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

[Lavinda Past]

They’re a dogged compact team and dangerous on the break, especially with the long ball from the keeper, from what I saw tonight.
Xhaka is key for them

An early goal would be nice

They'll go all out to bully our midfield in the first 15 minutes, and will be more than aware of our weaknesses in defence.

Expect a bumpy ride!

 

[Eccles Blue]

Play Rodri?

 

[the blue panther]

I think potential banana skin is an understatement

Every game's a potential banana skin, innit?
Why this one anymore than any other?
We play well, we get it won - simple!
We play as well as we can, we f'kin' 'ammer ''em!
The Viking's due a double hat trick - maybe that'll tempt you to be positive.

3 of the top four playing each other on Saturday as well - Villa v Arsenal and Bournemouth v Chelsea.

We just need a win and see how the top shakes out afterwards.

 

[Sam69]

Against Liverpool, I thought they were so good. They ran everywhere like rabbits, it was like they were on steroids, they seemed so tireless. They know how to play deep, they're good at pressing, and defensively I find them very solid.

It's not going to be easy on Saturday. If we want the three points, we'll have to play a great match.

 

[Bluekiwi]

Perhaps Pep should have a look at their game against the rags in which they lost - it could give him a few clues of any weaknesses.

 

[Trevor Morley's Tache]

They'll go all out to bully our midfield in the first 15 minutes, and will be more than aware of our weaknesses in defence.

Expect a bumpy ride!

And it all depends on the referee. If he lets them get away with a few early doors and then books a City player for their first innocuous challenge then it definitely will be a bumpy ride.

 

[denTTony]

And it all depends on the referee. If he lets them get away with a few early doors and then books a City player for their first innocuous challenge then it definitely will be a bumpy ride.

sounds like you have watched the match already

 

[Withnail]

Sunderland have been excellent this season so far. Would love a clean sheet here and a scrappy 1-0. Gonzalez needs some help in the middle and O'Reilly's energy makes him a good fit centrally. Although RAN has had a very indifferent start ( mainly due to injuries) to his City career he needs some games and I would be starting him at lb.

 

[blue b4 the moon]

After last night who knows ;)
Win for me, likely to be closer than we'd like though - very few goals in their away games

It's good for us that they ended up playing a full game last night, sadly so did we the night before.

Look at the state of the ref & VAR

Referee: Andy Madley. Assistants: Nick Hopton, Craig Taylor. Fourth official: Tom Bramall. VAR: Michael Salisbury. Assistant VAR: Tony Harrington.

Think we're in for a bit of a kicking with plenty of yellows for decent against us.

 

[B\connellblue]

Either Liverpool are fucking useless or Sunderland are a decent side if it's the latter than this could be tricky.
Luckily we can go full strength here as our next game is a champions League tie which we will surely throw like the last one.

 

[youngbob]

I wonder...

Donnarumma
Khusanov Dias Gvardiol
Nunes Gonzalez O'Reilly Ait-Nouri
Foden Haaland Doku/Cherki

 

[Eric Hitchmough]

For all their technical ability, our players are predominantly soft as shit and lose a worrying amount of 50-50s.

That won’t fly on Saturday. Mackems are well drilled and not afraid to put the boot in.

 

[mancityscot]

potential banana skin here. more steel in midfield and at the back needed. Cant be conceding 2+ every game and expect to keep winning.

 

[Ric]

I wonder...

Donnarumma
Khusanov Dias Gvardiol
Nunes Gonzalez O'Reilly Ait-Nouri
Foden Haaland Doku/Cherki

I wouldn't be averse to that, tbh. Need to do something about the midfield instead of just picking the same players and hoping it clicks. That looks a more robust team, on paper at least.

 

[Cobwebcat]

Confident of a win in this game. Nothing to fear other than complacency.

 

[oldius]

Donnarumma

Nunes Dias Gvardiol Ait-Nouri/Ake

O'Reily Gonzalez

Foden Cherki Doku

Haaland

Would love Pep to try this.

The same as the team I have chosen, but I felt like Doku may need a rest so I chose Marmoush in his place. Good side, IMO.

 

[Doc_Testosterone]

Excellent this season and have a style that we are struggling against heavily. Wouldn’t be surprised to drop points here.

 

[noseve]

No mugs, and the season they're having, they'll be dying to have a crack at us.

I just hope that their recovery against Bournemouth doesn't scare Pep and that should we manage an early lead, he tries to extend it rather than protect it.

Probably wouldn't put money on it, though...

 

[the blue panther]

They've got a day's less rest after a big workout at Liverpool.
I've given up guessing what selection Pep might make, so I'll put my faith in home advantage and hope we can last the 90 minutes better than they can - for a change.
1-0 will do me.

 

[BorgElites]

I would be tempted to try:
Donnarumma
Khusanov Dias Stones Gvardiol
Gonzalez O'Reilly
Foden
Cherki Haaland Doku