Larsson, Kaboul and Kirchhoff back in training ahead of Hammers test. Sunderland have been handed a boost ahead of their trip to the capital this weekend over the fitness of Seb Larsson, Younes Kaboul and Jan Kirchhoff. Larsson has been sidelined since the Black Cats’ 2-0 win over Stoke City in November - with a knee injury - but now he is back in training and in contention for Saturday’s match. Central defender Kaboul is also in contention for the trip to West Ham, having recovered from an ankle injury which has seen him not feature since the Lads’ defeat at Chelsea before Christmas. And finally, Kirchhoff is also expected to return to the side despite being taken off in the first half against Manchester United with a hamstring injury. Elsewhere, Jeremain Lens and Duncan Watmore remain sidelined.
This is a game that we really need to be getting something from, West Ham are a decent side but if we play like we did against Man Utd then so are we, I'd like to see the same starting 11 as last time if they are all fit, I think the 3 lads up front worked well together having that aerial and physical presence of N'Doye made a real difference and then we'd still have Fabio to come on against a tiring defence. I'd be happy enough with a point but we really need to be looking to win games like this to put pressure on the sides above us and not put too much pressure on the upcoming games.
I'd start with the same 11 as well, though I'm still concerned about the Right Back. Thankfully, Yedlin isn't facing Martial again. I'd like to see Kaboul back on in the second half though. I think he'll be crucial in the run in.
Didnt think Yedlin did too badly against Martial, which is why LvG moved martial to the other wing. In any case, I much prefer to see Yedlin there again rather than Jones.
I thought it was Martial giving Yedlin a roasting. I don't recall Martial moving over to their right side. Whoever it was, Ydlin had a hellish time. I don't recall him tackling or blocking once. Every threat came from our right. I'm just wondering whether Matthews could be the answer to that position?
Don't think there is too much of a difference between jones and yedlin defensively but yedlin seems more able to deliver a decent ball into the box imo. I would agree that he's the weak link though. It's good to have kaboul back but if o'shea and kone continue to look solid together he might need to wait for an injury to get back in the team. Might be worth bringing him on to help defend our 3 nil lead for the last half hour , but if the back 2 are looking solid i wouldn't like to see us mess with it.
That's not the case, mate. LVG brought on Memphis and played him on the left as he always does, so this is why Martial switched to the other side.
I feel like you are seriously under estimating West Ham. This is one of the hardest games that we have to play, of our remaining fixtures. I'll be delighted with a point.
They are a decent side but are prone to poor performances against sides near the bottom of the league, we have harder games coming up and winning this would help to take some pressure off. so that is the mindset we need to go there with, though no doubt a draw would be a good result.
What has Matthews done ? Last I heard he was going to be loaned out to get match fit, but that didnt happen. Has he been playing for the reserves ?
Take a point 100% if it was offered. West Ham are a bloody good side, especially with Payet back firing for them. I think we're getting carried away with the Man Utd result somewhat. I believe we're more capable of getting a result here than previously this season, that said I can also see us going getting beat 3-0 or something.
Black Cats thank travelling fans with massive shirt giveaway. Sam Allardyce’s Sunderland side will once again be backed by a sell-out crowd when they travel to face West Ham in an early kick off on Saturday. The Black Cats have sold out 12 of their 14 away Barclays Premier League trips so far this season, with 28,000 loyal Sunderland fans covering in excess of 7,000 miles supporting their team. To thank their fan for such tremendous backing, every Sunderland fan at the Boleyn Ground on Saturday will be given a 2015-16 away shirt courtesy of Sunderland AFC, with club staff inside the ground handing out the vibrant green away shirts to fans as they arrive. In order to ensure that every fan receives their shirt, the cub is asking supporters to arrive at the ground as early as possible on the morning of game, with turnstiles open from 11.15am for the 12.45pm kick off. Supporters are also asked to take their seats slightly earlier than usual, ensuring that that they are wearing their shirts, so that a photograph can be taken of the whole away end just before kick-off. Manager Sam Allardyce said: “Our support, both home and away, is absolutely tremendous. You can’t underestimate what a difference a loud and lively away end can make when we travel, seeing and hearing our fans gives everyone a lift. “To get the crowds that we do is testament to the loyalty of Sunderland fans and their backing is something that myself and the lads really do appreciate”. Captain John O’Shea added: “It’s astounding how many of our fans travel to away games to support us. Even games like Crystal Palace on a Monday night and Saturday’s early kick off at West Ham, which are not easy games to get to from Wearside, still see full away ends which is just brilliant. On behalf of all of the lads I would like to thank our fans for their unstinting support, which truly does make a difference.”
Sam Allardyce has revealed how he agreed to postpone his retirement plans and join Sunderland, BEFORE Dick Advocaat’s final game in charge against tomorrow’s opponents West Ham. Allardyce returns to his former stomping ground this weekend after his departure from Upton Park at the end of last season could have marked the end of his career in the dug-out. It wasn’t as if it was behind Dick’s back because he’d already told Ellis that he was leaving. Sam Allardyce The 61-year-old was considering ending his management career after his contract expired with the Hammers last May, before Sunderland eventually came calling in October when Advocaat had decided to step down. Former boss Advocaat’s final game at the helm for Sunderland was a 2-2 draw against West Ham at the Stadium of Light, when the Black Cats surrendered a two-goal lead after an utterly dominant opening 40 minutes. Advocaat’s departure was already decided before kick-off, yet it was not thought that Sunderland had a sure-fire successor lined up at that stage. However, Allardyce has now confirmed that he watched the game on television with interest, having already provisionally agreed to succeed Advocaat after an approach from Sunderland chairman Ellis Short. “I watched it and I was gutted because I knew I was coming,” Allardyce told the Echo. “It wasn’t as if it was behind Dick’s back because he’d already told Ellis that he was leaving. “I watched it with an interest after Ellis moved quickly. “It was disappointing that they let that 2-0 lead slip. “But the biggest concern for me was Dick saying they weren’t good enough to stay up because he’d worked with the players during the back-end of last season and all through the summer. “He left on the basis that he didn’t think they were good enough to stay up. “When I heard that, I was obviously concerned, but hoped I could make them better than they were.” Allardyce’s contract situation at Upton Park last season was a running issue, despite the club sitting pretty in the top four at the halfway point of the season. Neither West Ham nor Allardyce were desperate to extend his tenure at the club, with the ex-Bolton boss unsure whether he wanted to continue in the dug-out. “I could have put them under enormous pressure when we were third in the league in December and said ‘I want my contract’,” added Allardyce. “But because I wasn’t certain myself whether I wanted to stay, I never pushed that element. “At the end of the season, we moved on and it was the right time for me, and they obviously thought it was the right time for them. “It was a strange way to part company, but that’s how it happened. “I felt at the time, that it might have been time for me to pack in managing. “Not football in general, but not take another role as a manager and do something a bit different. “But it wasn’t too long after that, that the urge came back and the ultimate addiction started to kick-in. “The withdrawal symptoms started to happen and the adrenaline kicked in to come into this difficult position at Sunderland, which I can hopefully take them out of.” Read more: http://www.sunderlandecho.com/sport...game-against-west-ham-1-7751431#ixzz41G1BTWtR
West Ham United The Hammers are unbeaten in their last 12 home games in all competitions (W7, D5). will this run come to an end? hope so. Victory would give West Ham their highest total of points after 27 Premier League games. defeat will keep them on the same points. West Ham have conceded 61% of their goals before half-time - the highest proportion in this season's Premier League. Lets hope this continues. Dimitri Payet has scored or set up 12 Premier League goals this season - twice as many as any other West Ham player. Hope this doesn't continue. Sunderland Sam Allardyce's side have failed to keep a clean sheet in their last 13 league and cup games, conceding a total of 27 goals. Time to change. Sunderland have allowed their opponents 158 shots on target against them this season, more than any other team in the top flight. Time to change. The Black Cats have conceded seven Premier League penalties this term - the joint-highest figure, along with Norwich. Dodgy referees as usual, maybe we can get one or two that will help us push on. Sunderland could score in nine consecutive top-flight away matches for the first time since a run of 10 in a row from April to October 1956. Bring it on, Defoe and King Kone 0-2 to the lads.
I would settle for a point now, the hammers have looked very good since the return of Payet who must be the buy of the season, he is magic and will take some watching, I would like to see us go back to a back three of Kone, Jos and Kabul, but I am not sure that this is the game to do it. Would be ecstatic with another win against the odds though, and a similar result to the one at Palace earlier in the season would be just the ticket, Haway the Lads, hammer the slaughterers 0-1.
Just my observation I thought Yedlin did well considering his premiership inexperience as not many experienced fullbacks have a comfortable game against Martial - don't change a winning team but sure BSA will have a suprise for us
