Match Day Thread Coventry City v Sunderland AFC – Play-off Semi Final 1st Leg - Friday 9th May 2025 - KO 20:00

I can’t even watch tomorrows game booked a trip away months in advance without checking dates cos I’m a moron, tried everything to get out of it, on the plus side Ive only not been able to watch 2 games all this season West Brom away and sheff wed at home, maybes it’s lucky I can’t!

 

I will be doing something different tonight, dont usually watch other teams, but I will be watching Sheff united , v Brizzle, just to get an idea who we will be playing in the final.

2-0 to the lads in the first leg, have that ! you Jimmy loving vile accented cretins

 

Just 2 more RTB, just 2 more. Thanks for them all.

This game, and Tuesday is all about us. Coventry may or not hurt us, but it really does all depend on how we play and whether our big big players are at the top of their game. Games like these are about desire and a will to win. Do you want a place in Sunderland history? It is there for you, just 3 games. Just 3 massive efforts and 3 peeformances that are in your gift.

I think we have to exert ourselves from the off. Coventry will want to dominate but we musnt let them. Push them back, make them defend. A couple of early tackles, leave a bit in. We must, in the first 20 minutes, stand up and show we will dominate physically our 1v1s. Take a little away from them. I really hope Watson plays and we make him our wildcard. Get him running hard at their full back and turn their entire defence around. Have Jobe bursting the box and make the midfield retreat 10 yards. Lets see Cirkin and Hume going behind their wingers and really stretching the pitch. So many avenues for us to make Coventry back peddle. I want them looking at Lampard asking WTF.

Big players need to play big games. Mepham has to hold the back line together. He has to dominate their forwards but also make sure the spaces are right. I think that has been an issue recently. He is a talker so talk. Trai can raise us all with a tackle or a cross. Do it, dont be shy lad, a big yellow that has us all on out feet can be as good as a brilliant attacking move sometimes. Read the pitch and give the lads a lift if needed. Dan has to sit and see the full 360, that is where his real talent lies. He needs to keep rotating the ball. At times just slow it down and play side to side, then ping one wide or zip into the 10. Lead through example and bravery on the ball lad. Le Fee has to be centre. Find some space for Dan to pick you out. Drag defenders about, pick those passes, win those free kicks. Jobe needs to boss everyone physically, and get in their faces. Make the extra man in the box. Then Mayenda, turn and run at them. Get shots off at will, test that keeper. Bully the centre halves, be physical and smash a couple.

Everything needs tempo and desire. If we do these things we win. I cant see Coventry coping with all we can offer. Easy eh. Haway the lads.

 

Thanks mate

 

I choose to believe the last few games have been treated like a pre season, and we'll perform in the playoffs like how we started the season and in 3 weeks' time we'll all be proclaiming RLB a genius

 

If this is true I hope we sit deep and keep tight and just launch Wilson through balls all game and take a draw or a cheeky 1-0 win to the SOL

 

Would be ridiculously harsh on Mayenda if Isidor was selected ahead of him IMO

 

Id honestly try to find a way to get them both central. Teams have shat themselves with them 2 running at them previously and I think Lampard or their defence wouldn't know what to do.

 

Agreed. I’d be tempted to go

Patterson
Mepham - Ballard - O’Nien
Hume - Jobe - Neil - Cirkin
Le Fee
Mayenda - Isidor ​

 

I think that's the team I said I'd play the other day as well. Plays to all our strengths IMO. Strong at the back, 2 good full backs who like to get forward and can cross a ball, Le Fee central and 2 pacy forwards up top. Love it!

 

Absolutely no chance we switch to a back 3 for the first time all season for the first play off game.

 

Lampard is known for becoming confused by mind games in big matches ...

... why announce Mundle won't play or where people are likely to play.

Coventry will become more nervous up to kick off because they probably know they're not as good as their results suggest ...

... and we're not as bad as ours suggest.

All the pressure is on them so let's keep them guessing then attack them on their own pitch.

 

I'm asking people today mate, let me know if you get sorted.

 

Sure when we switched to a back 3 ironically against these at home is when the game went to **** for us too

 

Thanks Smug, I will update if sorted, cheers mate, are you down for this?

 

Can't make it mate, we have a big garden party on Saturday so it's the TV for me.

 

No bother mate, will see you at Wembley

 

You did mate and thats the team for me, its a back 3 but could easily morph into a 5, this is the team we should have been playing for weeks its so strong and makes best use of all our fit and able players imo .

 

If the Sunderland team turns up that dominated teams in the 1st half of the season then we should win comfortably over the 2 legs, we have players back and have coasted through recent games so I see a totally different performance on Friday, these lads know the platform is there if they want it enough to perform in the premier league and I think we will do it. 1-1 tomorrow and finish the job off on Tuesday. Enjoy it everyone