Ex Men: Fulham Published: 09 January, 2014 by Ashley Houghton safc.com profiles three of the 34 players to play for both the Black Cats and the Cottagers. Vic Halom Halom was one of the key players in Sunderland’s 1973 FA Cup winning squad, scoring key goals in the fifth round replay against cup favourites Manchester City and in the semi-final against Arsenal. The striker was one of Bob Stokoe’s earliest signings and repaid all of the £35,000 that Stokoe paid Luton for his services, with some memorable performances in the famous red and white. Halom had played for Fulham between 1968 and 1971 before joining Luton, scoring 22 goals in 72 league games. Kevin Ball Former Sunderland captain Kevin Ball made 388 appearances for the Black Cats in a spell that spanned nine years. He won two Division One titles in his time on Wearside as well as being part of the squad that reached the 1992 FA Cup Final. Now Senior Professional Development Coach at Sunderland, Ball is 12th on the all-time appearance list for the Black Cats. Ball won the Black Cats’ Player of the Season award in the 1996-97 season before moving on to a brief spell at Fulham, where he made 18 league appearances, towards the end of his career. Steed Malbranque Steed Malbranque made 112 appearances for the Black Cats in a three-year stay on Wearside between 2008 and 2011. The Belgian-born midfielder was key part of Steve Bruce’s side that finished tenth in the Barclays Premier League, Sunderland’s highest finish since 2001. Steed joined Fulham in 2001 in his first venture into English football and he became a fans’ favourite at Craven Cottage making 211 appearances and scoring 44 goals.
The way Poyet is talking I think we'll be going for a win but not in a 'gung ho' 4-3-3 style ....... we'll have a good following but I think we've all learned that all action hoof-ball doesn't work for us. Fulham will start off strongly but if we can get hold of the ball, and keep it, we can get the upper hand and our supporters can help give us the advantage. "More than 1,800 Sunderland fans will make the 564-mile round trip to Fulham." Should be well over 2000 with the Neutral section taken into account. They're just not very good and their defence is shocking. I reckon a Sunderland goal, in the first half, could see us go on to a good win. Top marks to everyone going down and I hope you sing all the way home. http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/sunderland-relegation-fight-gus-poyet-3008638 I'm going for 3-1 to the Lads, Haway!!!!!!!!!!!!
Should Johnson start or be used as an impact sub? Big decsion for Poyet. Could be detrimental if he's benched again after his Man Utd performance. Giaccherini to bench if Aj starts
Just my opinion but I'd go with the same starting line up as per the Man U game. Then again, I'm not Gus.
That was my thoughts initially but Giaccherini just isn't doing it and what does it say to Johnson if he doesn't start after his performance the other night. Fulham lack pace throughout there side so Boring is a must from the start, id lean toward Johnson over Giacc for the other wing. Actually think Altidore would be better pick to start today than Fletcher too.
Tricky. Johnson seems better coming off the bench. I think him being dropped has given him a kick up the arse he needed. I don't fancy either Fletcher or Altidore and that's our biggest problem. Defence picks it's self. Tough game coming up. We just need a little bit of luck like we got in the cup and no stupid mistakes like Against Villa.
I think we'll win today, don't ask me why ..just got this feeling we're going to do enough to clinch it 1-0, 2-0 (Any Nag WUMS out there, have a freebie ie: should this be way out)
I think we need 4 in the middle - Cattermole (in preference to Colback) to try and get control of the centre and Ki to collect the ball and get forward, then Johson on the right and Giach on the left, linking up with Alonso - Altidore and Fletcher in the fray too
Only if they play 4 in the middle or we'll get beat. If they did Borini can switch to upfront with Fletch. But being out numbered in the midfield is suicide these days.
FULHAM TEAM NEWS Team to play Sunderland: Stockdale; Riether, Senderos, Amorebieta, Riise; Duff, Parker, Sidwell, Dempsey; Taarabt
SUNDERLAND TEAM NEWS Team to play Fulham: Mannone, Bardsley, Alonso, Brown, O'Shea (C), Cattermole, Colback, Ki, Johnson, Borini, Fletcher Subs: Larsson, Gardner, Celustka, Altidore, Giaccherini, Ji, Pickford AJ needs to step up toady
Johnson and Colback start at Craven Cottage. Adam Johnson starts for Sunderland as the Black Cats play Fulham at Craven Cottage (3pm). The winger replaces Seb Larsson, who drops to the bench, while Emanuele Giaccherini makes way for Jack Colback. Meanwhile full-back Marcos Alonso makes his league debut after facing Manchester United in the Capital One Cup in midweek. Sunderland: Mannone, Bardsley, Alonso, Brown, O'Shea (C), Cattermole, Colback, Ki, Johnson, Borini, Fletcher. Subs: Larsson, Gardner, Celustka, Altidore, Giaccherini, Ji, Pickford. Fulham: Stockdale, Riether, Senderos, Amorebieta, Riise, Duff, Parker, Sidwell, Dempsey, Taarabt, Berbatov. Subs: Kasami, Kačaniklić, Richardson, Hughes, Dejagah, Etheridge, Bent.
