Sunderland v Aston Villa Pre-Match Thread

[Percy McCarthy]

I wonder where we'd be if every game ended at half-time?

[damon loves JT]

I would be in Charlie's chippy by ten to four

[peter w]

And I'd be in this cracking blonde that lives near the ground.

I'd like to point out that I'm happily married and this is just a joke. the wife is now in the kitchen as I'm typing.

[django]

I reckon we'll get a point.  Could do with all 3 though.

I hope people don't keep giving Delph so much stick, he's had some poor games this season esp. last weeks but has had some decent games too (WBA sticks in my mind.) That makes him frustratingly inconsistent, much like any of our players. He may not ultimately be good enough to play in this league but he's still a young kid and we may need him at times this season.

[peter w]

I didn't think delph looked that bad last week to be honest. He, at least seemed to be trying to do something.

[ciggiesnbeer]

Back to my usual mindless optimism. I see an easy win for Villa. 3-1. Weimann with a brace. Bent to not play.

[TaxDodger]

0-0. Both sides to miss a penalty.

[VancouverLion]

Think we'll win 2-1 Benteke 28, Clark 76 . Fletcher for them
Any idea on how many are making the trip up tomorrow?

[Toronto Villa]

3 man attack with Bent and Benteke grabbing a goal a piece with Gabby having a helping hand in both. 2-0 and MON's stock to drop even further.

[PeterWithesShin]

I'd make KEA captain for this one.

[PeterWithesShin]

It was an obvious angle for journalists as they questioned Paul Lambert in his press conference ahead of the Sunderland game.

Martin O'Neill is not only a former Villa boss. He's also one of Lambert's managerial mentors, alongside Ottmar Hitzfeld.

Lambert was more than happy to wax lyrical about his gaffer at Celtic, speaking positively about O'Neill's man-management skills - the ability to get the very best out of his players.

But while acknowledging the news agenda and going along with it, he made a very telling point in his radio briefing.

"Knowing Martin and the way he is, he will want to win. But we are not playing! It's not him and me. It's Sunderland v Aston Villa."

That's the key. It's about players. It's about their quality, desire but also, vitally, their current confidence.

Sunderland will be smarting from their derby loss to Middlesbrough in the Capital One Cup, where they were booed off at full-time.

Villa, on the other hand, scored a last-minute goal to see off Swindon and reach the quarter-finals of the competition.

The Stadium of Light is an intimidating venue and O'Neill will be showing the chest-thumping skills he's so renowned for on the eve of the game to spark his stars.

But the buoyancy in the claret and blue camp could well work in Villa's favour, as Lambert readily acknowledges.

"Any win is vital no matter what level you are playing or who you are up against.

"Winning breeds confidence. At 2-0 we were really comfortable at Swindon. Then we became complacent and thought the game was over.

"Swindon are an honest group of lads and kept on going. But I was delighted with the response to come back and win."

It's a point that O'Neill accepts too.

"It was a great victory for them at Swindon to come back and score a last-minute winning goal. It puts them in the quarter-finals of the competition.

"In that sense it keeps their momentum going."

That word is so key - momentum.

Villa will be eager for a positive result against the Black Cats as they aim to start a push up the Barclays Premier League table during the festive period.

However, if you listened to the pundits you'd think our players may as well take a holiday in November and not bother fulfilling their fixtures.

It's certainly not a viewpoint Lambert shares as he looks to Sunderland, Manchester United, Arsenal and Reading.

"It's not something that scares us. If I really thought like that there's no point in turning up.

"Every game in the Premier League is really hard. The big ones are no different.

"It's something I am looking forward to, not shy away from."

It's that positive outlook and determined approach that should work in Villa's favour long-term too.

Lambert doesn't fear anyone. And he doesn't set up his teams to fear anyone.

Every press conference he talks of an approach laced with flair and fluency.

It's no different this weekend.

"All the teams managed by 'the gaffer' are right at you and this one will be no different.

"We're going to have to weather that as well but by the same token we have to get at them too.

"It's not a game where we will go up there and sit back and wait and wait.

"We have to be out of the blocks quick."

MATCH INFO

Match: Sunderland v Villa
Competition: Barclays Premier League
Venue: Stadium of Light
Date: Saturday November 3, 2012
Referee: Mick Jones

[Steve R]

Swindon are an honest group of lads and kept on going

ffs, I hope he's not having an identity crisis.

[Chipsticks]

Swindon are an honest group of lads and kept on going

ffs, I hope he's not having an identity crisis.

Has he called us fickle yet?

[silhillvilla]

Hopefully this will be one of the weekends Alan Hansen doesn't describe us as embarrassing

[ciggiesnbeer]

Hopefully this will be one of the weekends Alan Hansen doesn't describe us as embarrassing

After we smash them it will be all the more delicious to drink his bitter tears.