Sunderland v Aston Villa Pre-Match Thread

[Damo70]

It would be interesting to have a 'sliding doors' scenario where in one case Villa lose and the other Sunderland lose and see the difference in the medias conclusions.

[curiousorange]

Villa win = lucky
Sunderland win = St Martin back on track

[onje_villa]

The build-up to include every broadsheet doing a feature on Villa post-O'Neill, the BBC live feed to be full of Twitter posts about how we shouldn't have sacked him, OptaJoe to say 'Villa finished sixth three times under O'Neill, but haven't since. Backwards', and Steven Fletcher to score a header on the hour with their worst chance. Media world to have collective orgasm, O'Neill to say they were terrific, Bent to be captured sulking on the bench and Lambert to say 'we go again'.

Sadly, this, 1000%
Worried about the injuries in defence and midfield still fills me with dread. Come on Paul, get a proper balanced midfield sorted and stick with it.

[Risso]

Pubehead is starting to get lots of grief from the Sunderland fans, so us beating them would be another nail in his coffin.

[eastie]

                           Guzan

Lichaj.        Lowton.    Vlaar.     Bennett

        Holman.   Delph.     Bannan

                    Ireland

       Gabby.         Benteke

i expect he will go with this team the assumption that herd, Clark and baker all all out and kea is suspended.

I'd like to see Westwood and Carruthers on the bench along with given, bent, Stevens, Weimann and albrighton.

[Lambert and Payne]

They haven't scored in 6 hours of football. Lets hope our defense can concentrate for the full 90 for a change
1-1 draw, A Johnson for them and Benteke for us, won't do either team much good. We really do need 3 points from this, November is a tough month

[Risso]

I can't imagine that this game is being lined up for the first slot on Match of the Day.

[PaulTheVillan]

For some reason I think we're going to win this one.

Clark and Baker are due back for Saturday according to Physioroom.com, I guess we'll find out soon enough.

Guzan
Lichaj Lowton Vlaar Bennett
KEA
Holman Delph
Ireland
Gabby Benteke

[eastie]

For some reason I think we're going to win this one.

Clark and Baker are due back for Saturday according to Physioroom.com, I guess we'll find out soon enough.

Guzan
Lichaj Lowton Vlaar Bennett
KEA
Holman Delph
Ireland
Gabby Benteke

Kea is suspended.
Lambert said baker will be a few more weeks on Saturday, if Clark is fit then that's great, I'm expecting Clark,herd and baker to all miss out though.

[darren woolley]

1-0 Sunderland.

[Irish villain]

The build-up to include every broadsheet doing a feature on Villa post-O'Neill, the BBC live feed to be full of Twitter posts about how we shouldn't have sacked him, OptaJoe to say 'Villa finished sixth three times under O'Neill, but haven't since. Backwards', and Steven Fletcher to score a header on the hour with their worst chance. Media world to have collective orgasm, O'Neill to say they were terrific, Bent to be captured sulking on the bench and Lambert to say 'we go again'.

Just laughed out loud at work! Great stuff.

This will be a big game for both managers, the young pretenders against his old master. There will be a bit more bite to it than our recent tame outings. They will be up for it and so will we.

2-2 though I hope we can nick all three points.

[CJ]

With KEA suspended and Herd now out injured we'll struggle unless Baker and Clark are back. If they are back I think we'll win - if not we'll lose. It's going to be a horrible November

[Chipsticks]

Sunderland haven't scored for 6 hours of play, that is truly dreadful.

[eastie]

Sunderland haven't scored for 6 hours of play, that is truly dreadful.

Shush! Don't tempt fate.

[l_mckay]

Think we'll loose this  game 2-1. Benteke to score for us