally a 0/10 in passing, creativity, tackling, counterattacks, aerial threat, blocking, dribbling...whilr Rodri is 8 or above in all of that.

Rodri hasn't been fit though, end of story

 

[The Light Was Yellow Sir]

What minute will Donna get booked?

Bernie and Nico one away from a ban as well. Given this is the last game for the 5 bookings, we might see all 3 of them booked…
Mind you, Sunderland have 5 on 4 bookings!

 

[blue b4 the moon]

No Reindeer in the starting eleven. He must be shagged out after dragging that sleigh all over the place the other day. Need Savinho to step up tonight.

On the cruise last week a Dutch guy was adamant he had a really big engine. Told him it must be invisible and on his back, took awhile for him to understand.

 

[Millwallawayveteran1988]

This could be the game he shines in, hopefully.

He needs to. It’s all very well having 10/15 min cameo’s against tired teams. He needs to be heavily involved from the start tonight and have a good game. Let’s hope he does.

 

[blueparrot]

Not a huge fan of that side, admittedly.

Especially no Gvardiol, his brilliance on the ball really helps against low blocks.

And Ake over Khusanov? Is that a goodbye..?

No it’s a left sided centre back over a right sided one.

 

[dublin-blue]

Some of their best players are unavailable so it's not a bad time to rotate. Savinho has it in him like doku always had. Ake is a bit past it but he's still a top defender

 

[blueparrot]

He is shit though.

Is he, Pep thinks otherwise.

 

[uwerosler28]

Tell me then, what's his role? Being available? Because Rodri is much better at that than him (all stats shiw this), positioning? Rodri much better than him. Not to mention that Rodri is a powerhouse both offensively and defensively unlike Bernardo.

Literally Bernardo's only attribute now is being a smart player who is in the right place, it just happens that Rodri is better at what Bernardo is best at, and Bernardo is literally a 0/10 in passing, creativity, tackling, counterattacks, aerial threat, blocking, dribbling...whilr Rodri is 8 or above in all of that.

Mate it's a but of an un fair comparison, every attribute compared to Rodri the greatest midfielder in the world!, Bernardo has been pivotal playing this midfield role while we have had this turn around of form, saying Rodri would be better at it is frankly a pointless thing to say.

 

[remember arthur mann]

You mean you're going for an Indian and going home watching on the telly?

 

[dannyboiblue]

Gvardiol injured?

 

[city warrior]

Rodri hasn't been fit though, end of story

Precisely why I am ecstatic he is back, so I don't have to see Bernardo just doing the bare minimum and people saying he makes us tick (when again Rodri on average increases our possesion 4-5% and has around 40-50 more passes/touches per game than Bernardo), but being incapable of bringing any offensive (and I mean any offensive stat other than assists or goals) or defensive elite skill.

 

[.db.]

Not a huge fan of that side, admittedly.

Especially no Gvardiol, his brilliance on the ball really helps against low blocks.

Gvardiol will be a miss. Like you say, he’s so good on the ball… he has created more shot creating actions in the PL this season Eze, Gordon, Gakpo, Saka, Simons and Wirtz.

 

[flook]

Khusanov is a RB though. I think Ake has proved to be suited at LB so it makes sense him playing there.

I'm feeling confident. 3 nil win. Come on City!

Ake will be left side centre back, he's experienced enough to compensate for his general lack of pace, he's never been fast but he reads the game well and his positioning is amongst the best. No worries about him playing other than potential ring rusty

 

[denTTony]

Seems to be a few tourists/Yanks in away end

 

[The Light Was Yellow Sir]

Gvardiol will be a miss. Like you say, he’s so good on the ball… he has created more shot creating actions in the PL this season Eze, Gordon, Gakpo, Saka, Simons and Wirtz.

He’s created plenty for the opposition as well.