Secret friendly lineups revealed

Sunderland put six past Newcastle United in the 'secret derby' and we can now reveal the Black Cats starting line-up.The two North East rivals met to give the fringe figures at both clubs the chance to gain some much-needed match fitness, with neither side in action in the FA Cup this weekend.

The behind-closed doors 'friendly' was played out in front of deserted stands at the Stadium of Light, with the hosts running out 6-0 winners.

Sam Allardyce named a strong Sunderland side with hot prospect Jordan Pickford in goal behind a back four of Adam Matthews, centre-back pairing of new signing Jan Kirchhoff and Thomas Beadling and Spurs loanee DeAndre Yedlin at left-back.

The midfield trio was Jack Rodwell, Ola Toivonen and Liam Agnew, with Duncan Watmore, Steven Fletcher and Dame N'Doye the front three.

Fellow new signing, veteran goalkeeper Steve Harper, watched on from the stands.

Star man Watmore needed a hat-trick in the 6-0 triumph, with Fletcher (twice) and Rodwell also on the scoresheet for Sunderland.

Meanwhile, Newcastle fringe players Steven Taylor, Yoan Gouffran, Jamaal Lascelles, Sylvain Marveaux and Karl Darlow all featured for the Magpies.

Sunderland AFC: Pickford, Matthews, Kirchhoff, Beadling, Yedlin, Agnew, Rodwell, Toivonen, Watmore, Fletcher, N'Doye

Newcastle United: Darlow; Barlaser, Taylor, Lascelles, Gibson; Roberts, Gouffran, Longstaff, Marveaux, Aarons; Riviere

 

It looks to me like not a single one of our starting line-up here started against The Cherries on Saturday and The Skunks, who are in denial, insist that we played our first team against their reserves

The deluded silly billy's can't even clutch the straws that they're looking for

 

Why do we keep hearing about how Sunderland put a strong side out and they didn't? We didn't play first team players either...

 

Exactly. Maybe's somebody should go over to the darkside and show them these lineups.
It always ends up in mayhem when I venture over there so I'll leave it to somebody else.

 

Timing, eh

 

Shows we've got more depth if you ask me. Depth which extends into our youth ranks which is very, very, encouraging.

 

That's because you're trouble. Leave this to me

 

Haway lads . . . . there's going to be a fight

 

It does mate, apart from the fact that no one has excelled when playing in the first team sadly. (A couple of them with exceptions)

 

Too many squad players, not enough 1st team quality.

 

I'm not siding with the enemy, but a lot of our players have been in the first team or could be expected to be in there now and again. I'm not sure many of the Newcatle 11 have been anywhere near. More fool McClaren for wasting the opportunity - buffoon.

 

5 of the Newcastle team played some part in the defeat to watford at the weekend we should leave it at that haha

 

OK - I really shouldn't have commented - I just don't pay enough attention to Newcastle. That's not going to change.

 

Sorry 4 marveaux and Taylor were on bench and stayed there

 

As was darlow

 

But that adds to the point about depth.

It's not like there's 11 Newcastle players sandwiched between the 11 that turned out in the friendly and the 11 who started their last league game. Both teams fielded a blend of fringe and youth, We look stronger from top to bottom. You could argue injuries are problem for the Mags but if you look at them they're **** too.

I think it shows we've got a much stronger squad. But we badly lack stand out quality.

For me, The worrying way to look at it is If you looked at the wage bill of the two sides. You don't even need to do any maths to see our failing transfer policy. There for all to see in that starting 11. Too many average Joe squad players on first team wages. Crippling for our recruitment plans.

 

I dropped a comment on and walked away, didn't expect any notifications as they aren't bothered in the slightest, but they can't shut up about it

 

I was pleased to see the news lads getting some game time.

Also pleased some of the bairns were out there. I know no league points were at stake but an emphatic win will do their confidence a power of good. It also gives Sam a chance to get a good look at them in an `adult` environment without the risk of chucking them into a league game and hoping it works out.

Not sure what the Mags got out of it but it seems like they`ve done us a bit of a favour.

 

http://www.readytogo.net/smb/threads/my-dad-fan-since-the-late-50s.1193764/

 

Nice to see you mate.

Do you know that bloke?

I'm actually at another funeral on Monday morning, another staunch red and white. He was only 54, post mortem inconclusive. First time I've heard of that.