If the league started tomorrow...

Do we? Not for me. More like the work he does goes unnoticed.

Drinkwater had the double whammy last season of heavy expectation at a level he's never played at before AND having to compete with a world class player to get in the starting line-up. This season it appears he doesn't have either of those worries (by the look of things) so could (and its a big "could") find his feet this season.

We were all expecting Drinkwater to play alongside that world-class midfielder though, and he didn't step up. Don't get me wrong, I think he's a good player and could still make it at this level, but you'd have thought playing and training alongside Cambiasso might have rubbed off. For King it has, especially when you throw in playing alongside Bale and Ramsey for Wales.
 
Do we? Not for me. More like the work he does goes unnoticed.

Drinkwater had the double whammy last season of heavy expectation at a level he's never played at before AND having to compete with a world class player to get in the starting line-up. This season it appears he doesn't have either of those worries (by the look of things) so could (and its a big "could") find his feet this season.
I made a similar point about Drinkwater in another post. He had a very good pre-season this time last year, especially against Bremen, and looked all set to make the step up.

Last season everybody was playing the ball to Cambiasso at every opportunity to try and get moves started and that pivotal role had previously been played by Drinkwater along with Matty James. Consequently his influence and involvement (and probably confidence as well) declined and he was bypassed much of the time. It would be great to see him really step up to the plate this season and take on that role again. He has some sublime subtle touches but now needs to impose himself more if he's going to win a regular start.

Saying all that I feel we still need some solid midfield experience to play alongside him.
 
How do you think the game will go? Weak areas and strong areas?

From a Sunderland point of view, looking at the current line ups, I would expect Lee Cattermole to boss that centre midfield and whoever else he plays alongside, will be either Rodwell or Larsson. We should also be very strong down the left side with the pace of Van Aanholt and Lens.

Should Kaboul not start the first game then I am worried about the lack of pace we have in the centre of defence, especially with a quick and tireless worker like Vardy. Unless Giaccherini is fit then we are still short of a creative player in midfield to link up the play and create chances. We are suspect down the right side too, although some of my own fans may not agree on that one.

I think we will boss the midfield, but struggle to create anything. I wouldn't be surprised to see another 0-0, maybe even 1-1 this time.

Aaaaand the early season contender for the "Worst Prediction Of The Season" award goes tooooo... <applause>
 
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Hardly a contender for worst prediction of the season, Jack. Predicting a midfield would boss another midfield, which didn't happen at all. You are still just looking for attention, it's blatantly obvious <laugh>

Well played for yesterday <ok>
 
Hardly a contender for worst prediction of the season, Jack. Predicting a midfield would boss another midfield, which didn't happen at all. You are still just looking for attention, it's blatantly obvious <laugh>

Well played for yesterday <ok>
Predicting Lee Cattermole would have a good game is hilarious
 
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I agree he was very poor yesterday, I still think you are being a bit silly with your views on Cattermole after one game and the first game of the season too!

I can guarantee everyone of your players will go through certain games this season where they are made to look like amateurs. I doubt anybody would bring it to your attention though <ok>
 
Hardly a contender for worst prediction of the season, Jack. Predicting a midfield would boss another midfield, which didn't happen at all. You are still just looking for attention, it's blatantly obvious <laugh>

Well played for yesterday <ok>

Just banter lad, a bit of fun <ok>

Show me a prediction that's worse than this one...?
 
I agree he was very poor yesterday, I still think you are being a bit silly with your views on Cattermole after one game and the first game of the season too!

I can guarantee everyone of your players will go through certain games this season where they are made to look like amateurs. I doubt anybody would bring it to your attention though <ok>

We aren't judging Cattermole on one game though, I've seen him play many times.

The penalty he gave away just summed him up, absolutely sold with one simple turn and slid in for no reason.

Yes we will have bad games, but whether anybody brings it to our attention very much comes down to who it's against... If it's Sunderland in the reverse, I'm sure we'll know about it <laugh>
 
Tbf though Jack weren't most of us worried about our midfield pre-match? I'm sure most of these Mackem lads can have their banter but as long as we are gracious in victory and don't start another pointless 606 rivalry!!

Haha yes we were, I'm just having a bit of fun.

Not trying to start any trouble, I really don't see the big deal.

These Sunderland lads seem alright (apart from that one thread that went awry), but I'd prefer not to have another Hull "rivalry" on this board.

Speaking of which, isn't it funny how we see no Hull fans these days?

Probably can't find us all the way up here in the Premier League <laugh>
 
Haha yes we were, I'm just having a bit of fun.

Not trying to start any trouble, I really don't see the big deal.

These Sunderland lads seem alright (apart from that one thread that went awry), but I'd prefer not to have another Hull "rivalry" on this board.

Speaking of which, isn't it funny how we see no Hull fans these days?

Probably can't find us all the way up here in the Premier League <laugh>
Yep Hull is what I was thinking! Do you think it's the premier league thing or the lack of NP that has lost their interest in us? There seems to be one or two Sunderland ones on their board that don't seem so good but the lads who have posted on our board seem good
 
I agree he was very poor yesterday, I still think you are being a bit silly with your views on Cattermole after one game and the first game of the season too!

I can guarantee everyone of your players will go through certain games this season where they are made to look like amateurs. I doubt anybody would bring it to your attention though <ok>

I was saying Cattermole was **** last season and even before that

I cant remember who but one of you lot even tried comparing him to Esteban Cambiasso. Never heard something so funny in all my life
 
I was saying Cattermole was **** last season and even before that

I cant remember who but one of you lot even tried comparing him to Esteban Cambiasso. Never heard something so funny in all my life
I've heard funnier, although that is a ridiculous comparison...
 
Yep Hull is what I was thinking! Do you think it's the premier league thing or the lack of NP that has lost their interest in us? There seems to be one or two Sunderland ones on their board that don't seem so good but the lads who have posted on our board seem good

A bit of both, to be honest.

It would have been interesting to see how many Hullards would still be posting here if they had survived.
I guarantee though that if we went down, and they stayed up, they'd still be all over here like wet moss :bandit:

Yeah the Sunderlads seem okay, Safc and Funky seem alright really (apart from that one thread, as I said)

But agree, that having popped over to their board, a couple seem less than pleasant.
 
A bit of both, to be honest.

It would have been interesting to see how many Hullards would still be posting here if they had survived.
I guarantee though that if we went down, and they stayed up, they'd still be all over here like wet moss :bandit:

Yeah the Sunderlads seem okay, Safc and Funky seem alright really (apart from that one thread, as I said)

But agree, that having popped over to their board, a couple seem less than pleasant.

I'll nip that in the bud. They are mag wums mate, simple as that.

I've noticed how nobody has mentioned my prediction of Mahrez being a real danger, just the bits to suit eh, tut tut boys <whistle>
 
I'll nip that in the bud. They are mag wums mate, simple as that.

I've noticed how nobody has mentioned my prediction of Mahrez being a real danger, just the bits to suit eh, tut tut boys <whistle>
I'm so glad Mahrez signed a new deal before the match. I'd expect him to move on eventually but unlikely it's imminent
 
I'll nip that in the bud. They are mag wums mate, simple as that.

I've noticed how nobody has mentioned my prediction of Mahrez being a real danger, just the bits to suit eh, tut tut boys <whistle>

Fair enough pal, although I'm not sure how you let that ultimate mackem still post on here!?

As for Mahrez... We can talk about the new arsehole he tore PVA if you like?
To quote Paul Merson, he "had him on toast"

:D
 
Fair enough pal, although I'm not sure how you let that ultimate mackem still post on here!?

As for Mahrez... We can talk about the new arsehole he tore PVA if you like?
To quote Paul Merson, he "had him on toast"

:D
He's gunna get banned when the mods finally get their fingers out. A thread descended into racism and child rape yesterday, not good.