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

[Roachy]

Got a feeling Pep might rotate here ahead of two really tough away fixtures (and knowing that he'll lose two players to AFCON after next weekend):

Donnarumma
Khusanov Dias Gvardiol Ait-Nouri
Nico
Foden Reijnders
Doku Haaland Marmoush

No problem with that. They need to do the business though.

 

[Eccles Blue]

Well we all knew Rodri had issues beyond the injury. Will he ever play for us again?

Tough game this, be happy with a win, think we can forget about a clean sheet ffs.

I didn’t and still don’t. What issues?

 

[BerkshireBlue]

Got a feeling Pep might rotate here ahead of two really tough away fixtures (and knowing that he'll lose two players to AFCON after next weekend):

Donnarumma
Khusanov Dias Gvardiol Ait-Nouri
Nico
Foden Reijnders
Doku Haaland Marmoush

He better not. Id prefer to play the b team against madrid. Very little chance of top 8 finish so might as well have 3 games off in the CL

 

[Axel Freed]

Gundo wasn't much of a goalscorer until the last couple of years with us in his first spell.

The most league goals he had in his first 4 seasons with us was 6 goals. I could see Reijnders getting to that amount if he keeps getting forward. He's on 2 at the moment. Gundo got 4 league goals the first season he was able to play a full season for us.

It took Gundo 5 years with us to get into double figures for a season. So there's a chance Reijnders can follow that path.

Give him a chance

Their career goals per game ratio is pretty much the same....

The comment I referred to said “like Gundogan at his best”

His incredible periods where he scored with the regularity of a top striker were anomalous but in other seasons he contributed so much more going forward than the crude headline stats showed

 

[balotelli's back pocket]

He better not. Id prefer to play the b team against madrid. Very little chance of top 8 finish so might as well have 3 games off in the CL

Very little chance? We need 6 points from our last 3 games.

 

[Rodri’s ACL]

Bobb back in the squad too.

 

[balotelli's back pocket]

I'd love to see the two Nicos in midfield with Ait-Nouri at left back.

 

[Rodri’s ACL]

Bobb back in the squad too.

 

[BerkshireBlue]

Very little chance? We need 6 points from our last 3 games.

2 games as we'll lose at Madrid

 

[Rodri’s ACL]

 

[Eric Hitchmough]

Stones setback presumably. He’s just plagued, sadly.

 

[Mr HJ]

Love to see Cherki given the start - he deserves it after 2 very decent sub performances. We need to take control of the game against a very fit Sunderland side - give them more problems than they give us and we win.

 

[mccity]

 

[ninjamonkey]

Hmmm. Think it needed freshening up a bit for this, need a bit more energy in yhe side, especially midfield and wouldnt have started cherki for the same reason and he's somebody that can make a difference from the bench but I'm not complaining with the side. That 11 should be winning this game.

 

[pudge]

Hopefully Bernie plays a lot deeper and that's why Cherki is on

 

[TurboDuo]

We’re wide open on the flanks again, O’Raily pushes way too high and can’t cover everything, Nunes is knackered and makes a mistake every game at this point. I’m worried we’ll get punished down the wings again like against Leeds and Fulham. We should’ve gone with a more rigid, conservative back four (Khusanov, Stones, Aït-Nouri).


Also, Bernardo looks weak, small, exhausted and miles off it — their midfield will run straight through him again. Nico will be left on his own. O’Raily should’ve been in midfield from the start.


Still, this team did beat Liverpool 3–0 and Bournemouth as well, so fingers crossed.

 

[Alan Harper's Tash]

Stones setback presumably. He’s just plagued, sadly.

Twisted blood from playing the 6 in midweek.

 

[SWPISHOME]

Happy too see Talbi on the bench. No Reineldo at left back too which is good.

 

[Gobshiight]

Think Stones would've started if fit

Bit surprised we've gone with Bernardo again but maybe it means he'll be dropped for Madrid

 

[PragueBlue]

Probably our best 11 at this time. Let's hope they can get us the result.