Thats all we'll need . Seriously though another body in midfield would complete the line-up but who, personally I would put another U21 player in but maybe Gomez or Toytoy could be given one last chance. Until we get our so called first team back three fit and a couple more CB's recruited, its a tough job putting out anything like a team with whats left, worrying times tbh.
Decent thread shame about the title. Bearing in mind our predicament I won't be taking the mick out of any other club. Not even Newcastle. The time for that is when we finish above them. Remember lets all laugh at Leicester? Other clubs just have too much ammo to fire back at us. There are certain other clubs and fans I wish the worst for, i'm going to try to be patient in sticking it to them
Sunderland striker Steven Fletcher to return against Aston Villa Captain John O’Shea has a chance of being available to face Villa too, with Sunderland desperate for the centre-half to return. Read more: http://www.sunderlandecho.com/sport...n-against-aston-villa-1-7651257#ixzz3vzDYl68w
Well I've tried everything to get to this match and I've just given up this morning. Flight from Southampton to Newcastle fortune, train from London fortune, coach times no good. After the drink I've had, over the last two weeks, I just can't face that drive. Looks like I'll have to get sorted for the Bournemouth game and come up on their coach. For anyone who's going I hope you see a great win and the start of the latest miracle
I hate the term 'must win match' but this is ......... it would send us down 'mentally' rather than mathematically if we lost. Even a good transfer window would struggle to get us back up for the fight. Happy New Year btw
It sure is an important game, and could be the start of an upward climb, its good news having JoS and SF back, but says everything really about our limited options. Still both can add something to the squad and thats all that matters at the moment. Three points would be a great start to the new year and should not be beyond us. Onwards and upwards.
Massive game, if we don't get 3 points from this then its time to fear the worst. The way i see it we've got the attacking players to cause them some problems so i'd like to see us set up to attack them from the off. Hoping AJ gets nowhere near the first 11 but i think borini watmore and lens could all cause them problems. I'm travelling up for the game tomorrow am hoping the atmospere is better than last time i was up against watford, if we all get behind the lads i'm sure we get the result we need.
some crap stats from the last 10 at home v villa. http://www.kickoff.co.uk/61499/sensational-stats-for-sunderland-v-aston-villa/?
MATCH PREVIEW: Sunderland V Aston Villa By Brian_Cummins @Funkyphallus on Jan 1, 2016, 7:28p + please log in to view this image Tomorrow we welcome in the New Year by entertaining Remi Garde's Aston Villa - without a doubt it is the most important match of the season thus far. TWEET SHARE (5) PIN Here we are, at the halfway stage of the season, and things are looking quite ominous to say the least. We've emerged from the festive fixture run from hell facing the first real make-or-break game of the season. Like us, Villa are struggling, which should see both sides play out a fairly competitive tie. For Sam Allardyce taking three points from the game is our only option on Saturday. We showed heart against Liverpool but ultimately we lacked quality, both defensively and in attack. This should be a much more even game and if we take our chances there's no reason why we can't take all three points. please log in to view this image Match Appointments Referee: Craig Pawson Assistants: J Brooks & D Bryan Fourth Official: A Madley Team News Sunderland Even If Lamine Kone completes his signing before the game he will not be eligible to play. The same applies to Jordan Pickford, who was recently recalled after a highly impressive loan spell with Preston North End. Sebastián Coates, who limped off the pitch in the second half against Liverpool, will be closely monitored by Sam Allardyce and is currently touch and go with regards to whether or not he'll be available for selection. Should the Villa clash come too soon for the Uruguay international it will hand Sam Allardyce yet another defensive selection headache, with captain John O'Shea and Younes Kaboul already ruled out. Jack Rodwell is out due to the hamstring injury he picked up on Wednesday - this could either see Jordi Gomez return to the line up. Steven Fletcher is a slight doubt. Aston Villa Jordan Ayew - who arguably has been Villa's best performer so far this season - misses the game through suspension. Gabriel Agbonlahor and Carlos Sanchez are both doubts but could feature. Form Sunderland please log in to view this image Wednesday 30th December - Sunderland 0-1 Liverpool Saturday 26th December - Man City 4-1 Sunderland Saturday 19th December - Chelsea 3-1 Sunderland Saturday 12th December - Sunderland 0-1 Watford Saturday 5th December - Arsenal 3-1 Sunderland Saturday 28th November - Sunderland 2-0 Stoke Aston Villa please log in to view this image Monday 29th December - Norwich 2-0 Aston Villa Saturday 26th December - Aston Villa 1-1 West Ham Saturday 19th December - Newcastle 1-1 Aston Villa Sunday 13th December - Aston Villa 0-2 Arsenal Saturday 5th December - Southampton 1-1 Aston Villa Saturday 28th November - Aston Villa 2-3 Watford What The Managers Say Sunderland manager Sam Allardyce: What we have to do is play our best against Aston Villa and win. That's the real nerve-tester - and we must keep our nerve. Even though they have had a couple more days to get ready, we have to make sure we are ready physically and mentally to go out there and get the three points. We have to keep going, we have to keep believing. We have to keep our nerve and make sure we are ready for our big clash on Saturday. Aston Villa manager Remi Garde: It is a very important game but this is not the last chance we will have to be fair. There are still a lot of points to be done. Let's see what happens. We will go there to win. I want my team to have the best spirit they can have - everyone in this club, particularly me and the players - have to show the best we can do. I am sure the players will be very, very committed. Last 10 League Meetings August 29th 2015 - Aston Villa 2-2 Sunderland March 14th 2015 - Sunderland 0-4 Aston Villa December 28th 2014 - Aston Villa 0-0 Sunderland January 1st 2014 - Sunderland 0-1 Aston Villa November 30th 2013 - Aston Villa 0-0 Sunderland April 29th 2013 - Aston Villa 6-1 Sunderland November 3rd 2012 - Sunderland 0-1 Aston Villa April 21st 2012 - Aston Villa 0-0 Sunderland October 29th 2011 - Sunderland 2-2 Aston Villa January 5th 2011 - Aston Villa 0-1 Sunderland Last Meeting Last Corresponding Fixture March 14th 2015: Sunderland 0 - Aston Villa 4 Benteke 16', 44' Agbonlahor 18', 37' please log in to view this image Stats 'N' Facts Head to Head Aston Villa are unbeaten in their last nine games against Sunderland (W4, D5), a run stretching back to January 2011. The Black Cats have failed to score in four of their last five games against Villa and six of their last eight. Sunderland The Black Cats have scored nine Premier League home goals this season - only Aston Villa, with six, have a lower total. Defeat would mean Sunderland have lost six successive Premier League games for the first time since a similar sequence between August and October 2013. Sunderland have made eight first-half substitutions in this season's Premier League - three more than any other side. Sunderland's tally of 38 goals conceded is the worst record in the top flight currently. Aston Villa Villa have scored 15 Premier League goals this season - the lowest total in the top flight. Their shot conversion rate is 9.8% - the poorest in this season's Premier League. Villa have taken eight points from their opening 19 games - only two Premier League sides have claimed fewer points (Sunderland had six in 2005-06 and Derby had seven in 2007-08). They are winless in 18 league games (D5, L13) - including eight under Remi Garde (D4, L4). Gabriel Agbonlahor has scored five goals in his last five Premier League appearances against Sunderland
Villa are gone IMO but they could go a long way in taking us with them today. Must win but after the last 5 not confident
, post: 8746655, member: 1000561"]MATCH PREVIEW: Sunderland V Aston Villa By Brian_Cummins @Funkyphallus on Jan 1, 2016, 7:28p + please log in to view this image Tomorrow we welcome in the New Year by entertaining Remi Garde's Aston Villa - without a doubt it is the most important match of the season thus far. TWEET SHARE (5) PIN Here we are, at the halfway stage of the season, and things are looking quite ominous to say the least. We've emerged from the festive fixture run from hell facing the first real make-or-break game of the season. Like us, Villa are struggling, which should see both sides play out a fairly competitive tie. For Sam Allardyce taking three points from the game is our only option on Saturday. We showed heart against Liverpool but ultimately we lacked quality, both defensively and in attack. This should be a much more even game and if we take our chances there's no reason why we can't take all three points. please log in to view this image Match Appointments Referee: Craig Pawson Assistants: J Brooks & D Bryan Fourth Official: A Madley Team News Sunderland Even If Lamine Kone completes his signing before the game he will not be eligible to play. The same applies to Jordan Pickford, who was recently recalled after a highly impressive loan spell with Preston North End. Sebastián Coates, who limped off the pitch in the second half against Liverpool, will be closely monitored by Sam Allardyce and is currently touch and go with regards to whether or not he'll be available for selection. Should the Villa clash come too soon for the Uruguay international it will hand Sam Allardyce yet another defensive selection headache, with captain John O'Shea and Younes Kaboul already ruled out. Jack Rodwell is out due to the hamstring injury he picked up on Wednesday - this could either see Jordi Gomez return to the line up. Steven Fletcher is a slight doubt. Aston Villa Jordan Ayew - who arguably has been Villa's best performer so far this season - misses the game through suspension. Gabriel Agbonlahor and Carlos Sanchez are both doubts but could feature. Form Sunderland please log in to view this image Wednesday 30th December - Sunderland 0-1 Liverpool Saturday 26th December - Man City 4-1 Sunderland Saturday 19th December - Chelsea 3-1 Sunderland Saturday 12th December - Sunderland 0-1 Watford Saturday 5th December - Arsenal 3-1 Sunderland Saturday 28th November - Sunderland 2-0 Stoke Aston Villa please log in to view this image Monday 29th December - Norwich 2-0 Aston Villa Saturday 26th December - Aston Villa 1-1 West Ham Saturday 19th December - Newcastle 1-1 Aston Villa Sunday 13th December - Aston Villa 0-2 Arsenal Saturday 5th December - Southampton 1-1 Aston Villa Saturday 28th November - Aston Villa 2-3 Watford What The Managers Say Sunderland manager Sam Allardyce: What we have to do is play our best against Aston Villa and win. That's the real nerve-tester - and we must keep our nerve. Even though they have had a couple more days to get ready, we have to make sure we are ready physically and mentally to go out there and get the three points. We have to keep going, we have to keep believing. We have to keep our nerve and make sure we are ready for our big clash on Saturday. Aston Villa manager Remi Garde: It is a very important game but this is not the last chance we will have to be fair. There are still a lot of points to be done. Let's see what happens. We will go there to win. I want my team to have the best spirit they can have - everyone in this club, particularly me and the players - have to show the best we can do. I am sure the players will be very, very committed. Last 10 League Meetings August 29th 2015 - Aston Villa 2-2 Sunderland March 14th 2015 - Sunderland 0-4 Aston Villa December 28th 2014 - Aston Villa 0-0 Sunderland January 1st 2014 - Sunderland 0-1 Aston Villa November 30th 2013 - Aston Villa 0-0 Sunderland April 29th 2013 - Aston Villa 6-1 Sunderland November 3rd 2012 - Sunderland 0-1 Aston Villa April 21st 2012 - Aston Villa 0-0 Sunderland October 29th 2011 - Sunderland 2-2 Aston Villa January 5th 2011 - Aston Villa 0-1 Sunderland Last Meeting Last Corresponding Fixture March 14th 2015: Sunderland 0 - Aston Villa 4 Benteke 16', 44' Agbonlahor 18', 37' please log in to view this image Stats 'N' Facts Head to Head Aston Villa are unbeaten in their last nine games against Sunderland (W4, D5), a run stretching back to January 2011. The Black Cats have failed to score in four of their last five games against Villa and six of their last eight. Sunderland The Black Cats have scored nine Premier League home goals this season - only Aston Villa, with six, have a lower total. Defeat would mean Sunderland have lost six successive Premier League games for the first time since a similar sequence between August and October 2013. Sunderland have made eight first-half substitutions in this season's Premier League - three more than any other side. Sunderland's tally of 38 goals conceded is the worst record in the top flight currently. Aston Villa Villa have scored 15 Premier League goals this season - the lowest total in the top flight. Their shot conversion rate is 9.8% - the poorest in this season's Premier League. Villa have taken eight points from their opening 19 games - only two Premier League sides have claimed fewer points (Sunderland had six in 2005-06 and Derby had seven in 2007-08). They are winless in 18 league games (D5, L13) - including eight under Remi Garde (D4, L4). Gabriel Agbonlahor has scored five goals in his last five Premier League appearances against Sunderland [/QUOTE] Cheers funky good thread as always. It's about time we smoked the villains. Lose and we deserve the championship.
Losing this wouldn't relegate us mathematically but it would mentally. Even a good transfer window wouldn't raise us from the dead .......... Haway Sunderland, win this game and the fight's on!!!!
We have got 4 games in January. Villa, Swansea, Spurs and Bourenmouth. We need at least 7 points out of that lot. We'll still be in the bottom 3 but we will have pulled ourselves back into it, if we can do that. If we do get 7 out of that and no more, we will then need 3 draws or a win out of our next 3 games. Man City (H), Liverpool (A), Man Utd (H)
I think losing at home against villa Will ****ing kill me. It's villa, we're at home. Come on fellas!
