Ready for the day but dreading the match
Billy Jones set to miss out with a hamstring problem. Shock.Quelle surprise, as they say.
Billy Jones set to miss out with a hamstring problem. Shock.
Foster
Baird Wisdom Olsson Pocognoli
Mulumbu Yacob
Sessegnon Dorrans Brunt
Anichebe
Not surprised at all glad we got rid of the sicknotePersonally hate the sicknote description....think it gives the view that a player is making the most of injuries to get out of action.
I've been starting to think I'd like to see us try a 5-3-2 formation against Sunderland....
Foster
Lescott(CB) Olsson(CB) Gmac(CB)
Gamboa(RWB). Davidson/Poco(LWB)
Mulumbu(DM).
Gardner/Biabiany(RM). Brunt(LM)
Bobby(ST)
Anichebe(ST)
That would be a hard team to beat!
I've been starting to think I'd like to see us try a 5-3-2 formation against Sunderland....
Foster
Lescott(CB) Olsson(CB) Gmac(CB)
Gamboa(RWB). Davidson/Poco(LWB)
Mulumbu(DM).
Gardner/Biabiany(RM). Brunt(LM)
Bobby(ST)
Anichebe(ST)
That would be a hard team to beat!
God help us !!!!!!
You wouldn't play 2 wingers with wing-backs - it would leave you with 1 centre mid. Or do you mean RCM and LCM?
Gmac to play for u21s tonight
We have a bus leaving Devon for the Sunderland game with spare seats.Anyone along the M5 corridor that wants to come on board let me know
Where do you guys leave from in Devon? Might join in the future, coming up from Cornwall
Bus leaves Torquay and usually collect at Newton Abbot then Exeter.Your best bet would be make you way to Exeter. You and Tommcneil could come up together
will def do that in future games. How much is it if you don't mind me asking!
I think people have overly negative views of Dawson because he has handed in a transfer request.
I think people have overly negative views of Dawson because he has handed in a transfer request.Nothing to do with it, he's just not very good.
Looking forward to the start of the new season and seeing some of our new players in action, especially Brown.
Dawsons head is elswhere
I think people have overly negative views of Dawson because he has handed in a transfer request.
Problem is, Irvine has continued with the partnership of Dawson and Olsson throughout pre-season, whilst he hasn't really tried Wisdom as a CB, so logic would say that it will be those pair that start at the back (which is worrying!).
Maybe off the bench mate.
Liquadator is needed, moral is low.I noticed the Dingles waive giant flags before the game, all this helps build an atmosphere
Foster
Wisdom Baird Olsson Poccognoli
Mulumbu Gardner
Dorrans Sessegnon Brunt
Anichebe
Subs:
Myhill, Davidson, Dawson, Yacob, Ideye, Berahino, Roofe
The above team is without Lescott, McAuley and Gamboa who will probably be unavailable - othewise it would have been Lescott and McAuley at the back with Baird and Olsson alongside Gamboa on the bench.
One thing I noticed producing this team is that we're badly crying out for some width - or at least some pace and guile on the wings.
We haven't played real games yet but that back four doesn't exactly fill me with confidence. Hope I am wrong about that though.
I can't say as I haven't really seen Wisdom or Poccognoli play in any real depth. I've seen bits of Widsom and I think he's a vast improvement on Steven Reid. I've gone with Baird purely because I want an experienced head in there and I'm also slightly worried with the mistakes which seemed to have crept into Craig Dawson's game throughout pre-season.
I would have both Wisdom and Baird playing so that we can drop Dawson, his heart doesn't look in it at all.
As things currently stand, are we best set up for 4-3-3 this weekend?i
Pick any back 4 then a midfield three of Brunt mulumbu Dorrans, with Berahino, Ideye and Anichebe up top?!
i
Can't believe you would pick Berahino instead of Sessegnon
Worst thing that could happen is we rush him and he injures himself and ends up out for weeks , ease him in gently .
Give him a start, no-one knows much about him... including Sunderland, so maybe it'll put them on the back footWe know enough about our other options to make it a no brainer for me. Throw him in!
We know enough about our other options to make it a no brainer for me. Throw him in!
Start him off the bench for me with Anichebe in his place.
Anichebe has been here throughout pre-season and it would serve as a massive boost for him to see him be picked ahead of the clubs record signing. I guess it depends on which Anichebe turns up. Having Ideye to come off the bench though will be a good option if Big Vic can knacker the Sunderland defenders in time for his arrival.
I'd start him on Saturday, tell him to give it everything for 60 minutes then sub him for Saido to take advantage of tiring defence.I'd do it the other way around !!
I am in hospital at the moment just for another day I hope and will be down the Hawthorns to see the baggies win 2-0 FGS I don't care who.
Oh yes Glyn I will be there.
See you at Southampton Kev
Start him off the bench for me with Anichebe in his place.
Anichebe has been here throughout pre-season and it would serve as a massive boost for him to see him be picked ahead of the clubs record signing. I guess it depends on which Anichebe turns up. Having Ideye to come off the bench though will be a good option if Big Vic can knacker the Sunderland defenders in time for his arrival.
Based on pre-season, I think Irvine will send this team out. If we're lucky we'll grind out a 0-0. Hopefully Ideye and Sessegnon make an appearance late on to sneak a goal. But more likely we'll lose 2 or 3-0.
Foster
Wisdom Dawson Olsson Pocognoli
Baird Mulumbu
Gardner Dorrans Brunt
Anichebe
3 or 4 to sunderland.
Honestly if we cant beat these at home who can we beat.Shall we just accept relegation now thenThey must have been one of the form sides during the last three months of the season , no game is easy at this level . Bit early to be talking relegation isn't it ? , next thing will be "white smoke" again on here.
Find a different hobby boys for those that are going up Saturday and think we're going to get spanked 3 or 4, Bet the dingles are wetting themselves reading this.
Maybe most of us would be a bit more positive if we were playing Burnley. Whos at fault for all this Sunderland are going to win this game predictions, moral certainly amongst us aint high is itI don't see much relegation talk before a ball is kicked elsewhere , 'morale' isn't high but then again it's football , it's Albion ....you just never know . At least we know we have some quality to come in soon.
Honestly if we cant beat these at home who can we beat.Shall we just accept relegation now then
Find a different hobby boys for those that are going up Saturday and think we're going to get spanked 3 or 4, Bet the dingles are wetting themselves reading this.
Based on pre-season, I think Irvine will send this team out. If we're lucky we'll grind out a 0-0. Hopefully Ideye and Sessegnon make an appearance late on to sneak a goal. But more likely we'll lose 2 or 3-0.
Foster
Wisdom Dawson Olsson Pocognoli
Baird Mulumbu
Gardner Dorrans Brunt
Anichebe
Being the underdogs often works in our favour. I see it being 1-1 at half time and then Ideye comes on to get a winner late on much like Odemwingie's debut (also against Sunderland from memory). 2-1.
i sincerely hope that all the doom merchants are wrong, although i can see that your glass needs to be more than half full to be optimistic about this season. One thing is for sure and that is if all the predictions of defeat turn out to be correct (and im not sure why Sunderland should be a whole lot better than us) then the atmosphere on Saturday will - rightly or wrongly - be poisonous with the frustrations of the past 18 months being given full vent.
So if the worst does happen I'm with Ricky Wilson - "I predict a riot"
My personal view on Saturday is that we will see a very similar game to first game of last season. A very average game between two average teams who have not worked out how they are going to play this season. A dull draw that tells us Bugger-all is what I'm expecting
Morning 96.Not sure what you are trying to say with the Odemwingie reference? He started and played the whole game on his debut so he definitely wasn't an impact sub.
Could be wrong, but I think it more likely that we will start with Sess playing off Anichebe, with a view to Ideye coming on with half an hour or so to go and running at a tiring defence ala Peter Odemwingie on his debut.
Would like to see him start if possible though.
Get some extra yards into his legs and start with real pace and intent.
Ed: having said the last part, although he obviously knows how to play the game, he probably does not know his team mates all that well yet.
Maybe starting from the bench would allow him to read a bit more of how the game goes in the Prem, and where best to make his runs in accordance with team shape etc?
If we need flags to raise an atmosphere then lord help us.I'll be giving it my all, just hope the players on the pitch do the same. Wont accept more lack-lustre rubbish like what was served up by most of this bunch last season !!
The Liquidator and some loud voices should suffice.
So no gamboa,morrison or lescott so id go
Foster
Wisdom
Olsson
Dawson
Pocognoli
Yacob
Mulumbu
Dorrans
Berahino
Sessegnon
Anichebe
Subs
Myhil
Mcauley
Davidson
Baird
Brunt
Ideye
Gardner
Not sure what you are trying to say with the Odemwingie reference? He started and played the whole game on his debut so he definitely wasn't an impact sub.
Wba 5-1 sund
Fgs Jonas O
Got plans on tomorrow, do you have a bus for most home games? I will be traveling from saltash, Cornwall?
Got plans on tomorrow, do you have a bus for most home games? I will be traveling from saltash, Cornwall?
Wow. So we still have a shaky defence and Dorrans on the wing...
sess would be wasted on the wing he needs to be playing through the middle.he is only creative player we have got..i think after tomorrows game it will show how desperate we are for wingers and another striker
No id put sess on the wing and dorrans in the center.
I'm going to be getting the train to and from the game for the first time tomorrow from South Brum, the train runs straight to the Hawthorns from our local station. Does anyone know what the wait time is like after the game getting from the ground on the train to South Brum?
Where is everyone sitting tomorrow? Top east stand for me, best place to see the game
Anyone know what sort of lineup/players Sunderland will be fielding tomorrow?
Find a different hobby boys for those that are going up Saturday and think we're going to get spanked 3 or 4, Bet the dingles are wetting themselves reading this.If people only went when they thought we were going to win, the ground would be half full.
Looks 442 with that team, although im pretty sure it will be 433 with Berahino on the right and hopefully Dorrans behind the striker!
Looks like 4231 to me....
Awful team selection. Fearing the worst. Can't see us creating much at all with that lineup.can I just ask these comments about lack of creativity who they would pick.obviously Sessegnon is the only one and he isn't quite match fit
can I just ask these comments about lack of creativity who they would pick.obviously Sessegnon is the only one and he isn't quite match fit
can I just ask these comments about lack of creativity who they would pick.obviously Sessegnon is the only one and he isn't quite match fit
can I just ask these comments about lack of creativity who they would pick.obviously Sessegnon is the only one and he isn't quite match fit
Sessegnon should start match fit or not. Ideye should also start as Anichebe offers nothing as a starter in the way of goal threat. The fact is we shouldn't be going into the 1st game of the season without addressing the gaping attacking holes we have in our midfield and attack.
Poco and Dorrans the only bright point really, defending the set pieces is just atrocious and we know at this level it's not acceptable.
Poyet is seething. It was a harsh pen but he did pull his arm and they've been given against us so I don't feel bad for them!!
Established one thing quickly today is that Wisdom is terrible and Dawson not much better. Sooner those two are out of the team in favour of Gamboa and Lescott/McAuley the better for our goals against column.
i agree with wisdom, more like norman than andre
I fear our defending will get us relegated this season
Don't panic, Lescott, Gmac, Gamboa, Davidson can replace Dawson and Wisdom
Out of interest, who was at fault for the first and second goal?
I.e. who was meant to be marking Wes Brown? That was dreadful defending. Apart from our poor set-piece defending I thought we did ok; Mulumbu, Gardner, Anichebe and Saido all looked very good.
Out of interest, who was at fault for the first and second goal?
I.e. who was meant to be marking Wes Brown? That was dreadful defending. Apart from our poor set-piece defending I thought we did ok; Mulumbu, Gardner, Anichebe and Saido all looked very good.
2 points thrown away by terrible substitutions
OK, Devil's advocate here.
If we don't put on defensive players, while ahead, with 15 mins to go would Alan not then be accused of being tactically Naive?
I do agree that putting on defenders encourages the opposition to attack, but if he had put on Bobby for Vic with 15 to go and they equalise, he'd be called out on not making the right shout there either..... Not sure one can win in the situation?
OK, Devil's advocate here.
If we don't put on defensive players, while ahead, with 15 mins to go would Alan not then be accused of being tactically Naive?
I do agree that putting on defenders encourages the opposition to attack, but if he had put on Bobby for Vic with 15 to go and they equalise, he'd be called out on not making the right shout there either..... Not sure one can win in the situation?
Hindsight a wonderful thing - Dorrans was 'blowing' i.e. knackered. Gardner had cramp.
Did the liquidator get played today?
To be fair the liquidator would have sounded terrible in the tannoy system today. It was awful, could hardly hear any announcements or music.
Very Hodgson esq in my view today very organised with players knowing each others roles and responsibilities well.
Nothing like the negativity ive heard over the pre-season.
I'd have left Dorrans and Gardner on the pitch, they were our main threat, it was a poor decision by Irvine. That Sunderland team were there for the taking, we should have stuck Ideye on for Anichebe and gone for the third. I hate this 'defending the lead', especially with our recent track record.I'm with you on this one. Would rather put a threatening forward on knowing Sunderland are going to push for an equaliser. At least it doesn't leave the feeling that we tried to protect a lead and couldn't
I've seen him twice for us now (Porto and today) and he just doesn't look good enough at right back for me. His positioning is poor, and on top of that he seems to react so late to things leaving him playing catch up all the time. He seems a very laid back kind of player, which is good when in possession, but when it comes to defending he needs to be far more switched on than he is.
Don't know if its a case of him being primarily a centre back and therefore being out of position there, but he cannot be our right back all season because we will ship goals down his side every week if he is. I also sincerely question why Liverpool rate him so highly based on the two games I've seen of him.
Hopefully Gamboa will be our #1 right back.
On another note Poco was very good on the left, defended solidly and got forward well also.
WBA 2-2 Sunderland
FGS Wickham
Everyone saying Irvine was to negative
in the last 15 minutes, but if you look back
we always went deep and negative under
our last three managers/head coaches
aswell.now can anyone see what the
common denominator is in this? In my
opinion it is Keith downing he is still having
far to much say in what is happening. I think
that is also why brunt is still captain. I did
say in another topic a while ago that
downing would see Irvine off.
You didn't ring WM did you?no mate, why the question?
someone phoned into WM with a big conspiracy theory about Downing and his main point to back it up was the Brunt captaincy. Virtually your post but spoken slowly to Franks.
Sunderland only had two attempts on target, and scored from both, joke. ::) We chucked this game away, we had all the possession 57% and more attempts at goal 5. Encouraging debuts from Craig Gardner and Sebastian Pognoli I thought...To be fair though Sunderland had a free header to make it 2-0 , a bad miss really.
The substitutions of Gardner and Dorrans at the same time was a mistake for me and while we were sorting ourselves out they went down the other end and scored, inexperience showing.Totally agree with this comment. I'm not sure Wisdom was at fault for the equalizer. The ball was played inside him because Sunderland midfield players had too much space and time because of the reorganisation following that double substitition. I think Irvine got that substitiution wrong and this is where he may come unstuck. it's all very well being great on the training ground, but being head coach means making the right decisions in game time - a different skill.
I've seen him twice for us now (Porto and today) and he just doesn't look good enough at right back for me. His positioning is poor, and on top of that he seems to react so late to things leaving him playing catch up all the time. He seems a very laid back kind of player, which is good when in possession, but when it comes to defending he needs to be far more switched on than he is.
Don't know if its a case of him being primarily a centre back and therefore being out of position there, but he cannot be our right back all season because we will ship goals down his side every week if he is. I also sincerely question why Liverpool rate him so highly based on the two games I've seen of him.
Hopefully Gamboa will be our #1 right back.
On another note Poco was very good on the left, defended solidly and got forward well also.
Someone was talking to me about this but i didn't hear it either. What was said exactly?
Yes the useless free transfer squad player as labelled by some was pretty good.
I thought he was terrible today. Never once got close to Johnson. Allowed crosses in constantly and never got forward. Seemed out of position at times and struggled in the air. He is not a modern day fullback. Like some have said more of a centre back player at right back than a specialist. Needs work even to play at centre back though.
Hoping Gamboa is the answer at right back.
I was driving so can't recount it verbatim. Some sound-bites though:
"Irvine was stood in his technical area all alone looking like little boy lost"
"Dorrans came over to the bench, went straight past Irvine to speak to Downing"
"Brunt is still captain, Downing only man who has been there throughout"
It was nonsense to be honest just reminded me of 59's post haha.
or Jason Davidson
Have to say we've got incredibly lucky with that penalty decision.
Never a penalty in a million years.
I was negative after the game yesterday but waking up in Oz I feel a bit more confident about the season. Looking forward to seeing the new players come on.
WBA 2 - 2 Sunderland
FGS Dorrans
guy was called ben from what I remember. Utter trollop
In fairness - we closed down better than I thought at the time. I don't think there's much we could have done with that strike. Cattermole had hit it by the time Mulumbu and Anichebe got near him but there was an intention from them to close down.
Having said that, it shouldn't have got to that phase anyway.
Have to say we've got incredibly lucky with that penalty decision.
Never a penalty in a million years.
Completely disagree with most on here, I thought he had a decent game. He's never going to be an attacking full back, and he's never going to be expansive on the ball but he's sensible with it, helped us keep possession.
Defensively he needed more help. Was often lacking support whuch left him in a tough position but the way that some are going on like he was a complete disaster is completely uncalled for IMO. I don't recall him ever being beaten 1 v 1 or being miles out of position. He could do better, but he wasn't the dreadful weak point that some make out.
Completely disagree with most on here, I thought he had a decent game. He's never going to be an attacking full back, and he's never going to be expansive on the ball but he's sensible with it, helped us keep possession.
Defensively he needed more help. Was often lacking support whuch left him in a tough position but the way that some are going on like he was a complete disaster is completely uncalled for IMO. I don't recall him ever being beaten 1 v 1 or being miles out of position. He could do better, but he wasn't the dreadful weak point that some make out.
someone phoned into WM with a big conspiracy theory about Downing and his main point to back it up was the Brunt captaincy. Virtually your post but spoken slowly to Franks.
That's funny because I recall both of those things happening. He got beaten by Van Aanholt one on one atleast twice second half. And he was out of position a fair few times (far too narrow).Maybe he was beaten once or twice, but I certainly don't remember it happening in a fashion that caused too much concern. I vividly remember him bullying Wickham out of a one on one tussle in the second half which was one of the few times I can recall anyone getting by him. I just don't remember ever being concerned about him during the game. IMO the equaliser was a combination of mistake, Van Aanholt was actually Saido's man and he completely let him go and didn't pass him on so I would pass too much blame to Wisdom for it.
If that was given against us I would have gone mental.in fairness to the ref it looks like its the lino that flags for a foul in the disallowed goal incident...............bit strange when he´s 40yds away, Swarbrick doesnt move the whistle to his mouth and he´s only 10yds away!! >:(
Dive all day long. Anichebe knew what he was doing.
But we did have a perfectly good goal disallowed so the ref did even it up through his own ineptitude.
If that was given against us I would have gone mental.
Dive all day long. Anichebe knew what he was doing.
But we did have a perfectly good goal disallowed so the ref did even it up through his own ineptitude.
Goes a small way to making up for last season.
Match choice on now. Brown loses Berahino on the set piece, Olsson and Dorrans in each others way for the clearance, then no one closes Cattermole down, then Foster gets a good hand on the shot, terrible play all round by the pinstripes.
Have to say we've got incredibly lucky with that penalty decision.
Never a penalty in a million years.
I was sat in line with the ref and thought it was a stone wall penalty. What MOTD did not show was the angle from the ref and where Anichabie was having his shirt pulled off from behind. They only showed the front shot where he had his other hand on his shoulder.
I still can't figure out why our goal was disallowed.
Its Olsson and Pocognoli who get in each others way. Poco is number 15, Dorrans wears 17
He got the two big decisions wrong - apart from that I don't think he got much else wrong to be honest.
It got to the point in the first half our lads were reluctant to try and put a challenge in as he was giving free-kicks every time we touched one of their players. Thought him and his assistants were very poor but exactly the standard Ii have come to expect the last few years.
I was sat in line with the ref and thought it was a stone wall penalty. What MOTD did not show was the angle from the ref and where Anichabie was having his shirt pulled off from behind. They only showed the front shot where he had his other hand on his shoulder.Goals on Sunday showed a much better angle and whilst a little dubious seeing it at the game watching it back I thought it was stone wall in the modern game. To be fair to Kammy and the other presenter neither disputed whether it was a penalty just asked for consistency. Joey Barton was the only one who said it wasn't with the argument that you would get 6 or 7 penalties in every game. Well if there are 6 or 7 fouls in the penalty box every game then there should be until the defenders learn! (Think Jonas would have a hard time).
I still can't figure out why our goal was disallowed.
We have a left back that can tackle/run/head/cross.....I'm happy
I thought they all played well, hope vic gets some credit for a change and think those criticising our make shift right winger who scored twice for not protecting the right back may try a different job on Monday and see how succesful they are?
Goals on Sunday showed a much better angle and whilst a little dubious seeing it at the game watching it back I thought it was stone wall in the modern game. To be fair to Kammy and the other presenter neither disputed whether it was a penalty just asked for consistency. Joey Barton was the only one who said it wasn't with the argument that you would get 6 or 7 penalties in every game. Well if there are 6 or 7 fouls in the penalty box every game then there should be until the defenders learn! (Think Jonas would have a hard time).
I am also struggling to see the foul on a Sunderland player in our disallowed goal.
It was a slight brush on the arm. Nowhere near enough contact to make your legs give way and had no impact on Anichebe's attempt to score. Barton is right: if we start giving penalties every time there is contact then we will be giving 10 pens a match; it will reduce football to a game of rugby where the match is spoiled by an excessive amount of penalties. I ref children's matches and there is no way I'd even consider given that as a pen.
The day when decisions like that are accepted without debate is the day when football becomes a no contact sport.
I slipped once in a Primary school match and was awarded a penalty, lived with me, went down in the area easier than Longy for a couple of seasons!!
Needs games to adapt to the Premiership, only played Championship last season, give him time, too many expect an accomplished full back, well he will get better I'm sure, put it this way, he is as good as Reid now, he will be a big improvement in 3 months time.Already miles ahead of Reid
It was a slight brush on the arm. Nowhere near enough contact to make your legs give way and had no impact on Anichebe's attempt to score. Barton is right: if we start giving penalties every time there is contact then we will be giving 10 pens a match; it will reduce football to a game of rugby where the match is spoiled by an excessive amount of penalties. I ref children's matches and there is no way I'd even consider given that as a pen.
The day when decisions like that are accepted without debate is the day when football becomes a no contact sport.
Are you preparing your rant for his annual dive next week? :D
One point clutched from the jaws of three.
First 75 minutes was better than I expected, the midfield axis of Mulumbu Brunt and Gardner dominated the game. Pocognoli played well, Anichebe was good up front.
Then with Ideye about to come on we score, the coaching department totally bottle it (was it Irvine or Downing? Does it even matter?) attempt to shut up shop something we almost always fail to do especially at home and a very very poor side score a soft equaliser, we then have nothing going the other way to rescue the points, absolute shambles.
Attack is the best form of defence. The worry now is that this team selection will be used again next week against a better side and we'll get comfortably beaten, instead of getting these new players into the team and giving ourselves a chance.
The player in your blind spot is Graham Dorrans. ::)
Loosing a lead at the death again.Pathetic defending and nothing changes.Concerened yet again we bring on subs trying to protect a lead and it back fires.We should have gone for the throat against a poor Sunderland team. There were of course some encouraging signs.
I did like to see Irvine in his tech area, in fact he never sat down.A little concerned i hear the players are still running to Downing?
Couldn't agree more. Terrible substitutions by Irvine. Gardner and Dorrans had control of the game at the time.
Not really, Dorrans played off the striker, had a decent game though his final ball was found wanting. Thought the link up between the 3 I mentioned was very good.
Pictures or it didn't happen ;D
In all seriousness (believe it or not) there is a Sunderland fan who does bring a dog to matches. I think they showed him on MOTD2 a few years back.
The one I remember is when they played QPR a couple of seasons ago.
The bloke was holding a dog then.