Black Cats v Hornets Sunderland sit in 4th position with a game in hand and 13 points ahead of 5th place. The top 4 have trundled away from the hunting pack! Watford, who have lost 3 on the bounce, have sunk to 12th. However, are only 3 points off the play offs in a clogged midtable that sees 5th to 14th, that's 10 teams, separated by 5 points. Sunderland were more active than Watford in the window, "It was a case of two in, one staying and three out for Sunderland in the January transfer window, but will it be enough to gain promotion? Top scorer Wilson Isidor turned his loan from Zenit St Petersburg into a permanent deal at the Stadium of Light, while Liverpool forward Jayden Danns and Roma midfielder Enzo Le Fee have arrived on loan. Heading out are forward Aaron Connolly, who has joined Millwall for an undisclosed fee, and midfielders Adil Aouchiche and Abdoullah Ba signing loan deals with Portsmouth and USL Dunkerque, respectively." (From - Sunderland - BBC Sport) Watford, well, did the usual thing of scraping the barrel from Udinese. "Watford signed 28-year-old Norway international goalkeeper Egil Selvik from Italian 'sister club' Udinese for an undisclosed fee, brought in 20-year-old American left-back Caleb Wiley on loan from Chelsea and defender James Abankwah on loan from Udinese. However, they lost midfielder Festy Ebosele after he was recalled from loan by the same Italian club, Ryan Porteous has joined Preston on loan and Ken Sema has been released." (From - Watford FC - Transfer news, results, fixtures, video and audio) We've got a few injuries too, and the same toothless strikers. Additionally, after Sunderland we've got Leeds, Boro then Lootown. Things seem a bit grim at the moment, fingers crossed for a surprise win to come from somewhere soon! ¡¡COYH COYH COYH!!
Sorry, found some team news now - Team News: Vata Update - Watford FC Rocco Vata is a doubt for the trip to the north-east after missing last weekend’s defeat at home to Norwich City. “He took a knock in training; we’re pleased with how he recovered but today he’s been struck down by a virus,” said Cleverley. “We’ll assess him over the next 24 hours. We're not ruling him out of the game but it’s more the virus which makes him a doubt for the weekend.” Vakoun Bayo will begin a three-match suspension after his red card against Norwich, but there are no new injury concerns. Kwadwo Baah, Pierre Dwomoh and Daniel Bachmann remain as longer-term absentees, while new signing Caleb Wiley is not yet fit enough to feature. Basically, we are worse off than we were, which won't make much difference to the result.
Any ideas on the score..... On current form and players available ... 3-0 to them? I really hope not. I was going but due to health now will watch on TV
“On Saturday we’ll have six or seven Academy products in our squad. Let’s be proud about that. “It’s an opportunity for them to flourish and you never know it might be the start of something special for a couple of them.” TC
Here is our not606 preview. https://not606.com/threads/sunderland-afc-v-watford-fc-–-saturday-8th-february-2025-ko-12-30.416696/
Mackum in peace I think you'll do better than what you think. We've had some really poor teams come to the SOL who are game stifflers, waste time, leave a foot in, kick lumps out of our players but one innocuous tackle and they roll around the floor as is they're been shot by snipers in the crowd. It's anti football. Then if they're getting beat they'll rush for the throw ins and take the free kicks quickly. I'm not saying you're a poor side, but we are Sunderland.
We cannot sit back as that means you actually have to defend well which doesn’t happen - let in early goals regularly . And got no real attacking threat now with Baah and Vata out.
I think you are right... . but concerned who will lose in the summer and who will replace them or not...............
