Match Day Thread Sunderland AFC v Real Betis FC - Saturday 2nd August 2025 - KO 15:00

  • Please bear with us on the new site integration and fixing any known bugs over the coming days. If you can not log in please try resetting your password and check your spam box. If you have tried these steps and are still struggling email [email protected] with your username/registered email address
  • Log in now to remove adverts - no adverts at all to registered members!

Your Prediction:


  • Total voters
    50
  • Poll closed .
Another solid half for the starters. Reinildo, Roefs and Xhaka all look comfortable. H.Jones is doing himself no harm at all this summer. Wide players look so raw, which can be a good or bad thing.

Only complaint is that I want more goal threat.
I think talbi looks the better and adingra is frustrating me by having loose touches and running in defenders but I will say pre season tempo is tough for wingers
 
Ballard and Hume being tagged as ‘not up to the PL’ which is ridiculously premature in my opinion. They’re both determined players, both young and both well regarded by Le Bris.

But, of course they don’t have that PL experience in the bank, they have to find that …

… I think both will improve rapidly.
Well they have done us proud today like the new goalie anarl
 
Ballard and Hume being tagged as ‘not up to the PL’ which is ridiculously premature in my opinion. They’re both determined players, both young and both well regarded by Le Bris.

But, of course they don’t have that PL experience in the bank, they have to find that …

… I think both will improve rapidly.
Both of them will be fine imo
 
Was discussing the other day about our midfield three and I like the look of it today. So many yards covered by them but xhaka just has that stand out quality. ELF a good alternative and something different though.

I like the two wide lads who we’ve signed, and of course it’s early days, but I do have a little worry they might not have the real quality to change games enough on the break (to be expected for talbi at his age). They all work hard off the ball mind and keep our shape.

Enjoyable first half against a strong side
 
Personally think diarra is playing well

that right hand side is good.

adingra is frustrating me, he looked shattered after 12 minutes and doesn’t look like he wants to get up and down the line

I’d like talbi to be tried off the left as looks comfortable coming inside but I’m liking his work rate and touches today.

Xhaka is a level above, reinildo looks composed. Shout out to Hume Ballard and Roefs too.

I think everyone has played well today so far except our left hand side, not judging jones he’s out of position but yeah adingra is frustrating a lot
Good summary. Adingra looks like he needs plenty of support from the crowd. A confident player has better touches and makes better decisions. The lack of a proper LB won’t be doing him any favours atm as well.
 
Yeah Talbi is the better player imo
My thoughts with talbi are

- his touch is class
- he’s wanting the ball all the time and making himself available
- is up and down the pitch defending and attacking with effort
- his passing is good
- he’s not taking his man on enough but he’s got diarra under lapping and Hume overlapping so it’s not a major issue here.

where as I don’t really think adingra is doing a lot of those things
 
Wry enjoyable they are a very good team hold the ball well just what we needed. But we have been very decent Xacka is going to be immense. Need another CB and we will be solid Starting to worry that scoring goals may be a problem though lovely football but end product missing. Think we might see a centre forward incoming
 
  • Like
Reactions: Makemstine Roger
Very pre-season(y) for me. Bit slow and measured by both sides. Fair enough, but wouldnt mind us trying to play a bit quicker through the lines.

Talbi has some ability, but I question his decision making at times. Couple of times today he has gone into trouble, and a couple he has tried things that werent on. When he keeps it simple and moves it quick he looks much better.

Standout for me is Reinaldo. Just looks a natural defender, great positioning, calm and can play a bit too. Xhaka done well, him and Sadiki a bit on top of each other at times, but that is easy fixed. Just a couple of steps away from one of them and they will be in good shape.

If Jones goes on loan then a decent championship team has to be the way. The lad looks good against serious opposition.

Lastly, I had forgotten how good Isco is. Could watch players like him all day long. Pure class.
 
Just watched the first half and to be honest I have Been impressed by the shape and the speed of thought by the players. The ball seems to be moving quicker and the passes seem less obvious than they were.
Don't get me wrong there are still some fine tuning to do over the next couple of weeks but from what I can see we seem organised and there have been flashes of what I think we will look like on opening day.
 
Talbi looks genuinely really good. I still think he’d suit the left better though. Adingra has underwhelmed but plenty of time for him to settle and improve.

I’d still like another established winger though
 
Adingra looks like he needs plenty of support from the crowd. A confident player has better touches and makes better decisions. The lack of a proper LB won’t be doing him any favours atm as well.
Yes 100% that might be a factor too mate but silly things like running into a man and loose first touches are frustrating

only pre season and we are targeting other wingers
 
Ballard and Hume being tagged as ‘not up to the PL’ which is ridiculously premature in my opinion. They’re both determined players, both young and both well regarded by Le Bris.

But, of course they don’t have that PL experience in the bank, they have to find that …

… I think both will improve rapidly.
I think Hume especially’s done well here.
Looking at how we’re lining up, unless it’s Rigg or Mayenda as a 10 I think we’ll be signing a more attacking acm/10 with depth further back in midfield. It might change if Guiu allows us to have Le Fee deeper but my call is that we’ll be getting someone there. Not saying Diarra has been poor but he doesn’t seem a clean fit there.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Smug in Boots