Newcastle play a 4-5-1 / 4-3-3 so I think under manning the engine room like we did against West Ham would be a tad risky. Its not ideal but our two victories at home have come with Wickham on the left and that's how I'd go. Johnson on the right and Defoe through the middle. The rest I think picks itself --------Pantillimon---------- Rev---Oshea---Brown---Pva --------Cattermole----------- -----Larsson---Rodwell------ Johnson--Defoe-----Wickham
I like Pants but if Vito looks back to best in training I'd like to see him getting back in the team. His distribution adds a welcome extra element to our game. Aside from that I think I'd go with your team, hoping that Watmore get's a cameo in the second half and scores that same wonder goal he scored for Altrincham.
How about this for a change --------Pantillimon---------- Rev---Oshea---Brown---Rodwell --------Cattermole----------- ----Johnson---------Pva Watmore--Defoe---Wickham Buckley in for Brown if he`s injured. Go get `em. Where`s me tin hat.
Johnson & PVA hoying crosses in (Might as well he`s nee bloody good defending). Watmore Defoe & Wickham putting them away. Got to be worth 6 that man.
...............Pants Rev Rodwell O'Shea PVA ...........Cattermole Seb Alvarez Johnson (Wickham) .............Defoe ...........Wickham
They'll have Williamson at centre half, one of the few PL CH's Wickham could bully. WIckham is also quicker than him. Advocaat was encouraging us to fling the ball up to the front, against West Ham, and I think Wickham would be able to help Defoe more than the other way round. I'd even consider putting Fletcher up against Williamson and Janmaat, or whoever is in. Defoe shouldn't have to be winning the ball, he should be receiving it in space. The Newcastle attack has some threat, as they showed against Arsenal, so I'd concentrate on keeping their poor defence busy. I certainly wouldn't want Perez buzzing around Vergini & O'Shea too much. AJ played as well as I've seen him when he came on against West Ham. He really looks up for it, so much for people expecting his head to be shot.
Not sure on this one. The shape of the last game was fine because it was the most narrow pitch in the league by quite some way. Our pitch is much much wider making Saturday's set up lack the width needed. I'm still undecided. Plenty of time to ponder it.
Didn't look too great from where I was sat either. You can always tell from their face, especially when it's somebody who's had a few bad ones along the way.
SUNDERLAND are assessing the fitness of Wes Brown after the veteran defender suffered a worrying injury at West Ham. Brown was forced off during the opening 15 minutes at Upton Park on Saturday after landing awkwardly from a header and injuring his knee. For us, he’s an important player Dick Advocaat The 35-year-old – out of contract in the summer – limped gingerly from the field after treatment, with Sunderland still unsure of the extent of the damage on what could be a lengthy lay-off for the ex-England international. “We don’t know how it will be with Brown,” said new Sunderland boss Dick Advocaat. “For us, he’s an important player.” Sunderland at least have the fortnight’s international break to treat some of their injured players, prior to the Wear-Tyne derby on Sunday, April 5. Neither do the Black Cats have a host of players heading away to represent their countries – Costel Pantilimon, John O’Shea, Seb Larsson and Steven Fletcher are the only ones involved on Saturday who will not be at the Academy of Light this week. Advocaat said: “Some players will go out with the internationals. The others we’ve promised them a couple of days off. “We’ve got one and a half weeks to practise things. “Now we have time to look at positions.” Advocaat also has Adam Johnson available again after the winger returned to the fold as a substitute against the Hammers. Johnson missed the games against Hull and Aston Villa after he was suspended by the Black Cats, following his arrest on suspicion of sexual activity with a girl under 16. Predictably, Johnson was the subject of much media interest on Saturday and received contrasting receptions from the two sets of supporters, with the travelling Sunderland fans singing his name throughout the game. But Advocaat is happy to have Johnson available again to help Sunderland in their quest to avoid Premier League relegation. The ex-Holland manager said: “I spoke with him in the week. Life goes on. He did well. “He is a very good player. “I was happy I could bring him on. “That is good to know for the game versus Newcastle.” Sunderland have won four Tyne-Wear derbies in a row, Johnson scoring in three of those including a stoppage-time winner at St James’s Park earlier this season.
"Advocaat knows that the Newcastle squad is depleted and they might have to play some of their kids". Johnson was pictured moments after this, with his full kit on waiting for the Stadium Of Light to open.
Didn;t look good on telly either - @Funky Dick mentioned something match day thread where he said "Wes Brown's finished" think he meant in the game but my thoughts were in football - it was one of those which he looked in pain and the worry on his face said an awful lot. Decent career he's had but injuries have cost him seasons of missed football. Think it'll be O'Shea and Vergini at centre half on Easter Sunday. Edit: Funk - where did your post come from - why did they have to menion AJ's arrest and what he was arrested for again? The press does my head in man!!
I'm going to be controversial here as I'd like to see Gomez start. I can see his limitations as well as anyone but his composure on the ball might just mean we are the team brave enough to put our foot on the ball while they run around like loonies on derby day. We haven't won a single game this season without him in the starting XI. Not one. ---------Pants Rev JOS Rodwell PVA Seb Catts Gomez ------------AJ -------JD Wickham
