Personally I think he'd be far better used on the wing. Not only is it where he played for Rangers, he just looks every bit a winger to me. He's small and weak in the challenge but quick and skilful and can go round people on either side. I think he's far too lightweight to play as a striker the way we play. Also our strikers play with backs to goal, but Alukos strength is having the ball at his feet and running at people.
We've got no new injury concerns, so it looks like Elmo will start and hopefully also Jelavic. Bruce's had a real rant about Ireland, he says he should have been sent off for stamping on Meyler and the injury caused by Figgy was accidental and Figgy also needed five stitches after the game(from a separate incident).
I was gonna say this. He should be used on the wing or not at all. His strength is beating people one on one but he needs to have already got the ball under control and facing the right way. His biggest weakness is trying to turn with his back to goal. Up front that weakness completely nullifies him.
Pete O'Rourke @SportsPeteO Sunderland win their appeal against Wes Brown's red card in defeat to Manchester United. #safc
As we already know, The FA have just tweeted that Wes Brown's dismissal has been rescinded and is available tomorrow night. So, which will it be ? Brown to get the winner or Brown to gift us the winner ? It's bound to happen.....
Yes you can never tell with the FA. I remember when we appealed Turners red at Man City, when every body saw the City player jump into Turner and sent Turner off. We appealed and they increased the ban to three games because we had appealed! So I will wait and see what they do this time.
Wes Brown: Sunderland win appeal against red card The Football Association has rescinded Sunderland defender Wes Brown's red card in his side's loss at Manchester United on Saturday. "An independent regulatory commission has upheld a claim of wrongful dismissal in relation to Wes Brown," read an FA statement. "Therefore, his one-match suspension has been withdrawn with immediate effect." Never in any doubt.
What happens if on the way to the Sunderland press conference he slips on a piece of litter and he ends up with a traffic cone inserted into his anus? WHAT THEN?
What should be an even game..usually ends up with you winning by 2 or 3 goals. Mike Dean is the ref...if you think you have been hard done for by refs...you should see some of the decisions lately that have not gone our way...I think Brown's red had been rescinded does that mean their penalty against us is ruled out and the game was a draw!!!! Or that against WBrom, their player should have been sent off for pulling Graham back? and that the goal we scored was not offside. To stop wrong decisions and 'home' and 'top four' biased reffing we should use a TMO surely..I think the Falco (he touched on the shoulder so I fell backwards) took about 2 minutes anyway so no time would have been lost. surely for Pen area decisions the TMO should be used.
Apart from a couple of early efforts I can't recall Sunderland having any proper chances on Saturday. They were beaten by a very average looking Man Utd side. If we play some strikers & play something like we can I don't think we'll lose.
It is fair that it is rescinded for Brown, but don't push your luck; would you rather the correct player be suspended and the penalty still stands? You lost far and square, just unusually.
