Match Day Thread Sunderland AFC v Saudi State FC - FA Cup 3rd Round – Saturday 6th January 2024 - KO 12:45

When the carnage starts, it will be down to those SAFC clowns who signed this off as safe.. Not a cat in hells chance will there be no trouble inside and outside of the ground. They are the ones that will need to be brought to account.

 

One injury that’s all it takes, just a shame for the poor twat who might lose an eye.

 

I'm slightly encouraged that Roberts hasn't been mentioned, in the same way Cirking and Dack have been.

I think his value has been overshadowed by the lack of goals.

If he's fit I think he'll start, he did well in big games last season and could on Saturday.

 

I like Roberts and watching him with the ball can be mesmerising at times but apart from his lack of assists and goals this season, he's not that good at getting back and defending so even though he could hurt them we will need everyone to be on it when if comes to defending

 

we need everyone 100% for this so leave on bench if not 100% IMO

 

Yeah, know what you mean, can't understand booing a young lad like that. We are in the North Stand also normally but are as clise to them as possible I tkink in the North East corner (U31), which my 10 year and 11 year old grandsons are delighted with.

 

For me this Newcastle team isn't as good as the Fulham team we played last season. We took the game to them and maybe should've won it in the first match but we weren't overawed by them and I think we could do the same to these

 

Howe has a predicament on Saturday.

If this was a tie against Preston away he'd be playing half of the first team because of how they're slipping down the league.

Reaching the 4th round is no guarantee you'll win the cup so it's a match when you don't want to risk injuries ...

... especially as Newcastle already have the most injuries since D-Day.

But he daren't risk a pasting so he'll play the first team imo. A few 'wake up calls' from the likes of Hume will do one of two things imo.
It'll either enrage the Mags and make them lose their heads, which would suit us, or hesitate to risk their PL places ...

... all interesting stuff and I can't wait to see our team sheet, if Rigg's on it I'll laugh my head off.

 

I pray that there's no bother but my experience and head tell me that I 'm a fool to even think that....

 

I reckon Dan Neil and maybe O'Nien will let the others know what this game means to the area and have them wound up for it. Just hope we're not too wound up or run out of steam in the second half. If Ekwah plays we need to see him use his physique as well as his talent

 

I think my hesitancy on this one is down to not knowing how our squad will react to the atmosphere as probably only DN will have experienced it as a fan. If they revel in it we will have a chance if certain players puff their chests out we have a chance.
I think games like this can make a career and catapult people into stardom and that can weigh heavy on young shoulders but if players like Ekwah and Neil, Ballard and Hume really turn it on then Newcastle are in for a bumpy ride as I think Clark and Pritchard will love the atmosphere and soak it up but I do not know enough about Rusyn to know either way.
MB has the chance to cement himself in this 1 game and convince the fan base he is the right man for the job ( I think he is doing well so far ) by getting these boys ready both physically and mentally as the game may well be won or lost in players heads and not on the pitch.
Lastly if we do lose then it needs to be by playing well and not capitulating, by fighting for every 50/50 with a never say die attitude and that will be good enough for me.

 

I would play Rigg in this game personally. 100% I would start him and tell him to have the time of his life. Sometimes you have to trust the human side of football, more than the technical or data side. If he is flying in training I would have told him today he is in and get ready to become a hero.

 

I don't see the size of the crowd and atmosphere as a problem, we've had plenty of big games and only Boro saw us lose it.

We've had very tough games against the likes of Leeds and I wouldn't put them far behind Newcastle tbh.

Newcastle didn't enjoy Everton Bournemouth or Luton away ...

.... I hope they enjoy Saturday even less.

 

Just off the top of my head this but maybe we should try something different tactics wise. No doubt they would've had people watching us and set themselves up accordingly to counteract it. Maybe the same tactics that were used against Leeds and maybe man mark that cheating Brazilian in the middle

 

Won't be involved imo.

 

Anyone else agree we looked more threatening with Pritchard in that hybrid right / middle role?

Been quiet today, so thought I'd ask ​

 

Now you mention it Pritchard did look a bit threatening there. Do you think it will catch on?

 

It's getting closer to the 3 in midfield I think really would suit us

 

I spotted a change at Coventry game and pointed it out to my mate. They only time we have played someone in the pockets between the lines is when Pritchard plays, but in the Coventry game both Neil and Jobe were playing there when we had the ball coming forward