Bit of a clue for Saturday?

Maybe, but how would it affect the rest of the team?

Sess to the r/w, or Sess the toad in the hole?

Hopefully it doesn't give an opening to Elmo Thud, to get into the team.



O’SHEA is in line to return to the Sunderland starting line-up against Fulham this weekend after helping the Republic of Ireland reach Euro 2012.


The Black Cats defender completed the full 90 minutes in last night’s qualification play-off second leg against Estonia, with the 1-1 draw completing a 5-1 aggregate victory for the Irish.

O’Shea has not featured for Sunderland since last month’s Stadium of Light outing against Aston Villa after suffering a recurrence of the hamstring problem first sustained during pre-season.

But the 30-year-old proved his fitness in Dublin last night as Ireland ensured they will be playing in Poland and the Ukraine next summer.

Sunderland boss Steve Bruce told the Echo: “It’s good that John is fit enough to be back playing for Ireland and I just hope that he has no reaction to the game.”

Phil Bardsley deputised effectively in O’Shea’s absence in Sunderland’s narrow defeat at Manchester United before the international break, while fellow full-back Kieran Richardson was equally solid.

But with the suspended Seb Larsson and injured Connor Wickham both missing the clash with the Cottagers, Bruce is toying with the idea of tweaking his back four.

O’Shea could line up at right-back, with Bardsley moving across to left-back and Richardson pushing forward into midfield.

Former Manchester United man O’Shea’s return ahead of schedule does a provide an injury boost to Bruce though and the defender will be buoyant after securing Ireland’s first appearance at a major championships in a decade

 

We could look like this:

Westwood

O'Shea...Turner..Brown..Bardsley

Sess...Catts...Colback...Richo

.....Bendnter...Ji...........

I would be happy with this.

 

looks about right

 

Maybe mate, i just always have reservations about Catts and Colback in the same team.

Maybe it's time for Gardner to be given a chance again.

 

Looks about right, but, how long will he resist the temptation to start Meyler?

 

The only thing I would change is Catts/Colback. Can see Vaughan in for Colback.

 

The only thing Bruce will change is Elmo starting on the right! Come on Steve prove me wrong!

 

I agree with Pie Dodger here.

Elmo will be in for Seb & then as you were.

Not what I want but it's what I think he will do.

 

If fit, Vaughan would be a starter every game for me every game and either Meyler, Catts or Colback fight the other place. Gardener has been marginalised since he came here and if he doesnt get a chance soon, I reckon he will want away. Other than that, this is the team I would pick too.

If Elmo plays from the start I intend to throw huge **** pies at Bruce on saturday afternoon!!!! Mind you, the big fat geordie ****er will probably just eat them anyway!!! Lol

 

I've got you guys in the top half on goal difference after this weekends fixtures.

With Man City, Chelsea and Spurs picking up maximum points your arch rivals will drop out of the top 4 too, so should be a nice week ahead for you to start giving some back to them.

It's a must win game for you guys really, if you can keep your nerve at the back I can't see Fulham getting anything from the game. You've got a few goals in your squad despite the lack of firepower. In your case, hopefully Larsson won't be suffering too much after playing for Sweden last night because I think he's going to play a vital role in this game.

In fact, your next four fixtures are games you should be looking to take 10-12 points from (maybe a draw vs Wolves away), which should take you well clear of the scrap at the bottom which is obviously a nice position to be in considering the condensed fixtures over Christmas/New Year.

I can't see you getting much at Spurs (or any team for that matter) but if you can go on an unbeaten run from now until then, considering you're playing 3 real relegation candidates and Fulham who don't travel well, then I think that's a great achievement.

Obviously nobody can look at fixtures and say games are easy in this division but I think you'll all agree that if you make a mess of these next four games you're in trouble. It's a very good opportunity in front of your players over the next few weeks so definitely time to prove their worth and give you guys something to admire in what's been a relatively poor 2011.

 

I'll be astounded if Bruce steers us to 10 points in the next 4 games. The very, very best he will achieve is 7. Realistically though, I reckon 5, as I can see us losing to Wolves and maybe drawing 2 home games (Blackburn and Fulham) and winning only 1 (wigan).

I just have no faith whatsoever in Bruces ability to get the team prepared and up for the challenge ahead. He still thinks everything is rosy in the garden while all the other clubs around us will be looking at SAFC as a place to get points themsleves. We are a far too easy touch at home in 2011 for completely **** teams as well as good ones.

 

If Cats and Colback are in the starting line line up can I change my prediction from 1-1 to 1-2. Negative, negative and again N-e-g-a-t-i-v-e.

 

if it is a choice between Colback, Meyler and Catts, then Catts would be third choice every time..I would play Vaughan in the middle with Colback or Meyler.

 

I would go with...

---------------- Westwood -----------------

O'Shea --- Turner ------- Brown - Richardson

Elmo --- Vaughan ------- Colback ---- Sess

--------- Ji --------------- Bendtner ------

 

So Poolie, you'd leave Bardsley out for what reason?

 

I like some of the 4-4-2 here but knowing Mr Bruce i think he'll go a tad different.

...................westwood................
Oshea.....brown....turner......bardo
elmo....vaughan..colback......Rico..
.......................sess............................
....................Bendtner

Its not what id go for but strangely i don't hate it either. Sess and Rico could swap around at will and give their defence a headache.

 

If Ji doenst get his chance this weekend, I fail to see when he ever will and I will put that failure firmy at the door of the manager. He blew the clubs buget on 2 players he had no intention of playing (3 if you include Gardener) and when moiney was tight, he made a total arse of the transfer window YET AGAIN imo.

 

More like this if SB gets his hands on it

Brown

Catts...Turner..Ji..Bardsley

O'shea.....Gordon...Colback...Richo

.....Bendnter...Westwood

 

Thing is Cest that he struggled massively for South Korea in a recent game - he didn't look anywhere near fit - so if he doesn't get a chance then that might be the reason - just hope Bruce doesn't play Sessegnon up front!!

 

I suspect Ji has a bit of Flu or something, if he is not fully fit because he has been ill then its better to start someone like Noble.