I have a sneaky feeling this is going to be a lot tougher than on paper. They’ve just dug in against Boro and it’ll be carbon copy against us. Hope I’m wrong about all that mind. I reckon another 0-1 Clarke special
So would I, I'd like to see him get a start out wide on his natural foot and see how he does. I fancy we'd see a lot of whipped balls in and good work rate up and down the wing. Is the game definitely not on the red button?
I’d love to see Pritchard or Aouchiche start as a 10 behind Rusyn. Not necessarily in this game, just at some point. I think they’d complement each other nicely. As for predictions, I expect a tough draw at best personally. Wish I shared other posters’ optimism but I think there’s a few underestimating Rotherham at their place. They’ve held Leeds and Ipswich there.
Michael Beale explains what he wants from Sunderland side at Rotherham https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/s...ale-explains-wants-sunderland-side-rotherham/ By Scott Wilson MICHAEL BEALE has challenged his Sunderland players to show consistency as well as character when they travel to Rotherham United for their final game of the year tomorrow…. Beale felt the display ticked one of the boxes on his wanted list, but the new head coach now wants to see evidence that his side can become more consistent in the second half of the season. While Rotherham might prop up the Championship table, they proved their mettle by beating Middlesbrough on Boxing Day. “I’m absolutely delighted with the mentality and character the players showed (at Hull),” said Beale. “That is a big, big positive for me moving forward that they did that. “The big thing for me now is that we need consistency. In the first half of our season, we’ve won ten and lost ten, so it’s clear that we can beat anyone but on our off day, anyone can beat us. On the first game of our second-half of the season if you like, that’s a big positive, but we must back it up at Rotherham. “We have to recover, and how we prepare for this next game is really important. Again, the inconsistency tells me we can’t get too high or too low. We had two really good results (against West Brom and Leeds), we had two defeats (against Bristol City and Coventry). Now, we’ve had another big result (against Hull), and we’ve got two league games then we can take a deep breath. It’s important we keep this going.” Beale made a couple of changes to his side against Hull, bringing in Jenson Seelt for the injured Niall Huggins and replacing Abdoullah Ba with Bradley Dack, who went on to pick up an injury himself, but initially at least, the former Rangers and QPR boss appears reluctant to make wholesale alterations to either tactics or personnel. That could change as time goes on, though, once Beale’s knowledge of his squad increases. “I’ve got some ideas coming in, but I’ve not had time to implement (them),” he said. “There’s been a couple of small changes that people will start to see. “As a coach, I hope the players take their chance, but I do have a queue of people behind me that want a chance under a new head coach. “They feel they’ve got a better quality in a better area than they’ve shown Sunderland fans so far. That’s a good thing, that we’ve got people dying to get on, jumping to get on the pitch.”
TBF. They have only won 3 at home all season and are rock bottom of the league. It should be somewhere we go and impose and dominate. Has to be 3 points. Anything else would be a poor result.
I don't think anyone's taking Rotherham for granted tbh but they have a threadbare squad and run themselves ragged against Boro. A win would just be 3 points and looking forward to Preston ... ... a defeat would be a real blow. In reality we have to be confident of winning there, we're a better team so why shouldn't we be. I didn't expect Beale to jump in and make sweeping changes but I'm expecting to see us move towards having a striker on the pitch regularly. I'd like to have seen Mayenda and Rusyn at Rotherham but I doubt we'll see two up front for some time.
Many thanks once again RTB love the old match day thread, I think we should have a proper striker on the pitch we need to pick one and stick with it get some minutes into them and hopefully start to see more goals I’m gona plump for 3-0 to lads hopefully with a couple from the chosen striker,enjoy the day out all that’s going safe journey and bring me a nice little 3 points present back COME ON
Big fan of that team, let’s be solid first and foremost, win the midfield and let our talent at the top end of the pitch do the business
Good interview. Clearly giving lads not getting a game a big hint he is willing to to bring them in as he learns about them. Hopefully gives some a boost to push harder for a place. I think we may see Rusyn in for this one. Thanks again RTB, another belter.
Have to rotate for this one imo but also a must win so tricky to manage. Wouldn’t mind a few of our better players not playing 3 times in 7 days before the derby. They normally score at home and have taken points from good teams there this season so no pushovers at all but I think an early goal from us will open the game up and we’ll put a few past them.
Patto Pembele O'Nien Ballard Hume Neil Jobe Roberts Aouchiche Clarke Rusyn Harsh on Seelt and I would consider him at centre back especially with suspension concerns for both Ballard and O'Nien but I think we will dominate the ball and Pembele would give us more of a threat going forward. Aouchiche has to start. I like Jobe a lot but for me he is either a box to box midfielder or a target man, not a 10. Aouchiche for 65 minutes then Pritch for 25. Perfect game for a forward to get off the mark as we will have all of the ball and should create plenty of chances.
New manager and they've seen some improved performances. Lucky to beat Boro but are decent at home (only lost 5) We never seem to do well down there
Seelt would start for me, they are a big physical side so think he would be important for us My team would be Patto Seelt ballard o9 hume Neil ekwah Adil pritch clarke Rusyn Don't think theres a chance thatll be the team be Im def keen on pembele starting soon tho, think preston would be ideal for him
