Match Day Thread Sunderland AFC v West Ham - Saturday 16th August 2025 - KO 15:00

Sunderland face West Ham United at the Stadium of Light in the Premier League.
Last time out Sunderland lost to Rayo Vallecano and West Ham drew with Lille Olympique Sporting Club.
The Black Cats return to the Premier League for the first time since 2017, an absence of 8 years.
Sunderland have signed defender Omar Alderete from Spanish side Getafe for £10.4m. The Paraguay international has agreed a four-year deal. Alderete is Sunderland's 11th signing of the summer, taking their total spend beyond £130m since their victorious play-off win at Wembley.

West Ham suffered just one defeat in their pre-season preparations, losing to Manchester United in the United States, while beating Grasshoppers, Everton and Bournemouth before defeating Lille on penalties at the weekend.
The Hammers finished last season in 14th position and have made 5 new signings with the most expensive being jean-Clair Todibo arriving from Nice for a fee in the region of €40m. El Hadji Malick Diouf has impressed during pre-season.

Regis le Bris:
“I liked the whole behaviour of the team, the squad, the players. Obviously today was a bit tougher because I think our opponent today was ready to go for La Liga and we had a team with different references and players. It wasn’t easy to find the right balance, but until the end they tried and I think that was the most important today.
We need time but we don’t have time because performance is needed, we can feel that the energy is positive, we know that the challenge will be tough and the gap to reach will be really important but at the same time our togetherness, our intensity, our desire to play for Sunderland will help.

Graham potter:
Our next match is against Sunderland in the Premier League, which is going to be a totally different challenge, but at the same time I was really pleased with the spirit of some of our attacking play, for sure.
I couldn’t have asked for any more in terms of how open and responsive the players have been to what we’ve been trying to do. Everyone’s been trying to connect - staff and players - and it’s a good feeling.
But we also know we’re going into the Premier League now and we have to regroup and focus again. There’s a week to go, and we’re all really looking forward to the match up in Sunderland.



Match Appointments:
Referee: Robert Jones
Assistant Referees: Nick Greenhalgh & Matthew Wilkes
Fourth Official: Anthony Taylor
Video Assistant Referee: Stuart Atwell
Additional Video Assistant Referee: Natalie Aspinall

Team Lineups:
Sunderland AFC: Roefe, Hume, Seelt, Ballard, Reinildo, Xhaka, Sadiki, Diarra, Talbi, Adingra, Mayenda.

Subs: Patterson, Huggins, Masuaku, Neil, Le Fée, Rigg, Roberts, Isidor, Guiu
Injured: O’Nien, Alese, Cirkin, Hjelde, Mundle,

West Ham United: Areola, Wan Bissaka, Aguerd, Todibo, Kilman, Diouf, Ward-Prowse, Potts, Paqueta, Bowen, Fullkrug.
Subs: Foderingham, Awesu, Walker-Peters, Alvarez, Mavropanos, Guilherme, Rodriguez, Soucek, Wilson.
Injured: Summerville

Betting Odds:
Sunderland 21/10 West Ham United 6/5 Draw 23/10

My two pence:
I’m fairly confident that RLB will go with the starting 11 against Augsburg, unless we break our transfer record before Friday morning.
KLD has certainly shown ambition with the new signings and clearly wants to stay in the Premier League.
I'm travelling up for this one and looking forward to meeting up with a few friends and will definitely be staying til the end

I’m going for a winning start, 2-1 to the greatest team the world has ever seen.

Live Stream:
<TBC>

Ha’way the Lads

 

Yessss @RTB been buzzing for this one since the playoff final

 

Now it gets real. Cracking thread @RTB

That tifo was just the start of a brilliant 2 games, let's make this one just as memorable.

Can wait to see the lads in action, think it will be tough but the lads to get off to a winning start 1-0 mayenda

 

Ah poopy pants it’s real!

 

Predicting a 1-1 draw and that would be a decent result imo. Bowen to score for West Ham

 

Well it's all very real now but it still hasn't hit me properly yet. Half expecting to wake up on Saturday and find out I was dreaming and we're actually playing Cheltenham or someone

I think we get off to a fast start and win 2-0. Adingra and Diarra with the goals.

 

Yes, Yes, Yes
HERE WE GO !!

 

2-1 win

 

A Mayenda brace seals a 2-1 win.

HAWAY

Bart

 

Beautiful sight as always, and thanks RTB for continuing your masterpiece match day threads.

I’m up a height.

It will be electric.

It’s winnable.

It’s meant to be canny weather.

I think we pinch a scrappy 1-0, either way let’s make it an occasion. Win, lose or draw I will remain in stadium to give the lads an applause off.

Ha’waaaaaaaaaaay

 

I think Mayenda will find his shooting boots and bag a goal.

Going for 2-1 to the lads.

Thanks for the usual excellent match day thread RTB! Very much appreciated mate.

 

Class this amazing these write ups you do. Cheers and HWTL 2-0 win

 

Absolutely buzzing for it! Still doesnt seen real.

2-0 the lads
Ballard
Adingra

 

Get yourself a fiver on that lad. Just price it 296/2 on SkyBet.

 

first premier league match thread can't wait for Saturday SOL will be rocking

going for a 2-1 win Haway The Lads

 

425/1 bet365!

 

2-1 looking popular.

11/1 on that.

 

Given the fact I was about to pie SkyBet anyway due to their horrific app update, and that I’ve always liked 365 for in play, I think this clinches 365 as my new home.

 

Diarra 7/1 for a shot on target outside the box. Excellent value after his strike on Saturday!