Its getting near that time of the week when we start looking at the weekend and team formation and players, an embarrassment of riches for Bruce to select from this weekend. With Welbeck scoring then coming on late yesterday he is fit and ready, Henderson scored so should be lifted and Gordon is still nursing that injury. All three of our Ghana boys must be on a high and Gyan is back on the scoresheet. Turner still out but Nedum is fit, first question is formation, 4-5-1/4-3-3/4-4-1-1 or my prefered option, 4-4-2. Muntari looked good on the left so does Bruce play him there or stick with his effective holding role? Mig should retain the keeper berth and Bardo and Bramble will start along with Mensah so is it Anton Elmo, Ned cant play? Must be Gyan and Welbeck up front but in what formation. For me it would be, Ming Anton..Bramble..Mensah..Bardo Sess..Hendo..Catts..Muntari Gyan..Welbeck
I'd go with: Mignolet Ferdinand - Bramble - Mensah - Bardsley Zenden - Cattermole Henderson - Sessegnon - Muntari Gyan Imperative Hendo, Sess & Sulley support Gyan more.
For me cyprus that team is argueably our best team but its obvious that we are lacking any strength at the full-back positions with Anton not a right-back and Bardo playing out of position. Also I like Muntari on the left as it would give us some natural width as he is a lefty, however his pace has to be questioned but he can deliver some service for Gyan, which we lacked against Liverpool
I would like to see our midfield starting Steed Cattermole Muntari Sess with Gyan & Welbeck up front. I have nothing against Henderson (he scored a good goal down there last year) but i think he will benefit from a rest from the starting 11 & i would bring him on if needed. He did score for u21's & that would have helped him alot but i think Cattermole & Muntari would give us a stronger central midfield pairing, City have a good midfield, we could probably go Welbeck Muntari Cattermole Henderson Sess & have Gyan upfront. 4-5-1 when they have the ball & a 4-3-3 when we hit them on the break
I'm a believer in looking at who we are playing and setting up a side to nullify the threats, and exploit the opportunities they have/present. Citeh are playing very much in the "Italian style" under Mancini, terrible football to watch imo, but effective. For me we have to compete f2f in CM against De Jong/Viera, etc, so Catts and Muntari in there with either Hendo or Elmo wide right and Sess or Steed wide left. Gyan up front with Welbeck just behind. Ferdinand is the better defender than Elmo at RB so Anton, Bramble, Mensah and Bardo across the back. Citeh have a wealth of talent - particularly out wide, but their full backs are vulnerable and providing we can match up against them and get to the byeline I reckon we can cause them problems. Main thing whatever side we turn out is for SB to get their heads up and play like we know they can.
Well with the injured players starting to come back we once again have options, Citeh do not have a carol in there side so the problems we have with aerial attacks should not prove too costly. Also whilst 442 would seem OK we are desperate for points so I would prefer 451, I think 44 points are needed and we have been on a very poor run and the lack of spirit and heads down attitude against Pool was very worrying together with the lack of chances, what a contrast against Blackpool. Of course we are mercurial in that we play awful one game then brilliant the next but any players who has the towels on the beach atm is a shade previous. Also the ref, not heard who it is yet but we must be due a change of fortune, would love 3 points but will take 1.
I like it, but Ming Bardo..Bramble..Anton..Ricco (or Nedum?) Sess..Hendo..Catts..Muntari Welbeck..Gyan I think Richardson did really well in that position last season and I don't see the link-up play with Catts and Muntari, but with Ricco's speed and recent goal scoring ability it could well work Also Bardo should do better on his preferred side too imo. Finally switch Welbeck with Gyan to let the 2 Ghanaians work together ...it looks good to me whoever we play
I would go with Mig Anton(Ned if not illegible) Bramble...Mensah...Bardo sess...cattermole...Muntari...Richardson Welbeck...Gyan
Sunderpitt, you say they do not have a Carroll in their side but surely Dzeko is a similar mould and would cause our defence a few problems
If he isn't dropped he is going to have to step up to the plate against De Jong and Co. I don't rate Barry at all, looked good in his younger years at Villa but never improved IMHO. We have to play 2 up top, having Gyan on his own plays into defenders hands as they can gang up. Lets be fair Lescot is a water carrier at best. Also England improved over the last two games because they weren't so regimented, passing and moving AND closing down as a team! Cappello had them watching Barca games it seems, showing them how hard Barca work off the ball. That's what I want for Sunderland, the team playing with freedom but willing to cover each others backs. It only takes one player not giving a 100% and it will break down.
