Match Day Thread Manchester United FC v Sunderland AFC - Saturday 4th October 2025 - KO 15:00

I think we'll win, they're on their knees psychologically and we're a very solid side. I'll go with 0-2, Isidor with one of the goals.

 

As per usual great thread RTB. I'll take a draw for this one, but hopefully we can go one better with our pace against their slow defensive players.

 

@Smug in Boots were on our way to Old Trafford, couple of lads haven’t got tickets do you or anyone know of 2 spares going please? Can meet wherever in Manchester to get them?

 

If the weather's the same in Manchester as we're getting here the match will be a complete lottery.

 

Safe journey, given the weather conditions, lads n lasses

 

Still think we can more than match them and they wont be looking forward to defending against the pace we have available.

Haway the lads

 

38 degrees today with bright sunshine in the Pilbara. Not sure what all the fuss is about

 

Sometimes I read such comments and find it hard to believe that it is actually true

 

I now live in southern South Africa and you have no clue the amount of Man Utd shirts I see every single day… please God all I ask is for 3 points to give me the opportunity to wear my Sunderland shirt next week, it will mean so much.

 

I have just added a VPN to my fire stick. Anybody got any advice on how you use it to get overseas streams for today’s game?

 

Regis Le Bris' praise for Robin Roefs



https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/sport/25516427.regis-le-bris-praise-sunderlands-robin-roefs/

REGIS Le Bris is honest enough to admit he wasn't aware of Robin Roefs until this summer. But as soon as Sunderland's recruitment team pointed the head coach in the direction of the young Dutch keeper, he knew he wanted to sign the 22-year-old…

Asked when he first became aware of Roefs, Le Bris said: "During the market, the recruitment market.
It's an unpredictable journey. The recruitment team was aware of his position in the Netherlands but for me I discovered Robin in the summer.

"When I analysed his profile it was really clear that he was one of the best I've ever seen during this transfer window."

Le Bris added: “He is really balanced and it is not easy to find a goalkeeper with such good qualities in different areas. For us, shotstopping was important. For a keeper, that is non-negotiable. He is quick, very mobile when he manages crosses and he is really well connected with his backline so when there are balls in behind, he is always well aware and mobile in these situations and he is good with his feet.

"So when you add up all these different qualities and at his age, his background was not really huge because he is only 22 we took the risk. Because that is part of our identity, we are not scared by young players so for us, we are ready to support them, give them opportunities and at the minute, we are happy.”

Manchester United fans must wish their club had acted so swiftly and decisively in the summer window when it came to keepers.

After a summer of uncertainty between the posts, United finally moved to sign Senne Lammens late in the window but the Belgian is yet to play in the Premier League, with the unconvincing Altay Bayindir in possession of the gloves after the exit of Andre Onana.

So, did United miss a trick not trying to sign Roefs?

"I don't know. Every club has their own criteria," said Le Bris. "Here in Sunderland our own profile was really well designed and clear for everyone. I don't know whether it was the same idea at Manchester United."

The pressure is very much on United ahead of today's game (3pm), and while Le Bris firmly believes his side can continue their excellent start with a win at Old Trafford, he won't be underestimating the struggling hosts.

He said: “We still have to stay humble because we have to respect Manchester United, they are a strong squad. They are struggling but they have strong players and I repeat, we had this same conversation about Aston Villa. They had struggled, they were not at their best but one week later that has gone, they have improved their level.

"So it can happen for Manchester United. And remember, they won at Old Trafford against Burnley and Chelsea, so it is not a bad team. Just stay humble, try our best and we will see.”

 

Match day boys and girls!! Single beer chilling (as I have to drive to my gig afterwards)

HA’WAY MY BEAUTIFUL BLACK CATS

 

We’ve got to be careful not to get ahead of ourselves here.

A wounded Manchester United is still Manchester United, and by that I mean there’s always gonna be big players and the chance they show up.

They’ve done ok at home on face of it but Burnley was a stoppage time penalty and Chelsea thy were a man up go a spell (they were good that day though).

They have individuals who can hurt you, Bruno, Cunha, Amad, but for all the names Mbuemo looks lost there and Sesko has been absolute garbage, he doesn’t look to have the mentality for the league to me.

Where the opportunity is is both the shape and personnel at the back. They give you room and they have really bad pace at the back bar Yoro.

Dorgu and Dalot have pace but are so poor defensively that that doesn’t matter.

We get at them down the channels we have great chances. Burnley scored 2 there and could easily have had more and got a result.

A big performance from Granit stopping Bruno and Cunha and we win this game. Get corners right on top of the keeper, he isn’t Onana but he is still not close to PL quality.

We definitely score here so it’s down to Granit Andre back 5, who we all trust explicitly to do a good job.

Sadiki can run the legs out of Bruno just get him stuck to him like a magnet.

I do think it’s a draw but if we score first we can easily take the 3 here.

Ha’waaaaaaay.

 

On route. Come on Sunderland

 

I am worried about this game.

I have never felt that we could go to mild Trafford and get anything before kick off, but today? I think we can win. That just feels so wrong!

But I love it.

 

The most relaxed I’ve felt about a game all season this, incredible start means we go there with no pressure to win but we absolutely can turn these over, haway the lads head into the break on a high

 

Best bet is Paddy O'Reillys pub. Loads of TVs and full of Brits

Talstrasse 82, Zurich. Opposite CitizenM Hotel

 

Its one of those we could easily lose as its Mancester Utd but score early and it could turn toxic with the fans etc...

Imagine telling those fans under Fergie that teams would come to Old Trafford believing they had a chance to go away with 3 points. Apart from the odd couple of teams it was damage control at Old Trafford!

Even though they haven’t been anywhere near that level for a decade or more they are still huge club.

I think the lads will be fired up today as beating Man Utd is a scalp, never mind their form! Hopefully the back like are as solid as they have been all season and I'd expect us to cath these on tbe break! As others have mentioned I'd like to see a place for Mayenda and Isidor as their speed and quality running at full pelt woth the ball will frighten the **** out of them!

 

Still very very wet and windy. The weather is a big leveller for teams.

This may give Man Utd a chance.