The times I have watched him in the U21"s he definitely doesn't put the work in. He looks to have a good touch and comfortable on the ball but needs to graft.
I might be laughed at here but I think this is a game tailor made for us. We can counter attack with real pace against a side that will be on the front foot all across the park. The trick is to get the ball wide to Clarke and Ba (i am benching Roberts) and get down the flanks. I am telling them both to get wide and keep the pitch wide open. I would have Burstow through the middle with Dack just off. All about pinching it in midfield and hitting the forward pass quickly against this lot for me. They have had a great start but do conceded. We know we can pick teams off with brutal counter attacks and that should be our plan. Back 5 picks itself I think. Neil and Jobe. Ba Dack Clarke Burstow Roberts, Ekwah, Pritchard to come on for last 30 mins could be telling as well.
Anybody wih any info on this friendly... Dennis Cirkin has been sidelined since early September with a hamstring injury, but the full-back has stepped up his training programme significantly in the last week or so and was part of a Sunderland Under-21s side selected to face Hibernian in a behind-closed-doors friendly at the Academy of Light this afternoon.
Mowbray seems to get abit of a buzz whenever he talks about mayenda, really looking forward to seeing him
Great to see Cirkin back on the pitch and Mayenda must be close too. What is that, about 3 months with a hamstring tweak on his 1st day? Alese still 2-3 weeks away and Matete the same by the sounds of it. Evans and Pembele not until Dec/Jan you'd assume It'd be nice to have a fully fit squad, but there are so many of them with poor injury records - I really hope Cirkin and Alese can put these injuries behind them
I wouldn't disagree with that but there's more to it than just running around. Simms didn't do a lot off the ball but he scored goals, I feel Hemir has similar attacking instincts. Hopefully one day he gets some decent minutes and gets a fair crack at it.
that was probably the best presser he’s done for me. gona be a really hard game but probably the type of game we turn up in, got everything crossed anyway. Hawaaaaaay
I'm viewing this one like a night cup tie against a prem team. Win not expected but you always have that little feeling that maybe things could go well. Plus this is more like a Fulham than an Arsenal, so every chance if we take our chances.
I like it but, in that set-up, wouldn't Aouchiche be better starting than Dack, he's quicker ... ... I like them both tbh, either are good from the start or the bench imo.
I'd still be starting Roberts over Ba on the right, then Ba can come on later in the game if needed. Roberts has been poor but on his day he is one of the best right wingers in the league. He should never be playing centrally as he's not had a good game there yet. Give him the ball and let him run at the full back.
Fair enough that mate. I think tomorrow it will be about an ability to run from deep and at pace that gets us up the pitch and threatening them. Ba a bit more athletic for me than Roberts. I wont moan if it is Roberts though, he is the type of player that could turn it on in a game like this.
Great thread @RTB..... I am going to be positive here and say we can get a result. I would settle for a draw however. Just hope TM gets his formation right and we can nick it
