Will Fletcher play?

Personally I hope not. There is no reason to rush him back with too much expectation on him to score and win games. Its a sure fire way of him breaking down again and we don't need that. I think Wickham has earned the shirt for starting line up today and between him and Jozy, they need to show they can keep Fletch on the bench.

If things go well, or transversely poorly of course, then we can maybe look to the bench for a 15 min/20 min cameo run out for our talisman striker and ease him back into the fold gently.


Over the next 36 games + cup games of course, we are going to need Fletcher to be fit for the most he can and over the next few weeks we have the most testing time on our season with some real humdingers coming up home and away and every player will have to be at his best to give us a chance of emerging still intact and not at the wrong end. I rate Fletcher above all at the club but tbf, Wickham looks like he has finally grown up under PDC and I just like the look of Jozy full stop. He is my kind of centre forward in the Cyril Regis mould of pace power and physically imposing. He will get goals this season I'm sure of it.

Probable line up later today IMO :

Westwood

Čelůstka, JOS, Diakite, Colback

Johnson, Larsson, Gardner, Giacherinni

Wickham, Altidore

Subs: Manonne, Roberge, Karlsson, Ba, Fletcher, Ji, Vaughan



1-3 today and the performance of Fulham coupled with the goals of MK Dons and I just think we will have too much for Palace over 90 mins? It will be a real battle and a tough, physical game but I look at our 11 and theirs and I see far more quality in ours, so we need to show it today and go for their throats. FTM

 

No cabral on the bench cest? Would think he makes that at least.

Really really hope it's wickham and altidore upfront today. That team looks good, would be happy with that.

 

I hope not as it means were losing if Fletcher comes on. Needs to be nursed back. Two weeks till the Arsenal game after today so silly to rush it unless its gung ho late on today to grab a goal.

As for the team I hope Cabral is playing instead of Gardner as he's a sending off waiting to happen as he's about 2 seconds too slow at everything.

For me whoever scores first wins today.

 

Excellent spelling of our rb btw

Unless 100% fit he should not start, would like to see him come back on 89 mins 0-3 up

 

Good shout I meant to put Cabral in for Ji.

 

PDC I thought I would get his name spelled correctly and copied and paste it in his native way. I don't have a special keyboard...






...even if the user of it is pretty special.

 

Jammy, I put Cabral on the bench and then for some reason I took it out when I posted. Meant to have him instead of Ji.

As mentioned by Parker, I'd actually have him in instead of Gardner too but I have posted what I think will be the team not my choice.

 

..

 

Fair enough, I'm not doubting your judgement, just thinking cabral would be with the squad, that's all matey.

Hopefully we have enough to beat palace today, really need a win today

 

If he's not 100% fit he shouldn't be on the bench ... we have two strikers available and I can see this being low scoring.
Providing we can pop one in we have a fair chance of winning.

I can see Fletcher playing the last 30 minutes if we're losing but not at all if we're winning.

2-0 to Sunderland, Haway Lads!!!!!

 

Leave him out of the game all together if there is the slightest of doubts over his fitness, if he comes on and gets crocked then we are goosed twice. Hopefully we can get something from this one going for a 1-2, not an easy game either.

 

I think Catts days are numbered arn't they? I think Vaughan could do a great job as a holding midfielder.

 

He doesn't mate, honestly, he's done the same fitness regime as everyone else. He did it on his todd separate to teammates. He may be rusty as he's only had a few weeks of ball work. But he's been put through the fitness mill well and truly. Paolo knows how to bring a player back. MoN and Bruce would have played him Vs Fulham.

 

I'll be disappointed if Wickham and Jozy don't start together

 

I hope Connor starts because I think he deserves to start. Interestingly enough, another player to have sat on the bench for most of his career at SAFC was Marcus Stewart, also brought in from Ipswich. (One for the quiz questions).

If a fully fit Fletcher starts and scores I'll be very happy but I'll also be dissapointed for Connor.

 

Whilst I could understand PDC starting with 5 across the midfield away from home and Altidore up top, particularly in the absence of Sess, I think Connor deserves a start. Two goals and an assist, coming on to turn the game on it's head on Tuesday has surely given him the right to start. I think Fletch will be on the bench and should everyone else have left their shooting boots at home and we need a goal in the last 15 or 20 I think he comes on. However, if we are looking likely to get something from the game then i think they'll hold him back and he'll definitely be involved against Arsenal in 2 weeks after the international break. I guess that they don't want him to appear today if possible as he may end up being drafted into the Scotland side for Friday's match against Mingolet's mates, which might not be in Sunderland's best interests. With no reserve match until 16 Sept I would expect a behind closed doors match to be arranged before the Arsenal game to give him some game time.

 

hahaha very funny well done.