I’d be sticking Aouchiche in the Pritchard role and putting Roberts back on the right as that’s by far his most effective position. Rusyn seems to be coming on in a wide position but I’d like to see him get a chance up front. He’s pretty rapid and will be buzzing around the defenders toes all the time.
I'd normally be against throwing a new player into a key position especially with a young lad like Jobe alongside/behind and another, Burstow, ahead. But Aouchiche has something about him that makes him fearless as well as being surefooted. As he has a good touch, in both feet, and can see a pass quickly I think he'd be a great 10. He loves a tackle and can put a good cross in, gets my vote ... ... shame for Ba but we'll need him as the season goes on.
I earlier posted a draw. Just checked my prediction and I have 3-2 to the cuddlies. FK my earlier post now going for home win .
Cracking thread as always. I dont like lunchtime kickoffs as it invariably means I miss them. Might get the second half here. I would stick with the same starting 11 as Wednesday personally. The last 2 games havent been hugely challenging and I would think one more game before a break would be fine. Hume and Huggins to swap back would be about it for me. Options from the bench if needed.
Sunderland were so bad on Wednesday Watford weren't allowed a decent shot on target, created our first good chance on five minutes and easily coped without the loss of Pritchard ... ... oh, and a clean sheet, half the fouls of Watford plus a stunning individual goal. It's a credit to the team, and particularly Mowbray, that a full back is given the freedom to do that. We didn't, as has happened so often in the past, sit back at 1-0 and allow Watford back into the game. The way we now play can be summed up by a move starting at 14.35 with Patterson who passes to O'Nien, on to Huggins and then Ba who leaves his defender floundering. At 14,50 Jobe has a great chance in front of goal, just 15 seconds from the start of the move. It may not be the all out attack some people expect but it's effective and I can only see us improving.
We weren’t bad mate just not as good as we can be. It’s great to see us win when we aren’t firing on all cylinders. GTFI.
Cardiff 'win ugly' and are praised ... ... why is it any different for us. We weren't as clever against Cardiff and loast, we seem to be learning lessons as we go.
Maybe it was the plan to just win on Wednesday without exerting ourselves. If that was the plan we did it to perfection.
We didn't even win ugly. We won beautifully, just not at full speed. And, imo, not enough credit being given to Watford. The last 30 minutes they were awful, but I thought before that they weren't the worst team we've played
Boro fan I do some business with says their left back is so bad the other players won't pass to him even when he's got half a pitch to himself. Lad says he looks like he's been dragged out the crowd. He didn't like the sound of Roberts up against him
Blackburn showed how going at full speed can backfire on you. They went at us, became demoralised when it didn't work and ran out of energy and ideas. BTW, Ipswich play Preston tomorrow. If Preston lose or draw we can finish the day above them. Personally I'd settle for a Preston win, I don't want Ipswich to keep their momentum going. Is that daft? Leicester 10 9 0 1 15 27 Ipswich 10 8 1 1 10 25 Preston 10 6 2 2 0 20 Sunderland 10 6 1 3 12 19
Engel I think. Got hooked at HT v Sheff Wed and the RB had to come over to LB. Hope Roberts goes back out wide if he starts for them.
If he does play and they won't pass to him the press might be quite effective! Didn't realise he was subbed off, lad said there were massive cheers when someone passed to him after more than half an hour
The big RB they moved over to LB looked more like a CH tbh van der somethingorother. Their main threat will be Jones imo down the right wing. Whoever plays at LB for us will need to be bang at it, I'd move Huggins back over to LB for his pace and try and get overloads with Clarke down that side.
