Sunderland travel to Highbury stadium to face Fleetwood Town in the SkyBet League One Last time out Sunderland drew with Doncaster and Fleetwood beat Plymouth. Phil Parkinson will take his side to Fleetwood on Friday in a game which already feels like it is quickly becoming a must-win for the Black Cats as off the field takeover talk continues to rumble on. Forgotten man Aiden McGeady played for SAFC’s U23s side on Monday - the first time he’s been seen in a Sunderland shirt in almost a year. Elliot Embleton has returned to training this week and could form part of the squad that travels to the Highbury Stadium on Friday evening. Lynden Gooch could be out for up to 4 weeks with an ankle injury. Fleetwood Town are level on points with Sunderland and are on a good run of form having put 5 past Plymouth last weekend. Joey Barton made 5 substitutions before the 70th minute in the game against Plymouth and admitted in the post-match interview that he did this to rest his players in preparation for the game against Sunderland on Friday. Phil Parkinson: "Lynden went to see a specialist last night and was told that he would need a period of rest, "He'll have an injection tomorrow which we hope will speed up that recovery, but we are probably looking at between two and four weeks without Lynden." "That's a blow because he has been exceptional for us this season, but we have to take the advice of the specialist and make sure that Lynden is right and he is flying for us when he comes back." "And we've got players who, for one reason or another - either because of lack of opportunities or because they have been coming back from injuries themselves like Elliot Embleton - need to get their own seasons up and running." "So there are players who are champing at the bit, and Lynden being out will give them an opportunity. We've got three games coming up in eight days and I'd imagine the whole squad will be utilised." Joey Barton: “Outstanding performance from the players yesterday. Their hard work on the training ground being rewarded on match day.” “There was a lot of pleasing aspects of our game as we watched on from the side-line, it’s very, very rare in this division to have the ability after 60 minutes to think about the next game as we welcome Sunderland to Highbury next Friday.” “We are building a real nice side with great balance to it and as I said the most disappointing thing is that we can’t have fans inside Highbury to get behind us because I think that this team has a lot more to come from it.” “This could be an exciting season for Fleetwood as we intend on being better than we were last season. We want to get fans back in this season, but we want the fans to strap themselves in because this could be a very, very exciting ride as a Fleetwood Town fan.” Match Appointments: Referee: ROBERT MADLEY Assistant Referees: Billy Smallwood and Barry Gordon Fourth Official: Graham Salisbury Team Line ups Sunderland: Matthews, O’Nien, Sanderson, Wright, McLaughlin, Hume, Leadbitter, Scowen, Embleton, Diamond, Wyke. Subs: Burge, Flanagan, Dobson, Neil, Maguire, Graham, Curry Injured: McGeady, Feeney, Xhemajli, Willis, Kimpioka, Younger, McFadzean, Gooch Fleetwood Town: Leutwiler, Edwards, Connolly, Mulgrew, Burns, Rossiter, Finley, Andrew, Morris, Madden, Camps. Subs: Whelan, Duffy, Evans, Coutts, McKay, Cairns, Hill Injured: tbc Betting Odds: Home 21/10 Away 5/4 Draw 11/5 My two pence: I’m getting very close to joining the Parky out camp. We should have won that game easily after dominating the play for the first half, taking the lead, but rather than bringing on Diamond to run at them and increase the lead, Parky decided to sit back and defend it in true Jack Ross fashion. We all knew what was going to happen, and it just felt like another defeat to me. As predicted, Parky didn’t even make 3 substitutions and as usual he left it far too late. I’m fearing the worst and a heavy defeat, but it’s times like these that we usually pull something out of the hat. Well I hope so anyway. I’m going for a 2-2 Draw. Live stream £10 https://www.safc.com/news/team-news/live-video Ha’way the Lads
Great thread as usual mate. I think you may have made a slight mistake though, sure you used this same quote for the last few games ... ... "we cannot keep missing chances in the six-yard box and expect to win football matches.”
All I have to say is the law of averages.......................................................................................................................
3-1 home win. I'm afraid he has done me in with the ****e tactics and unwillingness to change it either from the start or from the bench. Wyke, Maguire and Gooch will most probably start as the 3 up front. I'm desperately clinging to this takeover happening very very soon so we get shot of this bloke while we still have a chance of getting top 6.
I've not posted on these threads all season but I'm giving it a go now... 4-0 to Fleetwood reflects just how I feel about the whole playing side at the moment. Lack of guidance from the manager and coaches who just stand on the sidelines and not seeing what all the fans are. Players not doing the basics for each other, clueless some of them. Hope I'm completely wrong but not holding my breath, humble pie in the fridge.
I nearly always tip us to win but I can't see it. We'd need Parky to have a revelation and rather than showing any hint of one he's retreating further into his shell. Fleetwood are a good side too.
I think the team you've picked is spot on and could cause Fleetwood problems, but I've got a bit of a feeling that Parky won't pick that kind of team - not sure why though...........
I love that team and would be buzzing if it came out. You know that they'd score goals, and if we went in front we would be better suited to attack than defence. We have to stop waving the white flag with our selections and tactics.
Great post again RTB. I would have Curry on the bench instead of Graham, but I know the Parkysaurus won't agree. I can't see past a home win in this one. They're on a good run and scored 9 in the last 2 games, whereas we are only averaging a goal a game in the last five. Would love to see Parky spring a surprise with his selection by shaking it up, but I know he'll just 'play it safe' and hope for the best. 3-1 Fleetwood for me in what I hope is Parky's last game in charge.That would be the only saving grace. It's very noticeable that in the build up to this and the Doncaster game, very few of the fans are tipping us to win. That reflects just how low people are feeling now and how far we've fallen. The takeover will lift the mood no end, particularly when a new management team is announced. So the way I feel is "let's get this game out of the way, and then start the next chapter" Haway The Lads!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Thing is Parky is a "safety first - tried and tested" type of manager and goes with what he knows. I watched the England game last week and it was mentioned in commentary that the 3-4-3 type of formation is supposed to be the most defensively conscious formation which would explain why England seem to be struggling for goals at times (now why does that ring a bell.....?) but it can also be an attacking formation if it is used right with the correct players in place, something I don't believe that we have and most of them don't look comfortable with. But I'm just a supporter who's watched football for over 40 years - what do I know?
RTB Well done, not sure how you keep going with the optimism. I have not entered a prediction cos I just cannot say in public, I would not be surprised if we lose.
Again well done RTB, I'm looking forward to this game and you have set the scene brilliantly, not expecting much from this encounter, but you never know, Barton has everything to loose here imo and this could be to our advantage. Both sides need the points, in this needle match between two very different clubs and polar opposite managers.
Top thread RTB I can't see anything other than a home win. I'm expecting exactly the same starting 11 as the last match, because Phil Parkinson is so set in his ways and refuses to change anything, which will make things very easy for Barton. 2-1 to Fleetwood Town
We are at our best when we are the underdogs, thats my story and I'm sticking to it, its sad but true, and who would have thought it .
