please log in to view this image With 48 hours to go the only thing on my mind is this game. A mixture of excitement, expectation and nerves is overwhelming me so god knows how I will be tomorrow. In my opinion we have two of the best British managers in the game today coming head to head, two teams that share so much and it's that along with the obvious reward that makes this such a big game. Will both teams be up for it, do we need to ask? A evening game under the floodlights, 7000 away fans and 40,000 mackems, the South Stand a sea of blue and the rest an ocean of red and white. Get through this and I honestly believe the cup will be ours, Liverpool we can beat and in the final I fear nobody, this is our hardest game, our date with destiny. I don't see O'Shea making it but expect to see Bardo back and after Saturdays performance aback 4 of Bardo,Turner,The Greek and Bridge give me confidence. In midfield I expect to see both Larsson and Cattermole back, Maclean looked on fire on Saturday and whoever takes that 4th spot I'm happy with, all three of Colback, Gardner and Vaughan can consider themselves unlucky to be left out. Up front we find our secret weapons in Sess and Bendtner, yes I do mean Sess and Bendy. Love Bendy or hate him he has scored 3 in 4, puts himself about, holds the ball, picks out a good pass, most of the time, and is starting to form a partnership with Sess. I'm only pleased that Moyes did not buy Ameobi in January, the thought of him and Cayhill would finish me off so we only have Mr Cayhill to look out for. I'm not expecting a flowing game of football because the tension and prize will kill that, I am expecting to have serious finger nail damage by the end of it all and I am hopefully if not fully confident of a trip to Wembley. Build up, injury news, team news and just good old fashioned letting those nerves out to follow.
Did you make that spread? Looks like you have went all out! But I'm looking forward to this match sooo much! I wish I could be at the match! The year I go away Sunderland start performing! But I agree with everything you have said. With regards to 'Bendy' I am starting to like him. Like you say 3 in 4, he puts him self about, his link up play is good and personally I think he has an awesome touch. For 4million would you take him? Also imagine a front two of Cahill - Ameobi against us, we would get destroyed...
120 minutes of frantic football, followed by the dreaded pens........... Now justice will be done if it's 5-4 to Sunderland on pens.....up steps Cahill to keep them in it, and woosh he skys it...
Bit of an epic read, but worth it imo... Getting into the spirit and all that... http://roker-roar.com/pauldays/navbar/1973.html
To a certain extent the team picks it self with McBardo Catts and Larsson all coming back in. As Syd says who partners Catts (assuming he is picked to subdue Fellatio) is interesting, Gardner was good on Sat, Frankie was so so and Jack had a good game. TBH I would be happy with any of them. I guess Sess behind Bendy and Campbell to come on as sub. Bench will be Gordon, 2 of the 3 midfielders not picked to start, Campbell, Killgallon, Ji and ??
personally I would go with... ------------------ Mignolet ------------------ Bardsley -- Kyrgiakos ----- Turner ----- Bridge ----- Gardner --- Cattermole --- Colback ----- -- Sessegnon ---- Bendtner ------- McClean -- subs Kilgallon Gordon Larsson Vaughan Richardson??? is he fit if not Meyler Wickham Campbell
I'd be playing Colback every game right now, getting better & better (and I had serious reservations at the start of season). The Mig Bardo, Tina, Soti, Bridge Seb, Colback, Catts, McLean Sess Bendtner
The sun is shining accross wearside today and I'm looking forward to this cup game with more enthusiasm than I have in many a year. In recent years I would have rather watched a premier league game as opposed to a cup game but with Martin O'Neill now guiding our club, the cup has that magical feeling once again. Also, Bendtner is looking a lot sharper than he did several months ago. Mignolet Bardsley Kyrgiakos Turner Bridge Larsson Gardner Cattermole McClean Sessegnon Bendtner Gordon Kilgallon Vaughan Colback Campbell Wickham
Delighted to here its sunny, it's patchy here, be a bit odd leaving Marbs for Wearside and finding better weather! I am actually bursting for this game, I don't care about admitting it! Last time I was this up for a game was the 2-1 win over the rabble.
Got my gear on the spare bed now so as not to get tied up looking for it when I get in tomorrow night about 6ish, got that matchday tingly feeling already. We should be slight favourites for this one being at home but, there'll not be much in it. Think Bardo will be back and O'Shea (hopefully) then it's where do you play Catts or do you play Catts? p.s, Wasn't there for that one syd but, our boy was right under the Hylton Castle banner got me a programme from the game.
