| I genuinely don't think Sunderland are that much better than us... 12:16 - Aug 12 with 3252 views | ThatMuhrenCross |
You look at what's been spent on both squads, as it stands we've got the higher value squad. We both go into the season with a year of Premier League experience behind us following many years away (admittedly we've had that Championship season in between).
Sure, you can make the argument that they're in Europe and had an unbelievable season last year, but you've got to say that they over achieved really.
Call me naive, but with one or two more signings, I think we can genuinely expect to go into that game as two fairly evenly matched teams. |  |
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| I genuinely don't think Sunderland are that much better than us... on 12:20 - Aug 12 with 2626 views | jayessess |
Think I'm too burned from last time to be too confident in that. We are getting there in terms of having a competitive first eleven but that Sunderland team have all been playing together for a season now and they're all proven as individuals and a unit. Same is not true for us. |  |
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| I genuinely don't think Sunderland are that much better than us... on 12:33 - Aug 12 with 2494 views | berkstractorboy |
Striker options better IMO than we have currently and that is key. Many counter attack goals from Sunderland last season and they have that again. I don't think we are at their level at all yet. |  | | |
| I genuinely don't think Sunderland are that much better than us... on 12:39 - Aug 12 with 2420 views | BlueySwede |
We are getting there, but for me we need a few more quality (or statement,if you´d like) signings, in the mould of what they did with Xhaka last year. | | | |
| I genuinely don't think Sunderland are that much better than us... on 12:49 - Aug 12 with 2331 views | TRUE_BLUE123 |
They have a better attack, midfield, defence and goalkeeper.
When we play them they are likely to be without Alderete and Mukiele though which is a huge blow for them. [Post edited 12 Aug 13:27]
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| I genuinely don't think Sunderland are that much better than us... on 12:50 - Aug 12 with 2326 views | Swansea_Blue |
You’re all set for the eclipse with blue goggles that strong! 
Let’s see. Sunderland did fantastically well last season and if we can get close to matching them I suspect we’ll exceed all expectations. We’ll know soon enough anyway. I’d bite your hand off for a point. |  |
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| I genuinely don't think Sunderland are that much better than us... on 12:53 - Aug 12 with 2286 views | NIblue |
| I genuinely don't think Sunderland are that much better than us... on 12:39 - Aug 12 by BlueySwede |
We are getting there, but for me we need a few more quality (or statement,if you´d like) signings, in the mould of what they did with Xhaka last year. |
I agree, but yet some fans don’t think we should be paying the sort of wages that you have to, to attract that sort of quality (Xhaka is on circa £110k a week) |  | | |
| I genuinely don't think Sunderland are that much better than us... on 12:53 - Aug 12 with 2278 views | usm |
Think they are probably ahead of us atm - mainly due to their excellent last season - which may well flow over into this one.
However I suspect later on that Europe will take its toll on them.
So, yeah overall, probably pretty evenly matched over the season. |  |
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| I genuinely don't think Sunderland are that much better than us... on 12:54 - Aug 12 with 2271 views | burnbudgiesburn |
| I genuinely don't think Sunderland are that much better than us... on 12:50 - Aug 12 by Swansea_Blue |
You’re all set for the eclipse with blue goggles that strong!
Let’s see. Sunderland did fantastically well last season and if we can get close to matching them I suspect we’ll exceed all expectations. We’ll know soon enough anyway. I’d bite your hand off for a point. |
We can't be 'taking' a point against the likes of Sunderland at home if we have any hopes of staying up let's be honest here.
That's not being disrespectful of Sunderland and the amazing job they did last season. Just that outside of the top 6 we can't really have that attitude all season. | | | |
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| I genuinely don't think Sunderland are that much better than us... on 12:59 - Aug 12 with 2183 views | surreyblue |
| I genuinely don't think Sunderland are that much better than us... on 12:54 - Aug 12 by burnbudgiesburn |
We can't be 'taking' a point against the likes of Sunderland at home if we have any hopes of staying up let's be honest here.
That's not being disrespectful of Sunderland and the amazing job they did last season. Just that outside of the top 6 we can't really have that attitude all season. |
We probably need to take 5 wins and 5 draws from our home games against clubs outside of the big 7 and the other promoted clubs (assuming we lose to the big clubs and beat the promoted clubs).
A draw against the club that finished 7th last season with a team that isn't yet complete is not a bad result - particularly if it comes from an even/competitive contest.
A win would be great. But we can't suggest that a draw on the opening day consigns us to relegation. | | | |
| I genuinely don't think Sunderland are that much better than us... on 13:04 - Aug 12 with 2101 views | Swansea_Blue |
| I genuinely don't think Sunderland are that much better than us... on 12:54 - Aug 12 by burnbudgiesburn |
We can't be 'taking' a point against the likes of Sunderland at home if we have any hopes of staying up let's be honest here.
That's not being disrespectful of Sunderland and the amazing job they did last season. Just that outside of the top 6 we can't really have that attitude all season. |
It doesn’t tend to work like that though, as we showed last time. We’re as likely to lose to Sunderland and beat Chelsea as we are vice versa. Fresh off the back of a major overhaul with a new manager and still with several gaps in the team I’d be happy with a point. | |
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| I genuinely don't think Sunderland are that much better than us... on 13:11 - Aug 12 with 2044 views | Nutkins_Return |
I have no idea how you have come to the conclusion that we "have higher value squad".
Over a single game we should be more than capable of giving them a game and a result could be on the cards but over a season their squad should do a fair bit better. The European adventure for them however could impact them.
I'm confident we have a better squad and opportunity then last time. We have to back out squad against Cov and Hull (Cov will be decent enough) and suck 1 more team into it to finish below us. That is the 'simple' task really. If we start the season well I see us doing it. Big if. | |
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| I genuinely don't think Sunderland are that much better than us... on 13:12 - Aug 12 with 2033 views | Blue_Heath |
| I genuinely don't think Sunderland are that much better than us... on 12:20 - Aug 12 by jayessess |
Think I'm too burned from last time to be too confident in that. We are getting there in terms of having a competitive first eleven but that Sunderland team have all been playing together for a season now and they're all proven as individuals and a unit. Same is not true for us. |
Would tend to agree 'lesser' sides like Bournemouth etc still way ahead of us overall.
Hopefully GON's workrate side can produce a sum better than the whole. | |
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| I genuinely don't think Sunderland are that much better than us... on 13:16 - Aug 12 with 1993 views | BlueBoots |
"We both go into the season with a year of Premier League experience behind us"
I don't know how you've arrived at that...I doubt we'll start the season with 10 players out of the 25 in our squad who were with us in the last Prem season (add in to that the change of manager) Sunderland have had a successful season at the level and not lost any key players so far in the transfer window, so retain a settled squad that have had a chance to gel. |  |
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| I genuinely don't think Sunderland are that much better than us... on 13:20 - Aug 12 with 1957 views | Swansea_Blue |
| I genuinely don't think Sunderland are that much better than us... on 12:20 - Aug 12 by jayessess |
Think I'm too burned from last time to be too confident in that. We are getting there in terms of having a competitive first eleven but that Sunderland team have all been playing together for a season now and they're all proven as individuals and a unit. Same is not true for us. |
Yes, this. And expectation creates too much pressure imo. I’m all for rolling out the cliches: take every game at a time, get our performance right and see where that takes us. | |
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| I genuinely don't think Sunderland are that much better than us... on 13:25 - Aug 12 with 1902 views | ElderGrizzly |
| I genuinely don't think Sunderland are that much better than us... on 12:20 - Aug 12 by jayessess |
Think I'm too burned from last time to be too confident in that. We are getting there in terms of having a competitive first eleven but that Sunderland team have all been playing together for a season now and they're all proven as individuals and a unit. Same is not true for us. |
Agree, they have a settled side, without many in our out.
And the benefit of £200m spent when they went up too.
I mentioned yesterday, I'm concerned some fans will see Sunderland as an easy game, but it's almost the worst game for us for that reason. Lose, some people will question a little too much, when if it was Liverpool like last season we took heart from the performance and never expected to get anything. |  | | |
| I genuinely don't think Sunderland are that much better than us... on 13:26 - Aug 12 with 1882 views | dirtyboy |
Sunderland are one of the quicker teams in the league, so we don't want to be getting caught high up the pitch too often, something we were doing against Rayo in the friendly.
I think there's rightfully concern, no, that's not fair, perhaps a question mark over what Emersonn will be able to do for us. We can't rely on him, or, we shouldn't rely on him, but he could turn out to be a revelation, who knows?
I'm just wondering whether he's enough of a threat to keep teams at arms length?
Sunderland now have a years experience in the league, i'm very thankful that Lukic and Diop are here as well as Florentino, some experience in a key area.
We're a bigger team overall (i've excluded keepers) but they're a tad quicker, albeit in similar positions.
It'll be an interesting match up, I think the fact their team has been together longer will benefit them, but we'll be a strong test for them and of course, home advantage.
I think it'll be one of the few games where we'll have more of the ball, so enjoy the day!
Town to go ahead, early, go 2-1 down then a late equaliser. |  | | |
| I genuinely don't think Sunderland are that much better than us... on 13:27 - Aug 12 with 1860 views | Joey_Joe_Joe_Junior |
That is naive, we’ve only signed one defender from what we had in the building last year for a start. That quickly needs to change.
Go and get a proper RB/RWB, a LCB, a top level creative CM and second striker and we can begin to talk maybe. They also have a stronger more physical profile. We’ve gone for high pressing runners behind the striker. So let’s see, will be different styles.
The value and spend thing can be a bit foolish, we were up there last time in terms of spend. Sunderland had 100% hit rate from abroad, our recruitment looks decent this time albeit most have plied their trade in the UK still at some point.
Still want to see some more left field international signings with an athletic profile before the end of the window. [Post edited 12 Aug 13:30]
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| I genuinely don't think Sunderland are that much better than us... on 13:30 - Aug 12 with 1814 views | Swansea_Blue |
| I genuinely don't think Sunderland are that much better than us... on 13:27 - Aug 12 by Joey_Joe_Joe_Junior |
That is naive, we’ve only signed one defender from what we had in the building last year for a start. That quickly needs to change.
Go and get a proper RB/RWB, a LCB, a top level creative CM and second striker and we can begin to talk maybe. They also have a stronger more physical profile. We’ve gone for high pressing runners behind the striker. So let’s see, will be different styles.
The value and spend thing can be a bit foolish, we were up there last time in terms of spend. Sunderland had 100% hit rate from abroad, our recruitment looks decent this time albeit most have plied their trade in the UK still at some point.
Still want to see some more left field international signings with an athletic profile before the end of the window. [Post edited 12 Aug 13:30]
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Yeah, still some big gaps aren’t there in a quality first 11. By second striker I’m assuming you mean first choice one? We’re still looking very light on quality up top with GON admitting himself that Emerson is a project. | |
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| I genuinely don't think Sunderland are that much better than us... on 13:31 - Aug 12 with 1813 views | Vaughan8 |
I have no idea how good we are with all these new players, new manager.
We definitely seem to be taking a different approach this time with more established players compared to good championship players.
I'll admit I'm exciting to see what we're like first game. | | | |
| I genuinely don't think Sunderland are that much better than us... on 13:45 - Aug 12 with 1685 views | BloomBlue |
Sunderland have a settled team, their weakness last season was scoring (4th lowest scorers) but their strength was defending.
We are bound to have extra energy from it being we're at home and first game. Although we need to keep that energy going for 90+ minutes.
I'm still surprised they haven't strengthen as last season when they lost Xhaka for a few games they struggled.
I certainly don't fear any team in the PL, once you fear you might as well give up.
Overall I still think 1 point will be a good result given they are settled, and we will still require a time to fully settle into a team. |  | | |
| I genuinely don't think Sunderland are that much better than us... on 13:48 - Aug 12 with 1659 views | Joey_Joe_Joe_Junior |
| I genuinely don't think Sunderland are that much better than us... on 13:30 - Aug 12 by Swansea_Blue |
Yeah, still some big gaps aren’t there in a quality first 11. By second striker I’m assuming you mean first choice one? We’re still looking very light on quality up top with GON admitting himself that Emerson is a project. |
Second striker of the summer and likely starter. | |
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| I genuinely don't think Sunderland are that much better than us... on 14:16 - Aug 12 with 1525 views | Guthrum |
| I genuinely don't think Sunderland are that much better than us... on 13:31 - Aug 12 by Vaughan8 |
I have no idea how good we are with all these new players, new manager.
We definitely seem to be taking a different approach this time with more established players compared to good championship players.
I'll admit I'm exciting to see what we're like first game. |
Very much how I feel, too. |  |
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| I genuinely don't think Sunderland are that much better than us... on 14:19 - Aug 12 with 1510 views | blueoutlook |
Most teams in the Prem are still way ahead of us,that includes Sunderland. We have to be better than Cov and Hull to start with and hope that 1 or 2 get dragged into the bottom end with us. At this time I only see the three that went up going straight back down again. |  | | |
| I genuinely don't think Sunderland are that much better than us... on 14:34 - Aug 12 with 1448 views | ringwoodblue |
There’s one thing for sure, we are an unknown quantity with so many new players and a new manager. On the other hand, GON can do his research on Sunderland based on not much has changed since last season so we have a marginal advantage there but they would be favourites being more gelled as a team. |  |
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| I genuinely don't think Sunderland are that much better than us... on 16:26 - Aug 12 with 1259 views | Kropotkin123 |
Sunderland finished 7th last season and Forest finished in 16th on 44 points. The season before Forest finished 7th.
We should not assume Sunderland will be the same quality this year, we should be aiming for 3 points. |  |
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