Last week I managed our first 2 wins, now lets continue the run for this one... Saturdays game sees us take a lunch time trip to Sunderland, although I am sure the day will start much much earlier for those making the long trip up as part of our amazing away support. I can see us going in to the next game with the same team, as the old adage goes "Don't mess with a winning team", although I would consider swapping Cantwell back in for Hernandez - who is most effective in the last 20mins off the bench for me. Pukki seemed back to fitness in the midweek cup game, however Sargent has said in an interview that DS told them that if you are scoring then you keep the shirt and I would back that decision 100%. I don't know whether it has just taken a bit of time but the team and system seems to have clicked since Sargent has come in and it is great to finally have another viable option, rather than running Pukki ragged for 40 odd games without any rest due to a lack of confidence in the options. It will also be interesting to see how Pukki reacts to some genuine competition for the first time in 4 years, my hope is that it brings out the best in both Pukki and Sargent and may actually give Pukki a bit more longevity as he shouldn't have to play 90mins every week! Byram also got some much needed game time in the recent cup game so he could be in line for some more minutes, although whether he is ready from the start I am not sure. The only other possible position that I can think to talk about would be GK. Gunn showed in the cup game why some of us believe he could take the number 1 shirt sooner rather than later with some outstanding saves. Krul has done little to nothing wrong this season so a change would feel harsh on him but with the future in mind my preference would be to make the switch over soon. Sunderland currently lie above us in the league in 5th position with 8 points, after wins against Bristol City and Stoke, draws with Coventry City and QPR and there only loss of the season coming against Sheffield United after they went down to 10men on 31mins. Sunderland then are clearly a team in good form with all the confidence still that promotion from League 1 brings. Lastly, Saturday sees the return of 3 ex-canaries in Manager Alex Neil and players Alex Pritchard and Patrick Roberts (although he never featured for us). One last interesting dimension to the game, it is reported on the BBC website that Alex Neil has been approached by Stoke, the team they beat last week, for the vacant manager position. How will that effect his team and proceedings... Positive Vibes!!! ON THE BALL CITY!!!
Looking around Twitter, rumours are that Neil has already accepted the job at Stoke and will not be at tomorrows game, he will instead be watching Stoke v Blackburn. Another rumour is that he is leaving because he doesn't feel that he has been backed and that a bid has come in for their Striker - Stewart.
https://www.safc.com/news/team-news/2022/august/club-statement-alex-neil Sunderland confirm the approach, and don't seem happy.
Not happy, it's *ucking joke club ours(SAFC) so much for our owners, we are back to square one now what the hell has he done, 40,000 best stadium and training facilities outside the prem, they will not replace him either within the next 2 weeks.
I wonder whether we might go 4-4-2 with both Pukki and Sargent starting and Idah and/or Hugill on the bench. Byram played 45 minutes so could perhaps manage 60 minutes here. If so, it could look like this: Krul Aarons Hanley Omobamidele Byram Sinani Núñez McClean Cantwell Sargent Pukki Subs: Gunn, Springett, Gibson, Gibbs, Sara, Dowell, Idah/Hugill Then again, it could look totally different!
Any idea for Neil's reasons? Seems like at best a sideways move, and Stoke have no parachute payments and have only signed players on free transfers/loans this summer, so it doesn't seem like he's going to have any money to spend there.
Predicted lineups for tomorrow? I think we'll see: Gunn Aarons Omobamidele Hanley McLean Dowell Gibbs Nunez Sinani Sargent Cantwell Sara must be pushing for a start, but the relationships Aarons, Dowell, Sinani and Sargent are building shouldn't be disrupted. All heavily involved in our goals lately too. Left wing spot is definitely up for grabs, I honestly wonder if we could see Pukki out there at some point this season? Perhaps not when McLean is LB, but might be the way to shoehorn Pukki and Sargent into the same lineup without losing Sargent as a focal point.
Some folk are saying it's because we wouldn't give him a 3 year contract and some people saying he felt like he wasn't being backed. I fancied us to beat you tomorrow. I think we'll struggle, now. You don't leave the biggest club in the league to join Stoke City for footballing reasons, so something has gone on. No man is ever bigger than a football club. Don't let the door hit you on the way out AN.
