Match Day Thread Sunderland AFC v Aston Villa - Sunday 21st September 2025 - KO 14:00

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Just thought it worth mentioning something about the three home games so far, and in fact a lot of games last season.

We now have a team that really enjoys playing at the SOL, which has by no means always been the case.

Playing there needs big characters, players who welcome the noise and fever the ground can bring. Players who get a visible lift from the support instead of shrinking under the weight of it. It is really something to see and is a seriously powerful advantage when the two work together. They are worth getting a sore throat for, and we are worth the effort they put in.

Whatever happens, this lot are frightened of no-one. So there is no reason why we should be,
 
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Outstanding performance that mind.

Reinildo was stupid and deserved to get sent off. It's not that long ago, our heads would have dropped and we'd have gone through the motions and probably lost that.

Felt sorry for Rigg having to come off to set the 10 men up as he was playing well. The rest of them took it in their stride and still kept battling even when going a goal down to manage to come back and gain the point. That shows how much we've grown and how much positivity and determination there is around the team now. Things we have been lacking in recent seasons.

Special mention to Xhaka. He was constantly talking to players, telling them where they needed to be and what they needed to do. We've been crying out so long for an organisational captain. I'm so glad he came to us.

Lovely meeting everyone before the match. It was nice chatting.
 
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rowley said:
Ref was useless. At one point when we were attacking, the ball went behind, he gave a goal kick and then changed his mind to a corner!

I think he will claim that on the Maatsen one, that the ball was not in play though I think he was just frightened of himself and the atmosphere. It wasn't your typical sterile PL telly game!
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that's without the time in the second half when Martinez caught the ball had to release it after the 8 second rule, threw it up in the air and caught it again???? Foul move or amerringue?
 
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TopCat. said:
Quick mention for Chris Rigg. Thought he looked very bright in the half an hour he got and was unlucky to get hooked when Reinildo got sent off
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He was excellent in his half hour, and would have got better probably. He has awesome technique, a bit of dog in him, gets around really well and has the vision and touch only a very few are blessed with. And he is barely 18! I was chuffed to bits when he signed his new big deal.

As sure as you can be about anything, this lad is going to the top.
 
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WorkyTicketFTM said:
Worth noting there’s been a lot of talk around AFCON - wasn’t many africans in the team today. Sadiki will be the obvious miss and Talbi in my opinion was probably the worst player on the pitch for us(minus Reinaldo) I think we’d be just fine coping without him for a few games.

FWIW I do think Talbi shows glimpses but he’s far too soft and is really lacking confidence, he goes back more than he goes forward. No doubt he will grow into the season though.
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No way for me, Talbi put in a hell of a shift today
 
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CR17 said:
No way for me, Talbi put in a hell of a shift today
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He done a fair bit of defensive work but on the ball he was sloppy and looked scared to run at his man most of the time. Shrugged off the ball far too easy a few times too
 
Thought the team was absolutely immense today every one of them. Didn't really see what Reinildo was sent off for at the match but seen it since I got home - as Captain Mainwaring used to say - "Stupid boy!".

Thought Rigg was growing into the game but he was the substitution I thought would come off. The back 3 absolutely kept Villa at bay but thought Roeffs was unlucky with the goal, he got a hand to it but just couldn't keep it out.

Sadiki was all over the shop, thought Talbi had a good game and how good was it to see Hume wipe Rodgers out?

I was also pleased to see Neil come on at the end and Xhaka just giving him pointers on where to go.

A fully deserved point, Villa were shocking considering the players they have. Another game where we haven't looked out of place in this league
 
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