| Sunderland transfer and pre-season 22:06 - Aug 2 with 2192 views | unstableblue |
We really could do with at least a draw against Sunderland at PR in 3 weeks, preferably a win. Especially as Man U and Liverpool follow.
What’s been going on with the Black Cats?:
First off a bit sobering to see their final two Premier League results - 1-3 away win at Everton and a 2-1 home win over Chelsea.
In pre-season (yes we all get pre-season is meaningless) they spanked York 5-1, before heading to the US to lose 4-2 to Liverpool, lose 1-0 to Leeds and beat Wrexham 1-0 today.
They finish off a bit like us with two French league sides Lens (a) and Rennes (h). I imagine they’ll get a bumper crowd for the final warm up.
A quiet window (very very busy last summer) with only Thomas Meunier a full back signed on a free from Lille.
Not a team in transition like us, which is a positive for them.
Gonna need to make PR intimidating. COYFB.
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| Sunderland transfer and pre-season on 22:32 - Aug 2 with 2028 views | MattinLondon |
100 points, 100 goals. |  | | |
| Sunderland transfer and pre-season on 22:42 - Aug 2 with 1965 views | Illinoisblue |
Watched their game with Wrexham. Hard to tell how good they are with it being a friendly played at 75%. Very nice pink and black away kit. Broady missed a couple of half chances.
I wouldn’t be very good as a football scout. |  |
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| Sunderland transfer and pre-season on 22:53 - Aug 2 with 1887 views | unstableblue |
| Sunderland transfer and pre-season on 22:42 - Aug 2 by Illinoisblue |
Watched their game with Wrexham. Hard to tell how good they are with it being a friendly played at 75%. Very nice pink and black away kit. Broady missed a couple of half chances.
I wouldn’t be very good as a football scout. |
Illy, I am largely in the pre-season friendlies don’t tell you anything camp, BUT, I’d say for both Sunderland and Ipswich there last two games in the warm-up to the season (Vallecano and Union Berlin in our case) you do want to see a clear system in place, an understanding between players and fitness. With a line-up near to the starting 11 in our clash with the Black Cats.
The window shuts after the Man U game, less overlap with the season this time round.
3-4 big signings required and soon.
Be interesting to see where Wrexham finish this season, are they going to push on. Not clear on their business this summer? I’d say they’d need an upgrade on Broadie for one. | |
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| Sunderland transfer and pre-season on 22:54 - Aug 2 with 1875 views | unstableblue |
| Sunderland transfer and pre-season on 22:32 - Aug 2 by MattinLondon |
100 points, 100 goals. |
That’s the spirit Matt | |
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| Sunderland transfer and pre-season on 23:07 - Aug 2 with 1810 views | BloomBlue |
Last season didn't they concede more goals than any other team in the 2nd half of the PL season? |  | | |
| Sunderland transfer and pre-season on 00:49 - Aug 3 with 1610 views | Illinoisblue |
| Sunderland transfer and pre-season on 22:53 - Aug 2 by unstableblue |
Illy, I am largely in the pre-season friendlies don’t tell you anything camp, BUT, I’d say for both Sunderland and Ipswich there last two games in the warm-up to the season (Vallecano and Union Berlin in our case) you do want to see a clear system in place, an understanding between players and fitness. With a line-up near to the starting 11 in our clash with the Black Cats.
The window shuts after the Man U game, less overlap with the season this time round.
3-4 big signings required and soon.
Be interesting to see where Wrexham finish this season, are they going to push on. Not clear on their business this summer? I’d say they’d need an upgrade on Broadie for one. |
I wouldn’t be surprised if this is the year Wrexham’s bubble bursts, but then again, you won’t need to be very special to finish 8th. Even the yellow filth may have a shot at that. | |
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| Sunderland transfer and pre-season on 02:55 - Aug 3 with 1477 views | MackemLad |
| Sunderland transfer and pre-season on 23:07 - Aug 2 by BloomBlue |
Last season didn't they concede more goals than any other team in the 2nd half of the PL season? |
Only 3 teams conceded less than us last season in the premiership - Man City, Arsenal and Brighton. Suspect your stats are way off, our GK and back four are easily our greatest asset. We very much struggled to score last season, winning most games by the odd goal... and I’m not sure we’ll set up any different this year - stay solid and find a way to get the win. Xhaka in the middle certainly keeps us organized and in shape.
Looking at your opening fixtures this could be a much needed early 3 points. You may get them, but you’ll have to fight tooth and nail for them. We’ll be up for it.
Best of luck for the season ahead. I think you’ll surprise a few and finish mid-table TBH. [Post edited 3 Aug 2:58]
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| Sunderland transfer and pre-season on 07:33 - Aug 3 with 1144 views | WolfieAtTheBack |
Last time we had 5 points at the end of October in the last Premier League season.
This time we can beat Sunderland, Forest and Hull plus pick up a random draw which would be 10 points.
Fine margins, I stand by we really want to be winning the first game 3 points would be a brilliant start. |  | | |
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| Sunderland transfer and pre-season on 07:43 - Aug 3 with 1080 views | tiptreeblue |
They've also got European games to play as well this season, which will put pressure on the squad | | | |
| Sunderland transfer and pre-season on 07:50 - Aug 3 with 1028 views | unstableblue |
| Sunderland transfer and pre-season on 02:55 - Aug 3 by MackemLad |
Only 3 teams conceded less than us last season in the premiership - Man City, Arsenal and Brighton. Suspect your stats are way off, our GK and back four are easily our greatest asset. We very much struggled to score last season, winning most games by the odd goal... and I’m not sure we’ll set up any different this year - stay solid and find a way to get the win. Xhaka in the middle certainly keeps us organized and in shape.
Looking at your opening fixtures this could be a much needed early 3 points. You may get them, but you’ll have to fight tooth and nail for them. We’ll be up for it.
Best of luck for the season ahead. I think you’ll surprise a few and finish mid-table TBH. [Post edited 3 Aug 2:58]
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Thanks Mackemlad
Yup, you conceded the 4th fewest goals all season. Not sure about second half of season - i know you conceded 5 at Forest but that felt a one off result. Last 4 games you only conceded 3.
You shipped 48 all season, with the 3 relegated sides letting in 65, 68, 75 (the latter being Burnley, where our new defensive mid may be coming from).
How are you feeling about the season ahead? I mentioned limited incoming transfers? Is that cause you’re consolidating, or are you expecting a few soon?
As someone else in this thread said we really need a win against you in that first game, but it’s going to be tough. Feel you’re going to the more settled and gelled side.
Would love mid table - thanks for that!! - but imagine we’ll be scrapping for 17th. Hoping Palace and AN Other struggle alongside Coventry and Hull, perhaps it could be the Black Cats?? | |
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| Sunderland transfer and pre-season on 08:15 - Aug 3 with 920 views | unstableblue |
| Sunderland transfer and pre-season on 07:33 - Aug 3 by WolfieAtTheBack |
Last time we had 5 points at the end of October in the last Premier League season.
This time we can beat Sunderland, Forest and Hull plus pick up a random draw which would be 10 points.
Fine margins, I stand by we really want to be winning the first game 3 points would be a brilliant start. |
A win an against Sunderland would be huge and I agree with you we really need to be winning it.
We’ve 9 games to the of October.
Sunderland (h); Man U (a); Liverpool (h); Palace (a); Everton (h); Fulham (a); Man City (a); Forest (h); Hull (a)
Ignoring Man U, Liverpool (who I think are going to be really strong) and City - albeit a one off result in any of those adds momentum to any survival hopes) I’d say there’s 14 points that could realistically be achieved.
10 points the minimum for me. Don’t get that and we’ll struggle. | |
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| Sunderland transfer and pre-season on 08:52 - Aug 3 with 802 views | jas0999 |
| Sunderland transfer and pre-season on 08:15 - Aug 3 by unstableblue |
A win an against Sunderland would be huge and I agree with you we really need to be winning it.
We’ve 9 games to the of October.
Sunderland (h); Man U (a); Liverpool (h); Palace (a); Everton (h); Fulham (a); Man City (a); Forest (h); Hull (a)
Ignoring Man U, Liverpool (who I think are going to be really strong) and City - albeit a one off result in any of those adds momentum to any survival hopes) I’d say there’s 14 points that could realistically be achieved.
10 points the minimum for me. Don’t get that and we’ll struggle. |
Agreed. It goes without saying, but our home form needs to be strong. Need to take points against Forest, Sunderland and Everton. But equally that Hull away game looks huge already. Last time out we didn’t do great against the other promoted teams. This time, we need to win those games. | | | |
| Sunderland transfer and pre-season on 09:01 - Aug 3 with 747 views | WolfieAtTheBack |
| Sunderland transfer and pre-season on 08:15 - Aug 3 by unstableblue |
A win an against Sunderland would be huge and I agree with you we really need to be winning it.
We’ve 9 games to the of October.
Sunderland (h); Man U (a); Liverpool (h); Palace (a); Everton (h); Fulham (a); Man City (a); Forest (h); Hull (a)
Ignoring Man U, Liverpool (who I think are going to be really strong) and City - albeit a one off result in any of those adds momentum to any survival hopes) I’d say there’s 14 points that could realistically be achieved.
10 points the minimum for me. Don’t get that and we’ll struggle. |
Palace and/or Fulham could be marked as a point.
No problem playing 10 men behind the ball to grind out a draw. | | | |
| Sunderland transfer and pre-season on 10:20 - Aug 3 with 547 views | AlpineBlue |
Don't really agree. They will start strong and will not be naive and easy to counter-attack. Having been in our position last season, they're going to know exactly what to expect from us, and having a quiet transfer window means they're more likely to hit the ground running.
I think they will struggle though this season. They're not ready for European football, and a couple of injuries and suspensions will see them in big trouble.
I expect to see Sunderland up in about 10th by December, and then in free fall thereafter. | | | |
| Sunderland transfer and pre-season on 10:34 - Aug 3 with 514 views | _CliveBaker_ |
1-0 Town
Bramble. |  | | |
| Sunderland transfer and pre-season on 15:43 - Aug 3 with 334 views | MackemLad |
| Sunderland transfer and pre-season on 07:50 - Aug 3 by unstableblue |
Thanks Mackemlad
Yup, you conceded the 4th fewest goals all season. Not sure about second half of season - i know you conceded 5 at Forest but that felt a one off result. Last 4 games you only conceded 3.
You shipped 48 all season, with the 3 relegated sides letting in 65, 68, 75 (the latter being Burnley, where our new defensive mid may be coming from).
How are you feeling about the season ahead? I mentioned limited incoming transfers? Is that cause you’re consolidating, or are you expecting a few soon?
As someone else in this thread said we really need a win against you in that first game, but it’s going to be tough. Feel you’re going to the more settled and gelled side.
Would love mid table - thanks for that!! - but imagine we’ll be scrapping for 17th. Hoping Palace and AN Other struggle alongside Coventry and Hull, perhaps it could be the Black Cats?? |
It won’t be as big of a summer as last season was, I think the bigger challenge this pre-season is keeping the vultures away from our star players. If we lose one or two of Xhaka, Sadiki, Brobbey, LeFee, Mukiele, Talbi etc it feels like they’d be very hard to replace for us. The Europa League will be a big distraction as well, so I do think that we’ll have a tougher season in the league.
We don’t have AFCON this year which helps, as we lost 7 players last January to that. I don’t think we’ll be finishing top half without some really good signings that would boost the squad depth when we get injuries. We should have too much to be close to relegation; our record at the Stadium of Light will drag us over the line when we need it to. I predict a lowly 13-15 finish but 10 points clear of the drop.
Newcastle, Hull, Cov and Bounmouth will be the bottom 4 for me | | | |
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