Sunderland v Aston Villa Pre-Match Thread

[silhillvilla]

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.

Small consolation but at least Alan Shearer should be talking up our performance this week regardless

[Rudy Can't Fail]

I really hope we manage to score a in match where we are completely out played, backs to the wall defending for 90 minutes and come away with all 3 points.

[olaftab]

Tomorrow we wont be completely outplayed with backs to the wall defending for 90 mins.

[silhillvilla]

Tomorrow we wont be completely outplayed with backs to the wall defending for 90 mins.

If we are, we are in big trouble

[SoccerHQ]

Big worry if we lose this particuarly as Sunderland have been toss recently.

Lose tommorrow and we'd have gone to West Ham, Saints, Fulham and Sunderland and got nil points. Those are ground where we usually pick up points from and we haven't been to any of the top teams away yet.

It puts pressure on your home form and we all know what our record is like at VP over the last year.

Being incredibly pessimistic, I'd take 16th or 17th now if offered but this can't go on forever just trying to survive in the league.

[silhillvilla]

Agree, even under "the other guy" we were picking up dull points at places like Sunderland. As much as we all like Lambert by comparison / default, he has to start putting points on the board.
If it were any of us in a new job, we'd be looking iffy for getting through the 3/6 month probation period.

[ciggiesnbeer]

Agree, even under "the other guy" we were picking up dull points at places like Sunderland. As much as we all like Lambert by comparison / default, he has to start putting points on the board.
If it were any of us in a new job, we'd be looking iffy for getting through the 3/6 month probation period.

Its true. I like lambert, I think he will be a very good manager for us, I like his transfers and his tactics at the beginning of the season. But the truth is he has done a poor job when it comes to the bottom line, results. Hopefully tomorrow and (dare we dream?) against our other November opponents we can start doing well.

I feel oddly optimistic about it, it maybe the drink though

[TonyD]

The bells are ringing for the claret and blue........

[Rudy Can't Fail]

Tomorrow we wont be completely outplayed with backs to the wall defending for 90 mins.

I know but I do love irony.

[brontebilly]

dont mind lichaj at right back but would also recommend giving hutton another chance in the squad.

I think Lowton looks more comfortable at centre half so if clark isnt fully fit Id leave him there.

Id play a pretty attacking side as we havent got players to hold up Sunderland. If we scored first they could collapse

Guzan
Lichaj, Lowton, Vlaar, Bennett
Weimann, Ireland, Delph, Gabby
Bent, Benteke

dont see Bent starting though. Lambert will probably go with 433 with Weimann, Gabby and Benteke up front. Ireland, Delph and Bannan/Holman behind.

[eamonn]

What did O'Neill say in his pre-match presser about us?

[Steve R]

What did O'Neill say in his pre-match presser about us?

He said we were triffic and would never sue us even if we said bad things about him.

[olaftab]

Guzan
Lichaj, Lowton, Vlaar, Bennett
Weimann, Ireland, Delph, Gabby
Bent, Benteke

I am so pleased you are not our manager. Did you not think about recalling Fonz to play at centre back?

[silhillvilla]

Lichaj is a car crash full back but it really is Hobsons choice just now.

[Mister E]

Lichaj is a car crash full back but it really is Hobsons choice just now.

Harsh.
Clark should be fit and there's talk of playing Westwood in MF.
Not sure whether Westwood is ready for it, but I guess we'll find out later today.