RTB A win of course. PNE were always going to be difficult to score against and so it proved. Mowbray to try a different false 9? Cirkin fitness? But Alese is playing well
I'd go: Patterson O'Nien Batth Alese Cirkin Ba Evans Roberts Pritchard Clarke Diallo Just freshen things up a bit
Not a bad shout. I'd be surprised if he plays the same side on Tuesday and then again at Swansea. Ba looked very good when he came on
Of all teh signings, Ba looks the most impressive thus far. Like a Matete upgrade - madness that after being so thing on the ground last year we are massively overstocked with central midfielders
Good listen that. Cirkin is back fit, Simms still out for a couple more weeks, Michut is pushing hard for a start and looks a elegant player and Jewis Dad rocked up at Watford to watch the match the other week and didn't have any transport to get back afterwards so they let him on the the team bus.
Starman, RTB , Opinions vary on the line ups but not on your matchday threads. Whoever AMM picks, another exciting performance will do nicely, and hopefully another 3 points will see our great start to the season continuing. OaU.
Dennis Cirkin is expected to return to the matchday squad on Tuesday when Sunderland take on Blackpool. The left-back picked up a hamstring injury during the Lads’ narrow defeat at Middlesbrough last month. Speaking in his pre-match press conference, Tony Mowbray provided an update on Cirkin. “Dennis is ready – I would say he will be on the bench tomorrow night without giving too much away,” the Head Coach said. “He’s over his injury and he’s trained – we felt there was no need to risk it against Preston on Saturday. “We gave him the weekend to train and now he’s ready – he’ll be on the teamsheet tomorrow night."
I'd be surprised if he went O'Nien for Gooch, Gooch has been outstanding at right wing back and O'Nien hasn't played there as far as I can recall.
Presser on the website in case that twitter link doesn't work for anyone.... https://www.safc.com/news/team-news/2022/october/blackpool/press-conference-blackpool
cheers again RTB... have always been of the thought that your midfield is the hardest part to get right, defenders defend and strikers (hopefully) score goals but your midfield has to do a bit of both as well as keep things ticking over and moving and possibly be much more aware of how the other lads on the pitch like to play, whether to play the ball to feet, to the right or the left, over the top etc...if a good feed to the front one or two they will score whoever they are, i honestly do not think you can ever leave yourself short of options in the middle and we not only have a good selection now they all bring something to the table, which in my eyes, is pure gold. as for the game, the blackpool lads always seemed to be vocal and had a good few travel, i hope that has not changed as the preston lot were fairly quiet i thought.
EMBLETON PRE BLACKPOOL We face Blackpool tomorrow in what will likely be an emotional game Embo, having gained promotion with The Seasiders whilst on loan from us during the 2020/21 season. Embleton opened up on the loan deal and his return to the Lads. OPPORTUNITY “I was interested when the opportunity to go on loan came about. I wanted to play, and I’d just come back from injury so my chances for regular minutes were limited. It got later in January and the Blackpool move was one which appealed to me. I’d relocated before when I went on loan to Grimsby Town, so that helped.” AMAZING TIME “Sunderland and Blackpool still had to play each other twice, and whilst I was ineligible to play in both games, it was important for us at the time to carry on the momentum. There was so much belief in the team, and Blackpool turned out to take six points from the two fixtures. There was nothing in either game – it was just two good sides facing each other. TURNAROUND “Neil Critchley was in charge at the time – he was a top coach and said if I worked hard, there would be regular opportunities – and it turned out to be an amazing half-season. We went from the bottom half when I arrived, to the Play-Offs, and we went into that Play-Off campaign flying.” GRATEFUL “The Blackpool fans were brilliant – I just wish I’d had more of a chance to play in front of them, with Covid stopping supporters being inside the stadiums. We played in front of fans at Bloomfield Road once, in the Play-Off semi-final – I scored and we went on to win the tie, so it turned out to be a great night. Wembley as well, it was fantastic to deliver the promotion for them. Outside the stadium, after games, online and around the town, they were unbelievable and I’m still so grateful to them for their support.” REUNITED “It’s great to be back with Ellis and Dan, especially after sharing the promotion campaign at Blackpool with them. Ellis has come on well and really started well with us – he was getting his first senior games at Blackpool and made an important contribution up top. Dan was a rock at the back for us – he then went on to have a solid season in the Championship with Millwall whilst Ellis did well in Scotland. Here at Sunderland now, we’re looking to build a project for the long-term which incorporates top young players, and in Ellis and Dan that’s certainly what we’ve got.” PROMOTION EXPERIENCE “The spell at Blackpool definitely gave me that added edge and experience in terms of being part of a promotion-winning side, of course. I was even more eager to go and do the same with Sunderland, the team I grew up playing for. I now knew what it took to have that great run to the Play-Offs, the winning mentality and then going one better and winning promotion for a second-straight season.” WEMBLEY GOAL “To score at Wembley was special – by far the most important goal of my career so far. That got us off and running and I think from there, we controlled the game with a real professional team performance.” GOOD START “I want to play at the highest level I can, test myself against the best players I can, and to now be able to stake my claim and be part of a Championship team is brilliant. We know there’s a long way to go and a demanding remainder of the season, but we’ve started really well this season as a team. A lot of the lads haven’t played at this level before or in England before and it’s a young side, but one which with the right focus, we believe can achieve this season.”
I agree small changes are needed. I can't remember the last time I watched Embleton & Neil walk off at the end and think, 'wow, what a performance' ... ... I can with the new lads which is a concern tbh.
Embo rarely finishes a game. I think Neil has played well this season but the lessons of last year need to be learned and he should be rested every few weeks. Pritch is a bit of a worry, but the lack of a No.9 in the team probably weakens him a bit
