Sunderland v Watford Saturday 12th December 3 p.m. at the Stadium of Light please log in to view this image The Opposition Sunderland Association Football Club are an English association football club based in Sunderland, Tyne and Wear. They were formed in 1879, and played several years in the FA Cup and local cup competitions before joining the Football League in the 1890–91 season in place of Stoke. They played in the top league in England until the 1957–58, season when they were relegated into the Second Division. Sunderland are England's sixth most successful club of all time having won the League championship six times: in 1892, 1893, 1895, 1902, 1913 and, most recently, in 1936. They have also been runners-up on a further five occasions: in 1894, 1898, 1901, 1923 and 1935 (see Sunderland A.F.C. seasons). Sunderland have also won the FA Cup twice, in 1937 against Preston North End and in 1973 against Leeds United. They were finalists in 1913 and 1992, where they were beaten respectively by Aston Villa and Liverpool. They were finalists in the 1985 Football League Cup Final, but were beaten by Norwich City. Their other honours include twoCharity Shields, in 1902 and 1935. Sunderland have competed in 15 out of 24 of the years of the Premiership including the last 9. Their most successful were 2000 and 2001 when they finished 7th each year with their highest points tally of 58 in 2000. The Manager: Sam Allardyce On 9 October 2015, Big Sam was named the new Sunderland manager, replacing Dick Advocaat. When he was appointed, Sunderland sat 19th in the Premier League table with three points from their first eight games of the season. Signing a two-year contract, he became the first manager to have managed both Newcastle United and Sunderland. On 25 October 2015, in his second game as manager, he guided Sunderland to a 3-0 win against rivals and his former club Newcastle United. His overall managerial statistics are shown below: please log in to view this image Recent Form A poor start to the season saw Sunderland bottom after seven games leading to the change in manager. Since then they have improved with 3 wins out of 7 under Allardyce. Watford's recent record has been stronger with 4 wins in the last 6 games. please log in to view this image Sunderland moved briefly out of the bottom 3 before their defeat against Arsenal. Watford have hovered around the middle of the table all season. SUNDERLAND WATFORD please log in to view this image HEAD TO HEAD Sunderland have the edge over Watford especially at home where they have triumphed 11 times to Watford's 3 with 5 draws. The last time Watford won at Sunderland was in February 2003 in the FA Cup but you have to go back to November 1994 for their last away league victory. please log in to view this image please log in to view this image BUT who could forget? Football League Division 1, 25/9/82 Watford 8(4) Team: Sherwood, Rice, Rostron, Taylor, Bolton, Jackett, Callaghan, Blissett, Jenkins, Lohman, Barnes Subs: Armstrong Scorers: Blissett 4, Jenkins 2, Callaghan 2 Sunderland 0(0) Team: Turner, Venison, Munro, Atkins, Hindmarch, Nicholl, Buckley, Rowell, McCoist, Pickering, Cummins Man in the MIddle Graham Scott (Oxfordshire) Linesmen: A Garratt and M Wilkes Fourth Official: K Friend Scott takes charge of Sunderland and Waford for the first time this weekend. Scott is a Premier League rookie, with this game only his second in the top flight. He made his Premier League debut last season when he refereed the 1-1 draw between Burnley and Aston Villa at Turf Moor in November 2014, booking seven players that day. So far this season, he has shown 31 yellow cards and no reds in seven games in all competitions. Scott’s last game in charge of Watford came on Boxing Day last year, when he oversaw Wolves’ 1-0 win at Vicarage Road. Before that he was referee in what was Giuseppe Sannino's first match at the helm having taken over from Gianfranco Zola in a Championship clash against Ipswich at Portman Road. Watford were fined £5,000 after several Hornets players were seen to surround referee Graham Scott to protest after he judged that Frank Nouble's cross had been handled in the penalty area by defender Gabriele Angella. David McGoldrick duly tucked away the 73rd-minute spot-kick but Watford did hit back through Troy Deeney to claim a 1-1 draw against Town Betting Watford are slight favourites with the bookies although more bets have been placed on Sunderland. Longest odds are on the draw. please log in to view this image Lastly - my thanks for anything good about this thread - the uploading of tables, graphs etc go to Big Funk Allardyce whose assistance has enabled me to do these threads to a far higher standard than I previously could have managed. ( I retain ownership and responsibility for any errors and bad bits )
Great thread Leo. The omens look good, Sunderland do not like Kevin Friend, he's always been a thorn in their side so maybe some 4th official interference!
Great thread Leo. Missing this one due to a very early start on Sunday morning to take Mini Bloother Karting. I hope we can make it three in a row, but it wont be as easy as it may have been a few weeks ago. With Deeney and Iggy up front and Cathcart and Britos at the back and Capou charging around in midfield...a win is a definate possibility. COYH
Think Newcassel, think Stoke, think Aston villa (first win there since 1969 apparently). What's the problem ? Not being overconfident, just delighted that we are not phased by any team in this division. Wow - how good is that ? I think sunderlands defence will definitely concede 2.
Well, if we do win three on the bounce, I´ll be very impressed. It won´t be as easy as it would have been before the organised walrus got in charge mind. However, we have a decent chance as it seems we are not out of our depth in this league so far. Thanks for the thread Leo.
Great thread, thanks Leonardo! So looking forward to this one, staying with my Sunderland friend for the weekend which hopefully won't be too difficult after the game. It's going to be a tough one as they will obviously be strong defensively but ee are too, with the added bonus of an in form front two. If everyone is fit I think we should edge it though as ever i'm feeling more negative than positive! Would be fab to see deeney get 5 in 5 and 3 on the bounce would be amazing! I'm going for a 1-2 which seems to be my new, premier league standard prediction! COYH!!
According to Sunderland fans we have sold 2,200 tickets out of 2,400, which sounds pretty good for this time of year and the distance involved.
Family commitments in the early evening, I'll be looking for a stream to watch it during the afternoon.
SA will have organised his team rather better defensively but they'll still have one defensive blunder in them, while our in-form strikers will conjure another with a moment of skilful interplay. A brilliant Gomes save will rebound off the nose of a Sunderland defender up for a corner and end in the net. Then.... Actually I have to concede I am no good at predicting our results so will go for a 3-0 win. Great if I'm right; to be expected if I'm wrong!
Club ladys charge a pound im told the going rate for ladys of the night is 50 to 75 wish i was 20 years younger
