Don't really want to move Mayenda from the striker position but i'd be willing to if it meant getting Roberts out of the team.
Fully expecting the same front 3 as the weekend would kill us as a threat on the counter though unless mayenda can pull another maradona out his arse
We will need to match Coventry’s physicality, which I think was a key reason they got the better of us in the away game. Shame that Ballard isn’t fully fit yet. It leaves us short on the bench but a starting front three of Watson, Wilson and Mayenda looks tempting.
Coventrys weakest player is their left back, Jake Bidwell. It'll more than likely be Roberts starting on the right for us, if he can't produce then he's done. No excuses, no bullshit about being double marked, no bullshit about dribbling. Time to **** or get off the pot.
Going to need the fans more than ever for this. The away leg is going to be as tough as an environment as it will get but we’ve had some good experiences that we need to use to stay in the tie. Luton away, boro away, Burnley away, sheff u away, Leeds away. All differing results but tough moments that we dealt with on the whole well. The home tie these lads will need the fans and we have to do our part the best we have in years. Been a tough couple of months but still on the verge of something special for the club, we need the SOL deafening and stay with the team for as long as we have a chance of getting through.
If we’re being realistic Roberts will start for sure. I hope Le fee is central and that might give him a bit of support that Rigg hasn’t given him. Even if Roberts can make a bit of space for Hume to get deliveries in, that will do, Roberts does work hard defensively which could be crucial. thought about it and I’d start mayenda on the left and Isidor up front. Should get more options in the box when Roberts/Hume have it. And mayenda can create on his own which Isidor needs. Getting nervous now like haha
It’s not just Roberts, the whole team has to step up. He's had Rigg and Hume, on his side, who’ve been holding back recently, Hume especially. He's become good at fierce tackles that stop short of a yellow. If he can get over the halfway line Rigg and Hume suddenly look better. It’s building up to be a great set of games in my opinion.
Just watched the extended highlights of the 3 nowt at their place. Wright was clinical, but we gifted possession centrally far too easily. Cirkin with a throw in to Neil that bounced at chest height for the first and Patrick Roberts for the third (Patterson made it very easy by rushing off his line here imo). Any problems we did cause mainly went through Mayenda particularly when we got him running at their defence. He’s a must start and preferably as the forward, although I can see the case of him coming in for an ineffective PR.
Watson in the left for me. He’s direct and improved loads since he got stick away from home. I’d have ELF in place of Rigg and swap Jobe and Dan Neil back to where they should be.
We have to go for it, none of this patient build up and passing left to right at the back. No defenders just standing there with their foot on the ball waiting to the simply pass it to the full back. High press, quick football is what we are best at.
If ever Dan Neil needed to show up and be the captain this is it … … he’s been so low-key recently and not affecting games in any area of the pitch. When you have Isidor making endless runs he has to be hit quickly, endless side footed passes just give defences time to settle into their shape. I’m hoping he gives Enzo the ball because Isidor will already know where the ball is going.
this fortune favours the brave, I can take losing Christ we’re Sunderland fans we’ve seen plenty of it over the years, just ****ing go for it we’re playing no one elite let’s just get in their faces and have a right go at them from the off
I agree, if its a choice of wilson or mayenda I'd take Mayenda, however I think wilson with Mayenda on the right is stronger than Mayenda with Roberts on the right. Our middle 3 has to be Le Fee, Jobe and Dan Neil
I’d feel more comfortable against Cov with Ballards physicality if I doubt he’s ready for that. I think have to go at them
What's Seb doing? From the Echo... Jobe Bellingham was snapped talking with fellow former Birmingham City favourite Sebastian Larsson at the Academy of Light this week Larsson joined Sunderland on a free transfer in June 2011 after leaving Birmingham City, where he had won the League Cup under Alex McLeish. The Swedish international midfielder was brought in by then-manager Steve Bruce and quickly became a key figure in the squad. Known for his set-piece ability, Larsson made an immediate impact in his debut season, scoring on his Premier League debut for Sunderland against Liverpool in August 2011. During the 2011–12 campaign, he finished as the club's joint top scorer in the league with seven goals. Larsson remained a regular starter over several seasons and played under multiple managers, including Martin O’Neill, Paolo Di Canio, Gus Poyet, and Sam Allardyce. He played a crucial role in Sunderland’s successful relegation battles, particularly during the 2013–14 and 2015–16 seasons. His stamina and commitment in midfield earned him praise from fans and managers alike. The Swede was also part of the Sunderland team that reached the Carabao Cup final at Wembley in 2014 In total, Larsson made 203 appearances for Sunderland across all competitions, scoring 14 goals during his six-year spell at the Stadium of Light. He left the club in 2017 after their relegation from the Premier League and went on to join Hull City, and then Swedish club AIK, where he won a league title. The 39-year-old has since retired from professional football and recently returned to the Academy of Light ahead of Sunderland’s play-off campaign. The former international was filmed by the club talking to Jobe Bellingham, who started his career at Birmingham City before moving to the Black Cats, after training. Larsson was also pictured in conversation with team captain Dan Neil and Black Cats boss Régis Le Bris as the club prepares to embark on a play-off campaign. Larsson was also presented to the crowd ahead of Sunderland’s game against QPR.
