Aye I think they've said they're still looking to sign two more CBs, even if that includes Looven it still suggests that Ozturk might not be first choice. He might pick up with game time anyway. McGeough sounds like a great signing and if we can get the lad George something (Evans?) in then we're going to have loads of running and energy through the middle. Night and day to last season.
Maja and Gooch could be massive this season. Have to say I like the kit, I didn’t like the red shorts idea but I think it looks decent. Keeper looks a safe pair of hands and **** do we need that.
You can see those two becoming fan favourites this season, Gooch especially. I thought Maja was a natural finisher and he showed it today he had a good game. He's got a bit of composure too, links up well.
Maja's young, gifted and justifies the investment itself. Put an old experienced war-horse along side him and we've got ourselves a winning combination.
I love the complete lack of fear in Gooch when he runs with the ball. He’s small height wise but he’s a stocky lad so he can play. He may be a massive player this season. Maja just looks a finisher and age doesn’t affect that.
The green shoots are starting to appear, we will soon be back on our feet, and have a club to be proud of again, I'm sure of it.
Middlesbrough v Sunderland - Friday 27th July KO 19:30 please log in to view this image Sunderland are heading to the Riverside on Friday evening to face Middlesbrough in their final pre-season outing (KO 7.30pm). The Lads have progressed throughout their preparations, with fitness-building friendlies against Darlington and Hartlepool United preceding a first win at Grimsby Town. Last time out, Jack Ross’ men reached new heights as St Mirren were hit for six on the Sunderland manager’s return to the Paisley 2021 Stadium. Lynden Gooch bagged a brace, as did Josh Maja, with the USA international taking his pre-season tally to three, but there will be added competition on Friday, with Jerome Sinclair ready to make his Black Cats debut. The striker, who has represented and scored for the Hornets and Liverpool at senior level, arrived on Wednesday evening, signing on a season-long loan, and Glenn Loovens is also in line to make his debut. The experienced central defender signed on the eve of the Lads’ trip to St Mirren and is ready for action after training with his new team-mates throughout the week. Ross will once again be without Reece James and Aiden McGeady, though, as the duo battle to be fit for the start of the Sky Bet League One season. Middlesbrough, meanwhile, have ramped up their preparations in the last week with competitive friendlies against Accrington Stanley and Rochdale. Tony Pulis’ men opened their schedule with a defeat to Sturm Graz before overcoming Spennymoor Town and SV Sandhausen, with their trip to Germany ending in defeat to Augsburg. Promotion contenders last season, Boro will without a doubt pose the biggest test so far for Ross’ side, but it will be a fitting challenge ahead of next weekend’s curtain-raiser against Charlton Athletic. Expected lineup Jack Ross “As a manager, if you can see reflections on the pitch of what you’re asking players to do and working on, that’s all that you can ask for. The response from the players on the training pitch has been brilliant, and they are so positive in what they do.” “I’m so pleased for them that they are winning football matches again, as they need to develop that taste for it. We’re trying to drip-feed bits in and there are loads of things that we need to get better at, but Friday’s game will be a big test for us out of possession at times." “That will be good for us because it allows us to work on things and see how that develops. It’s still a work-in-progress but it’s very encouraging nonetheless.” Away tickets for Friday’s game against Middlesbrough are SOLD OUT. Sunderland will round off their 2018-19 preparations at the Riverside stadium with 7.30pm kick-off against the Sky Bet Championship side. As they have been throughout pre-season, they’ll be backed by a bumper crowd, with 976 away tickets snapped up. Supporters without tickets are advised that there will be NO sales on the day of the game.
Apparently not - it's all a bit strange because they managed to stream a few pre-season games in the past without having a whizz-bang new streaming platform in place. You might have thought they would test it out before the season starts for real.
I know in the last podcast with SD he said it wasn't quite ready but yeah, they should have had it ready to test this evening like.
Sunderland: McLaughlin, Loovens, Flanagan, Love, Matthews, Honeyman, McGeouch, Mumba, Gooch, Maja, Sinclair. Substitutes: Ruiter, Ozturk, Hume, Oviedo, Taylor, Hackett, Kimpioka.
Our team actually looks pretty decent here. It will be interesting to see the outcome against a strong Boro team and one of the favourites to get promoted to the Prem next season.
Not that happy about Stryjek not being first choice backup but it is a friendly so quite possibly means nowt. Probably be the least friendly of all our friendlies though, be great if a stream pops up somewhere.
No Max, or any of the old brigade either, hope to see Max playing his part but wont lose any sleep about the rest.
