It's not Messi my mate drinks with him in a quiet taverna just outside Barcelona, it seems Lionel won't come as he fears he wouldn't be first choice in our midfield. (He did reckon he could hold down LB against Ricco mind!)
you may jest but Mary in our fish shop told me, asked how she knew and she said she heard it from a Sunderland coach. asked the name of coach and she replied Classic, I know it is I said but who was it
not to mention my dinner, hungry now so off to make it, these ****ing straps dont half get in the way
With the exception of bringing in O'Shea at the expense of Richardson I would leave the back four as it is (maybe swapping Bardsley to the left). In midfield the question for me is wether to select Elmo again or stiffen the midfield by bringing in Gardner or Vaughan. If fit I'd leave the front two the same and have Ji and Wickham on the bench.
For me, same team as Saturday, but O'shea at left back (the other 3 lads in defence did well, so keep them as they are) Vaughn in on the right wing (maybe too big a game for Elmo, and we need more creativity on the right), then with 20 minutes to go, bring on our favourite Korean to run at the mags defence and keep the pressure up.
Ah ha, the pills have kicked in I see Syd, however, you did get me thinking (please, no "witty" responses) about thinking the unthinkable. How about..... Mig O'Shea - Anton - Brown - Bardo Larsson - Catts - Gardner - Sess Turner/Bramble - Gyan Solid back 4 and CM with creativity out wide and a "BIG" man for the knock downs for Gyan?
Bramble is 6" 1' Ji is 6 " 1 1/2' Wickham is 6" 3' I would much prefer to go with a recognised striker up front than a big defender tbh, I still think it will be Gyan as the main striker with Sess playing just off him though.
With Brown and Ferdinand doing well against Liverpool it allows Bruce to give Bramble and Turner more time to achieve match fitness. I just hope Anton's concentration holds up.
No one in their right mind could pick Richardson to start the game.He would be a good choice for the bench,but that should be as good as it gets for him!