Pre-Oxford chat ...

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FellTop said:
I wouldnt drop Wyke personally. I think he makes the players around him look great just like others help him. He is playing like a classic centre forward whereby McGeady hits an area with his cross and Wyke attacks the area. Plus I suspect teams are so tuned into Wyke it leaves space for others, maybe like O'Brien on Saturday. Jones coming back in woulf make him twice as likely to score.

I am surprised to see people want Wright back in and O'Nien into midfield. Fair play and I respect everyonew opinions, and knowing O'Nien would be best midfielder on the day, but that partnership has been crucial to our recent success and I would not change it.

These games should be right up our street. I am hoping both play open and we can play through them. Cracking weekend.
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I know Luke has done great filling in at CB but it doesn't mean it's secretly his real position. Wright (or Willis) should go straight back in for me, they're more than capable at this level.

O'Nien and Winchester in CM could be interesting. Both intelligent players who are capable in defence and going forward. Nice balance.
 
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Nacho said:
I know Luke has done great filling in at CB but it doesn't mean it's secretly his real position. Wright (or Willis) should go straight back in for me, they're more than capable at this level.

O'Nien and Winchester in CM could be interesting. Both intelligent players who are capable in defence and going forward. Nice balance.
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The better we get the more issues it creates which, I accept, sounds counter intuitive ...

... but dropping any of the current team could affect morale.

Still, Johnson seems to have the trust of the squad so I'm sure he'll manage it.
 
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Smug in Boots said:
The better we get the more issues it creates which is counter intuitive ...

... dropping any of the current team could affect morale.

Still, Johnson seems to have the trust of the squad so I'm sure he'll manage it.
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We've been pretty fluid in CM and I don't think anyone in the squad would have an issue with the team being shuffled to accommodate Wright or Willis back at CB.

I like the sound of O'Nien and Winchester at CM, you've got a good mix of composure, attacking ability and grit.
 
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Nacho said:
We've been pretty fluid in CM and I don't think anyone in the squad would have an issue with the team being shuffled to accommodate Wright or Willis back at CB.

I like the sound of O'Nien and Winchester at CM, you've got a good mix of composure, attacking ability and grit.
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I agree but also feel Scowen does his 'terrier' role to perfection ...

... he must be a pain to play against.
 
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Sunderpitt said:
Oxford is where all our focus is... we win that (please) and see how the top two do on Friday... then regroup and go again Monday.

Burge, Sanderson, Macfazdean, Wyke and Mcgeady are definite starters in there usual places. So are I would suggest are Power and 09, I am just not sure where they start. Depending if any CBs are fit?

There is an argument for O'Brien to start that leaves 3 places left...
If Hume is fit he probably starts on the bench. Then there is Gooch, Jones, Stewart probably Younger on bench.
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If Lee gets the chance I think it will be the same team as Portsmouth away. Too early for Wright still, I think Jones will be on the bench on Friday and will start on Monday
 
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Glencoe said:
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If Lee gets the chance I think it will be the same team as Portsmouth away. Too early for Wright still, I think Jones will be on the bench on Friday and will start on Monday
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What about McLaughlin I think he has done a good job in recent weeks since coming back from injury , Power moving back to midfield would be beneficial but I am sure LJ will know who is available and we have to stand by his team selection . The team selected for the most part is not normally the one that finishes as he is not adverse to making substitutions if things do not appear to be going to plan or he wants to close the game out he will make changes - effective game management at SAFC !!! What next !!!
 
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Bigmackem said:
What about McLaughlin I think he has done a good job in recent weeks since coming back from injury , Power moving back to midfield would be beneficial but I am sure LJ will know who is available and we have to stand by his team selection . The team selected for the most part is not normally the one that finishes as he is not adverse to making substitutions if things do not appear to be going to plan or he wants to close the game out he will make changes - effective game management at SAFC !!! What next !!!
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McLaughlin has been great this season and even more so since Johnson came in, it's a tough call as we are doing so well defensively, I wouldn't fancy Johnson's job to pick the team.

Just heard a great little interview with AOB, he said its great as he knows exactly what the manager wants from him before he steps on the pitch and he can't wait for the next game. We have a real confidence now, I honestly don't see Oxford or Peterborough beating us.
 
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Glencoe said:
McLaughlin has been great this season and even more so since Johnson came in, it's a tough call as we are doing so well defensively, I wouldn't fancy Johnson's job to pick the team.

Just heard a great little interview with AOB, he said its great as he knows exactly what the manager wants from him before he steps on the pitch and he can't wait for the next game. We have a real confidence now, I honestly don't see Oxford or Peterborough beating us.
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Excellent interview and obvious they're all as up for it as we are ...

... what a massive change in such a short time.
 
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Nacho said:
We've been pretty fluid in CM and I don't think anyone in the squad would have an issue with the team being shuffled to accommodate Wright or Willis back at CB.

I like the sound of O'Nien and Winchester at CM, you've got a good mix of composure, attacking ability and grit.
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I don't think anyone looking at our starting 11 could ever see our midfield as a completed product or disagree with the basic premise that we still aren't creative enough.

I love 09 and he has done a sterling job filling in for us at CB but with every successive game his weaknesses there are being exploited and I feel we need to make a change against Oxford to give the new defensive line a bit more time to gel before we face Peterborough. Wright, Sanderson and McLaughlin for me.

I love the idea of 09 and Winchester at CM. Play them behind Geads, O'Brien and Jones and a front pairing of Wyke with Stewart and let's start tearing teams some new arseholes straight from the kick-off!
 
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Have we heard anything definitive about Jones being fit for the weekend fixtures? Didn’t the club arrange for a behind closed doors friendly to help the likes of Hume get match fit and was Jones involved in that?
 
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ab65 said:
Cracking thread Smug.
Great way to start what promises to be defining eight days in our season.
I agree with most of what has been posted in terms of keeping the changes at the back to a minimum, I would leave CB’s unchanged for Oxford. I’d be tempted to start Hume if he’s had enough game time.
If Jones is ready I’d bench him for Oxford and give him 30 mins with a view to him starting at Posh.
Win these next two and we’ll win the league imho.
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It's great that we are all so eager to talk about our next game. KLD, LJ and winning has done this to us.

LJ has shuffled the squad in a way I have seldom seen. Yes, in part, injuries have forced his hand (I'm still not sure Sanderson would have got a look in otherwise) but a manager has to roll with the punches and it has been a long, long time since I have seen a manager (at any level) so able to change a team by making one or two subs and rejigging the side.

A footballing owner puts together a footballing management. Who'd have thunk it?!

It is nice to have a settled side but damn, it's exciting to see a team sheet and have no idea about how that will translate to the formation and tactics on the pitch!
 
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Dunno if anyone's noticed but our match reports from last week and Saturday are now being reported in the Daily Fail - is this the start of the media keeping an eye on us again?

Love this quote from AOB

'It was absolutely off my shin,' admitted O'Brien. 'Horrible, but we'll take them. We are a force to be taken seriously because we have it all. We have the fight, we have the quality and, why not, we can do it this year.

'We play football with smiles on our faces because when we do that we're brilliant. We have games in hand on Hull and Peterborough, so with 10 games to play, who has the fire in the belly to bring it home?'

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/f...ts-Lee-Johnsons-battling-Sunderland-rise.html
 
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Why this convo is showing is the quality and depth we have for the level.

I can’t see how we drop Winchester or Scowen, but then as players return we have to play Wright, the best CB in the league, and we have to play O’Nien ‘Mr Sunderland’ to a degree.

The that displaces Power who has been magnificent, Gooch likely has to drop out for Jones, Stewart looks a capable striker.

**** me for League One we are strong.

There’s still 5-6 I haven’t mentioned including really quality players like Willis, McLaughlin and Hume.

AOB brings the team to life so he’s gotta be in there somewhere as well.

Trust in Johnson is right, I dunno where to start. Nice position.
 
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Confident of a win against Oxford to keep our good run of form going. Still think we'll pick up more points than Posh between now and the season's end and I fancy the winner of us v Hull will be Champions. They've been a bit like us recently, got into the good habit of not losing games whereas Posh struggle to keep a sheet, only had six in the last two months and think if you're shipping goals you will drop points. Our defence is more miserly than me being a round and can't see that changing. Been very impressed at our defensive solidity while looking a much more attacking side. Can't wait for Friday.
 
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