For what it’s worth, this would be my starting lineup for Saturday. With Clarke and Roberts to come on in the second half IF they are fit enough (as Roberts blatantly wasn’t on Monday). Ekwah was a complete passenger last game so needs replacing. Styles will at least have a bit more bite in there to take the pressure off Neil.
I like that but Dodds would be slated if he started like that imo. I think Clarke will start and so might Dack.
Clarke is a nailed on starter and I'm sure that MD will start Roberts again on the right, despite him not being fully fit. Got a feeling that AA will make way for Dack.
Cheers RTB. Hope the players see the efforts you go to and try to repay you. I think we need to see some changes. Ekwah has to drop out for me. I would play Styles in there to give us extra steel. Have to say I think Styles is a bit of a small bright spark currently. I would play Hume left back and ask Pembele to have a few games - lets see what he has to offer, it could be a lot. Ba in front of him for security because they are good out wide. Clarke should play left if fit. Sorry but Adil should sit out, he was a problem on Saturday off the ball and I would play Rigg in the 10. Jobe up front. I would go for Dack but he will be gone in the summer so there is no long term pay off sadly. Have to say I wish we could make a few more changes. I would be tempted to sit Neil out as he looked exhausted second half, but have we got anyone to play in there? If Evans is fit enough could he give us 55 and then Neil to come on? I would be tempted, and that comes from someone who thinks Neil is our most influential player. Result is tricky - they are a good side with a fine coach. Would take a defeat as long as the performance level is 100% better to be honest. I see goals, so 2-2 and a more positive outlook.
It depends what we want from the match tbh. Do we want a win. Do we want returning injured getting game time. Do we want to see if Evans should be kept. Do we want to give Pembele a run. I've absolutely no idea
Just booked my trains/metro/ticket for Saturday. Easier to do all this for Wembley, derby matches and the big games ... ... but true supporters turn up when it's hard to do so and the Lads need support. Some big noises, who live in Sunderland, might claim they care more but may not bother to walk that gruelling 15 minutes to the SOL. I'll be leaving home at 7.30am and might make it back for 10pm if I'm lucky ... ... Ha'way the Lads, Sunderland til I die.
Good write up and good team RTB. I actually thought our next game was away - I’ll be there but not sure my head’s ready for it yet! A few random thoughts- really hope Robert’s doesn’t play. Fit or not he doesn’t contribute enough for me. Wouldn’t mind seeing Evans return though to see if he can steady things. There are players who will try to make up for Monday like Dan Neil, Ekwah isn’t one of them. Rigg will always put a shift in. Crowd need to get behind them.
Bristol are a decent outfit and this will be another tough test, I hope that tactically we are set up better than on Friday and would hope that on field decisions are a lot better. I read what MD had to say and agree with some of it but to be fair he chose the team to start which after 10 minutes seemed wholly unprepared for the game and tactically unaware of their positions or duties (PR was like a lost kid). I do expect a response but as for a score prediction I really do not know what to expect. If I was putting a coupon on I would be looking at current form and may well take us to get beat, but I find it hard to tip my own side to get beat so would probably leave us off my coupon. That said if there is a response from the players then I think we may get a draw but at the moment it feels like a bit of a stretch
I think this is exactly how it should be. Support is more important in the tough times as when things are good it is easier to support.
It really makes me laugh when people say, "That's it, we've not been promoted, we're really disappointed and we're not renewing our SCs." Yeah, big f*cking deal ... ... don't renew when we've just been promoted and I might be impressed
Totally agree. The stepson and the stepson-in-law's family had season tickets for Hartlepool but they all knocked them on the head since they got relegated. It's the times when its tough that the support means more
Well. I got my wish a gig came in for a haven holiday park in the Lake District. So I’ll be driving over there on Saturday whilst the match is on!
