Sat, 21 Dec: Norwich (h) PL Thurs, 26 Dec: Everton (a) PL Sat, 28 Dec: Cardiff (a) PL Wed, 1 Jan: Aston Villa (h) PL Sun, 5 Jan: Carlisle (h) FAC Tues, 7 Jan: Man Utd (h) LC Sat, 11 Jan: Fulham (a) PL Tues, 14 Jan or Weds, 15 Jan: Possible FA Cup third-round replay Sat, 18 Jan: Southampton (h) PL Weds, 22 Jan: Man Utd (a) LC Sat, 25 Jan: Possible FA Cup fourth-round tie Tues, 28 Jan: Stoke (h) PL
With the Man united game on a Tuesday now gus will defo play the B team against Carlisle. hopefully players like Cabral & Mavrias will get a game.
Hopefully it coincides with us hitting a bit of form - or were you wishing that we hadn't got through to the cup semi-final?
Apart from us cup semi finalists isn't it the same for everybody at this time of year, progression in the cups brings these extra fixtures, it's a fact of life I'm afraid.
it could be the best thing for us if we can get a run of results going. could be well back in the mix by mid january
I was scared to open this thread and i'm scared, ffs man, pdc's fitness regime must bare fruit Thought for a bit Having said that i reckon gus has already invisaged this by his 'everybody has a role to play' comments of late
Sunderland boss Gus Poyet has criticised their festive fixture pile-up and supported calls for a winter break to aid England's World Cup bid. Poyet's reached the Capital One Cup semi-finals on Tuesday - and so could face up to 12 games in 39 days if they make the FA Cup fourth round. He said: "The next five or six weeks is something I don't understand. "Why are the rest of the world probably on holidays next week and we must play 250,000 games in a month and a half?" Sunderland's busy run of fixtures over that 39-day period begins with a Premier League home game against Norwich on Saturday and is set to end with a home game against Stoke City on 28 January. During that spell, they are scheduled to play seven league games, a two-legged Capital One Cup semi-final against Manchester United and an FA Cup third-round tie at home to League One side Carlisle. The former Uruguay midfielder is used to the festive demands of English football, having played for Chelsea for four years from 1997, then for Tottenham from 2001 to 2004. He also managed Brighton from 2009 until he left the club in June. He believes a winter break would benefit the professional game in England, arguing that footballers are asked to play too much over Christmas. "Nobody will convince me - it's not normal, " he said. "I will even give you Boxing Day, I agree it is a special day in history and everybody wants to play that day - but then take the 27th off until the middle of January. "Then probably your national team players will get you to the World Cup in a better condition. But I'm not in charge. It doesn't matter how many times I say it - the winter break is needed and we don't take it." But Poyet is not complaining about the prospect of facing Manchester United in next month's two-legged Capital One Cup semi-final, having beaten Chelsea 2-1 on Tuesday to set up the clash. "We knew it was going to be a Premier League team and we know if we are going to win it we need to go through a tough semi-final and maybe an even tougher final," he added.
The more chances for the team to gel the better. Playing Gus' way, with 3 "bonus" training sessions minimum (Manure twice and Carlisle). Can only help to make us better x
The police moved the Carlisle game, but they must have knew we could have got through in the league cup and had to play midweek, and Newcastle have no midweek fixture that week, so why are we not playing Carlisle on the sat ?and the mags could play Cardiff on sunday ? WHU also play on the sunday so they will not want to play on Tuesday either, and why should Gus have to play a weakened team to suit them up them road. we have been messed about enough this season. Cause we beat them 3-0 and 2-1 and hopefully do them again in Feb.
The games have been coming thick and fast for a couple of weeks now, he's got to use the squad and is doing so as Gards is getting game time . Gus has said Cabral will be featuring soon. We've got the french lads chomping at the bit for cb places, and two young wide players on the fringes and young Watmore will be sniffing I'm sure. Plus Gus wants to be in quick off the mark in the transfer market that opens in a few weeks and he's already hinted that deals could be at advanced stages. Our injury list is extremely short. I think we're in a good position to continue through this fixture congestion.
Carlisle have sold out, could have sold more, would it not be in the interest of the club to give them more? "Andy Hall [!]8207;@cufckit 2m We've spoken to @SAFCofficial this morning and our allocation will not be increased #cufc #facup" http://boards.footymad.net/forum.php?tno=121&fid=18&sty=2&act=1&mid=2111747843&page=1
yes and we have a big squad all these players bought and the ones we have should cope ok. Fare enough we may not be able to play our best eleven every game but Gus's has chopped and changed in most games.he will put out a good enough side to compete in all games.
Sunderland should of give Carlisle a bigger allocation because we will not sell out. bad move from Sunderland like & I wish they would of give them over 7,000 just to make smug look like a mug
Anyone like to predict how many points out of the 7 league games listed. I do not see these as easy.All bottom half teams are difficult to win against. Out of our next 3 games I have heard people saying they would be happy with 2-4 points wheras some think we will get 7.No easy fixtures for any teams this year.
We need to bring the '2nd string' on a bit and have them challenging for places ........ the FA Cup 3rd round is just the occassion. We should batter Carlisle with our reserves tbh.
