Match Day Thread Chelsea FC v Sunderland AFC - Saturday 25th October 2025 - KO 15:00

Enzo Le Fee names who he thinks has been the most impactful summer signing at Sunderland

Speaking to Stadium Astro, Le Fee was asked: “You signed permanently in the summer. Of all the players, who’s been, I guess, the most impactful both on and off the pitch for you?”

The Frenchman responded by heaping praise on club captain Granit Xhaka. He said: “I think Granit, Granit Xhaka.

“Because he’s for me the best captain I had in my life in my career. Because he’s a really good player. So of course, but for me the captain role it’s not enough to be good on the pitch, and he’s [a] really good guy. “He tries to take care about everybody. He tries to give us the best environment.

“He changed a lot of things here in Sunderland. So yeah, for me, I would say Granit.”

https://tbrfootball.com/enzo-le-fee...-most-impactful-summer-signing-at-sunderland/

 

Great post mate....confirms what we're seeing! Xhaka is an inspirational signing.....we love him already!

 

Put yourself in Chelsea’s position. How will they feel about this?
We are level on points with them. We’ve got the joint second best defensive record so far this season ( Arsenal have conceded 3, Man City and Sunderland 6). I’d be thinking this isn’t going to be easy. If we can keep it tight for the first 20 minutes then start to get a foothold in the game, we’ve got the players to get something out of it. If Isidor starts we’ve got the option to put Mayenda and/ or Brobbey on for the last 15 minutes to try and nick a goal. I’ll go for 1-1 with a late equaliser from one of the strikers….let’s go for Brobbey!

I’ve just read that we are on a 13 game unbeaten run in London! 4 wins and 9 draws.

 

I thought that team looked familiar. . . OaU

 

Cheers RTB love the old match day thread, hoping for a master class in parking the bus with the odd counter for good measure, as folk have said discipline will be crucial, a good account of ourselves and come out of this one injury free and see where we end up COME ON

 

Great post mate , but how about Wilson and Mayenda to start as has been suggested, if Chelsea are a goal up and shutting up shop last half hour say, bringing Brobbey on would be like throwing the kitchen sink at them. He is dynamite in the six yard box watching his goals videos, but he might not be quite up to speed , and starting him against this team might be a bridge too far.

 

Another great thread @RTB after watching that video with Conor Bradley and AltEnding I'll go for

Roeffs
Mukiele. Ballard. Alderete. Reinildo
Geertruida
Xhaka Sadiki
Talbi Isidor Le Fee
​

I love Hume and think he's stepped up to the Premier League but that bit extra class in both Mukiele and Reinildo tips it for me and with Geertruida sitting in midfield it makes us that bit stronger in there. Although Talbi looks better on the left, Le Fee can make sure that we won't repeat leaving that left hand side open like we did at Man U

 

Yep - two up top would give them something to think about. Especially with the speed Isidor and Mayenda have. With Enzo providing the through balls like he did at Coventry in the play off first leg. Then we’d still have the option to throw Brobbey on if we still needed a goal

 

And to think some people thought we were paying too much for him. He's been absolutely priceless so far this season on and off the pitch

 

I'll go with this:

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Alderete out with concussion, suspect that means instant return for Reinaldo, Mukiele central.

 

@Phil__Smith
RLB reveals Omar Alderete is out with concussion on Saturday. Hopeful he'll be back for Everton.

#SAFC


Oh well thats the end of the 3-5-2 formation

 

Hume at LCB and Reinildo at LWB still a possibility for me.

 

Back 4 picks itself now. Alderete will be a huge miss, though

 

Brilliant match day thread again RTB. Highlight of the week on here.
It's a shame that Aldarete is missing, as I wanted to go 5 at the back, with Geertruida coming in alongside Ballard and Aldarete, and Mukiele at RWB. I would have rested Trai for this one, as I worry about the pace and trickery of Neto.

It's great to see Reinildo back though. Id still go with a back 5, Sadiki, Xhaka and Le Fee in midfield and Mayenda playing slightly deeper than Isidor, in order to help Trai and to pick up the loose balls and drive us up the field.
This is a free hit, but we can't treat it like one, like we did at Old Trafford.

Confidence should be high in both camps and we are level on points with our opponents for a reason. We're a good side.

Hoping for a shut out, like we did at Palace and Forest, then who knows, we might nick one. HTL!!!!

 

Mad that alderete probably (for just a game) isnt really a big miss. Of course it would be nicer to have him but feels like we have enough quality depth to not feel it too much.

 

Definitely a big miss, I feel. Being left footed brings a great balance

 

I think its nice to have but not a must have, you've got to imagine we'll be in our own box for most of this game and i think ballard and mukiele as centre halves should provide enough in box defending.

However if that balance was the concern we could still see Reinildo come in as a LCB in a 3 - if the club think we need a left footed on that side.

 

Aye, it’s a good point regarding being in our own box for most of the game. Fully expect a back 4 of Hume, Mukiele, Ballard and Reinildo.