Match Day Thread Wycombe Wanderers v Sunderland - Saturday 19th October - KO 15:00

Wycombe Wanderers v Sunderland – Skybet League One

Last time out Sunderland beat Grimsby and Wycombe lost to Stevenage in the EFL Trophy.

Sunderland owner Stewart Donald has appointed Phil Parkinson as the new manger of Sunderland AFC.
Parkinson takes his new team to Wycombe Wanderers in search of a winning start to life in charge of the Black Cats. Parkinson was joined at Sunderland by his long-term assistant Steve Parkin - with SAFC confirming that Jack Ross' right-hand man James Fowler has now left the club.

Phil Parkinson:
“It’s a great opportunity to get this club going again and the opportunity is there for everybody to see, the size of the club, the fanbase and the quality of the players is here."
“You have got to have a solid base if you are going to be at the top of any division in English football. Games are very tight and of course clean sheets are crucial at the end of the season. We all want to attack, score goals and excite the supporters which is really important, but you can do that by making sure you are not vulnerable when you concede possession.”
“Everybody knows that the expectation of a club the size of Sunderland is to get promoted. I wouldn't have come here if I didn't think I could achieve that."
“One, with the squad we already have in place, and secondly, with the backing I will get from the board.
"Promotion has to be the ambition. You would be crazy if you spoke to a potential manager who said they would be happy to just tick along nicely this season."
“English football is about tight dividing lines and the detail in terms of preparing teams, and getting the best out of players is so crucial. I am going to be working very hard along with the staff to hopefully achieve that.”

Gareth Ainsworth:
“There are so many factors in that. My family, my work here, the vote. But we’re very proud of what we’ve got here. I’m Wycombe Wanderers manager and I want to give the best account of ourselves on Saturday.”
"It will take something special to move me away, but I'm also very grateful and proud to be the Wycombe Wanderers manager, and I'm looking forward to the huge game on Saturday"
"Spice or no spice it doesn't matter to me, I want us to try and give a really good account of ourselves against possibly the strongest team in the league."
Akinfenwa:
“I’ve taken his car keys and told him he can’t leave!”


Prutton predicts: Meh
Match Appointments:
Referee:KEVIN JOHNSON
Assistants:Christopher Kidd and Andrew Laver
Fourth Official:Christopher Wade

Team Line ups
Sunderland: Burge, C McLaughlin, De Bock, Willis, Lynch, Power, Dobson, O’Nien, Gooch, McGeady, Wyke

Subs:J. McLaughlin, Flanagan, Hume, McGeouch, Maguire, McNulty, Watmore
Injured: Embleton

Wycombe Wanderers Allsop, Grimmer, Stewart, Charles, Phillips, Thompson, Gape, Freeman, Wheeler, Akinfenwa, Onyedinma
Subs: Coelho Jombati, Jacobson, Kashket, Yates, Mascoll, Aarons, Parker
Injured: tbc

Betting Odds:
Home 6/4 Away 13/8 Draw 12/5

My two pence:
At last we are back to playing footy games after all the excitement of a sacking, continued speculation about the potential investment / take over, and the small matter of appointing Reading legend Phil Parkinson as our new manager. So off we go again on this roller coaster ride of being a Sunderland fan - it's never dull is it
Wycombe have had a great start to the season and deservedly sit in second place behind Ipswich, but we need to start quickly - get into them and ... hoof it up to Charlie Wyke.

My guess is a 1-1 draw
Ha’way the Lads

 

4-0 Sunderland stuff Ainsworth for turning us down

 

Cracking post as usual RTB.

I'd go with the back 5 as is, with Dobson& Power in the middle
but I'd move McGeady into the middle, Onions on the right and Mcnulty on the left instead of Gooch.
Watmore and Maguire great options off the bench to stretch the game late on

 

I still prefer watmore. As an impact sub certainly while he's getting fit again

Ease him back in

 

I think we win this.

I think the lads going down will unite. He wasn’t our pick but he’s there and our away support rarely let’s us down.

They will SUPPORT the lads to a win, and I have been on the Haig but I’m going clean sheet as well.

2-0, McGeady, GRIGG.

 

My first thoughts before the new manager were 1-1 or even a Wycombe win.

A quiet drink later, Sunderland engulfs me like a blanket and I'm going 2-1 to the lads.

Hhhaaawwwwaaaaaayyyyyyyy me bonny lads

 

About time we thrashed someone... 5-0

 

I just can't see us ever settling with 5 at the back and the current squad.

 

Nevermind, apparently I can't read.

 

I was slightly dreading this one tbh.

Last season was a shameful display by Wycombe but I'm hoping the referee is made well aware.

The assault on Watmore had no place on a football field and I'm praying he scores the winner.

Despite his cheeky grin the lad must have balls of steel the way he keeps coming back.

I thought the atmosphere might be toxic but everyone I've spoken to, who's going, is in good form.

Parkinson is our man and, providing we fight for 90 minutes, will get a fair crack ...

.... whatever the result.

Haway Lads, Watmore winner in a 3-1 victory!!!

 

Fred Onyedinma is a dangerman for them. Hes very quick and tricky on the ball.

 

Yeah - A shocking display all round.
Luke O'Nien was also assaulted by an ex team mate in the first minute and Honeyman somehow got sent off from the bench.

Hopefully we keep our cool and we deal with the cheating Chairboys.

 

2-0 Wycombe and 1st calls of “you don’t know what ya doing”.

Bart

 

Excellent and informative post to start the thread. I’m excited now! 1-2 the lads, Onien, Watmore. Haway!

 

There won't be any such chants, guaranteed.

Sunderland supporters are better than that.

I find your comment a little sad in all honesty.

 

No Grigg in the squad...interesting....

 

Heading down with the bairn on the coach at about 7am. Can't wait, he has got the bug for SAFC and loves it. Parkinson wasn't who i'd have gone for but he is here now and I'll back him just like the other gaffers. Spoke well in his press conference tbf. KTF and HTL

 

Hope the ref has balls. Big game for him. Hope he can keep control.

 

Not at Wycombe tho...

 

Second chance for Grigg under Parky. Has a lot to prove. There’s a player in there somewhere and we’ve seen glimpses this season. If he’s doing well in training like to see this translated onto the pitch. Not carrying a knock or something is he?