OK, here we go again, the games are coming thick and fast during this rather crazy period. After Tuesday nights battling, relatively encouraging, but ultimately fruitless loss at home to Burnley on Tuesday night we now face the long trek for a trip to the Stadium Of Light – no, sadly we’re not jetting off to Lisbon in Portugal to visit Benfica but rather the more humble surrounds of Wearside and Sunderland, but hey, it’s spring, the sun has been shining so it can’t be all grim up there can it? Luke O'Nien can't hide his hilarity at the news that Swansea were showing a serious interest in his team mate! Who Are You? Despite being a relative unknown when he was appointed back in June (unless you are a keen follower of French football) Régis Le Bris has been doing a surprisingly good job with the Mackems, guiding them into contention for automatic promotion for quite some time, however, a few shaky performances and results have seen that automatic challenge slide slightly but the Black Cats do remain in very firm contention for a play-off spot at least. When you take into account they have the youngest starting 11 in the division (usually) with an average age of just 23 years old and have already surpassed last seasons points tally of 56 points, it really has been a positive season for the Wearside outfit. Le Bris’s record overall returns a 48.6% win rate from 37 games – a good number for sure but that number jumps when accounting for just league games to 51.4% Top scorer for Sunderland (by same way) is Frenchman Wilson Isidor, their signing from Zenit Saint Petersburg. With 12 goals in 32 and a goal conversion rate of 16% he ranks pretty highly amongst the divisions best (though not as good as our own Callum Robinson I might add). Next on the ‘hot shot’ list comes Spaniard Eliezer Mayenda with 6 from 27. The 2023 signing arrived in a reported £1 million move from Sochaux. Let’s hope that if he plays he can do little to stop us winning eh! There are then a handful of players on 4 goals apiece including the reportedly much sought after Jobe Bellingham – the younger brother of England regular and Madrid star Jude. Other familiar names in the side are Welsh International Chris Mepham (on loan from Bournemouth), Ex-Bluebird stopper Simon Moore, long serving club captain Luke O’Nien and ex-Man City youngster Partick Roberts. Their regular shot stopper is academy product Anthony Patterson. Last Time Out & Form Last time out saw the Black Cats take all 3 points on the opening day of the season at the CCS. In a game that that saw the Bluebirds dominate possession but where everything else was pretty much even stevens, the visitors came out on top thanks to some more assured finishing than we were able to display. Form wise Sunderland have looked a little shaky over the last 6, losing 2 and drawing 1 within that spell, including a shock 1-0 reverse at home to Hull in their last game at the Stadium Of Light. Last time out for them saw a 2-1 win on the road at Sheffield Wednesday who themselves have struggled in recent weeks, picking up just 1 win in their last 5 (at Swansea). Overall Sunderland have the 4th best attack in the division with 52 goals from their 35 games as well as the joint 4th best defence (32 conceded). At home they have the 3rd best record, picking up 10 wins from their 17 home games with just 1 defeat in the league all season on their own patch (that being the shocker against Hull), so another very tough test awaits our boys for sure, although it should be noted we have actually won in each of our last 3 visits to the So (and 4 of our last 5) so who knows, maybe the Black Cats are a lucky omen for us? In, Out Or No Sign Of Them About After our midweek defeat, whereby I think it was unanimous across the board that our starting 11 wasn’t quite right, it’s pretty obvious that we’ll see some changes from that line up. Adding to the existing injury list by all accounts is Andy Rinomhota with a hamstring issue. He joins longer term absentees; Jak Alnwick (hamstring – done for the season) Jesper Daland (shin injury/stitches) Ollie Tanner (foot fracture) and David Turnbull (still returning to fitness) Apparently though Leicester loanee Will Alves IS now back in contention but although I’ve not seen anything, there must also be doubts about Sivert Mannsverk after his clash of heads? Predicted Starting 11 Horvath Ng Fish Goutas Bagan Ralls Chambers O’Dowda Salech Robinson/Rambo/Colwill Alves The Odds Bods This guy is on fire when it comes to popping the odds up! Match Day Melody I don’t know about you guys but I’m curious as to how we’ll get on against the cats? I’m hoping we can bring them back down a bit by snatching all 3 points again! C'mon the City..... Blooooooooooooooooooooooooobirds!!!
Marvelous work there Brizzle and as usual, a great read. I've always had a soft spot for the Black Cats born out of a few visits to Roker Park. Fantastic supporters and I'm sure the chairmen of all championship clubs will be sorry if they leave the division. Far and away the biggest side in our division. I think if Riza gets it right, we may have enough to trouble them otherwise we're in for a mauling. Let's at least give it our best shot. Bloooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooobirds
Lovely thread again Brizzo. Despite differences of opinion on here, we all want the same thing - the variance really only arises from how we should achieve it. So what do we have to do tomorrow to get something tangible from Sunderland rather than just pats on the back for a "jolly good show chaps - but you lost". Go there with a couple of "safe Joes" (Nin ) in the middle of the park put in there to keep an unlikely point, or take a more expansive (risky?) approach with a combo the likes of Colwill/Alves/Ashford/Davies/ Robbo/Salech fielded to try to take them apart? I don't think many up there or indeed down here expect us to get anything from the game, and that could be the ace in the hole for Riza. Personally, I'd like to see Colwill start (no, I'm not joking ) because this is just the sort of game against a good footballing side he could influence. If he's given space like at Villa by a side that thinks they've got this - he could be a match winner. There, I've said it now.
As easy as it is to try the 'safety' first approach, to be honest it's rarely served us well this season and we've tended to be better when we're going for it in my humble opinion. Granted we've had exceptions earlier in the season where we got hit with sucker punches when chasing games but generally, with some of the ability we have in the side now, I honestly believe we can give anyone in the division a decent game. The one proviso though is the starting players need to be 'on it' from the off.... We've shown time and again how much we struggle if just one or two players are off the pace..
It's a 100 minute game these days and you've got to be aware of it from the off - but that doesn't mean pacing it until something happens to change your plans. Management decisions from the touchline are key, now so more than ever. Replacing players at the right time and for the right reasons is an essential skill of game management. Getting that right is as important, if not more than the starting selections - the game now is played on the hoof. Riza needs to earn his corn in this respect.
please can you get one of your lads to two-foot that $rsehole O'nien???? bloke is a thug and shouldn't be on a footy pitch.
He's a bit of a short arse for a centre back but he puts himself about. We'll have a word with Youseff to see if he can step on him for you. EDIT - incidentally we had a guy a bit like him at CB when we went up first time called Gary Medel.
Read somewhere the last five fixtures between these clubs have been away wins; 3 by them. I see we’re 21/4 to keep that run going
Self inflicted oversleep as a result of misreading the middle word of Sparkeys thread "The Run In" Good morning to you too and all my fellow, magnificent, positive Bloooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooobirds
Cardiff City: Horvath, Ng, Goutas, Bagan, O'Dowda (C), Mannsverk, Chambers, Colwill, Davies, Robinson, Salech. Substitutes: Turner, Fish, Lawlor, Giles, Mafico, Robertson, Willock, Alves, Ashford.
Not sure anyone would have predicted that starting X1 in a 100 go’s. Young Mafico gets a place on the bench
Doing ok so far after yet another early setback. Nice to see Davies on the score sheet. If we can come away with a point or more that'll be a decent result for sure. Long way to go though. C'mon City... Other results could yet go out way too with a bit of luck despite some iffy looking starts.
I've given up trying to work it out. And even when you see the list if names, the next challenge is how they line up. Nice to see Davies on the score sheet. Wherever he's playing.
Bugger, looks like my optimism was a tad premature eh??? Sounding like we are now under the cosh a bit and Derby still hanging on with their lead whilst the bloody Wurzels struggle against 10 men Hull too!
