Sunderland (A) - Who do you WANT to start?

[Arch]

Guthrie

[Terminal Boardom]

I don't think the starting XI will make any difference. What will though is the attitude. If they get into the Mackem's faces from the start, there could be a good outcome. If all the players involved walk off at the end of the game knowing that there was nothing more they could give then I will be happy with that. If that happens and we still get beaten then it has to be accepted that the squad is not good enough and that changes will have to be made.

[Wimb]

Been told by a reliable sauce that Roberts, HRK & Guthrie aren't starting tonight, Morrison also out.

If true, any remaining optimism has drained from me

[Tony Le Mesmer]

If all the players involved walk off at the end of the game knowing that there was nothing more they could give then I will be happy with that.

Agree with that. That might not have been the case on Sat, but the problem is, it has been the case for the majority of games this season (and the last 3 years) and we already know that the current squad is just not up to Premier League standard. I dont think there's much debate about that.

[RFCSPACE]

Been told by a reliable sauce that Roberts, HRK & Guthrie aren't starting tonight, Morrison also out.

If true, any remaining optimism has drained from me

Sounds reasonable, but disastrous.

[winchester_royal]

Been told by a reliable sauce that Roberts, HRK & Guthrie aren't starting tonight, Morrison also out.

If true, any remaining optimism has drained from me

Brian's preferred starting XI:

Fed
McAnuff
McAnuff
McAnuff
McAnuff
McAnuff
Leigertwood
McAnuff
McAnuff
McAnuff
McAnuff

[Royal Biscuitman]

GK - Federici (McCarthy Injured)
RB - Cummings
LB - Shorey
CB - Pearce
CB - Morrison
RW - McCleary (unless Kebe is fit and in form)
LW - Robson-Kanu
CM - Tabb
CM - Leigertwood (Karacan injured)
ST - Roberts
ST - Hunt

[Royal Biscuitman]

Been told by a reliable sauce that Roberts, HRK & Guthrie aren't starting tonight, Morrison also out.

If true, any remaining optimism has drained from me

Brian's preferred starting XI:

Fed
McAnuff
McAnuff
McAnuff
McAnuff
McAnuff
Leigertwood
McAnuff
McAnuff
McAnuff
McAnuff

Swap Federici for McAnuff and your spot on.... although to be fair to Leigertwood, he doesn't have too many options in midfield unless he plays McAnuff there.

[jellytot]

Get the impression that Brian would rather play a jellybaby than Guthrie. If he is not fit why have him on the bench?

We need to see some shots today. Passing is expecting to much.

Also where is Kebe. We should let sicknote leave. He makes Darren Anderton
Look like a regular starter!!

[melonhead]

Been told by a reliable sauce that Roberts, HRK & Guthrie aren't starting tonight, Morrison also out.

If true, any remaining optimism has drained from me

not me.

tbf HRK playing has nullified mcanuff, and thats where our problem has been in the last few games(utd aside)
play ,mcleary and mcanuff on th ecorrect sides and we can get enough chances.
and still have guthrie to come off the bench when we need to shore up/go for the goal


happy enough with pearce and marriappa at the back

[winchester_royal]

Been told by a reliable sauce that Roberts, HRK & Guthrie aren't starting tonight, Morrison also out.

If true, any remaining optimism has drained from me

not me.

tbf HRK playing has nullified mcanuff, and thats where our problem has been in the last few games(utd aside)
play ,mcleary and mcanuff on th ecorrect sides and we can get enough chances.
and still have guthrie to come off the bench when we need to shore up/go for the goal


happy enough with pearce and marriappa at the back

HRK has played on the right in the last 2 games so has had no effect on McAnuff

Guthrie come off the bench? Yeah right

[RFCSPACE]

RW - McCleary (unless Kebe is fit and in form)

So that's for less than 5 games a season then.

[Wimb]

If my source is indeed correct I just worry about causing any sort of attacking threat. Hunt & Le Fondre hardly worked in the Championship and with a weak midfield behind them it's once again going to be a case of hoping for a set piece goal.

Like Pearce coming back in though, chance to prove he deserves a decent deal.

[melonhead]

Been told by a reliable sauce that Roberts, HRK & Guthrie aren't starting tonight, Morrison also out.

If true, any remaining optimism has drained from me

not me.

tbf HRK playing has nullified mcanuff, and thats where our problem has been in the last few games(utd aside)
play ,mcleary and mcanuff on th ecorrect sides and we can get enough chances.
and still have guthrie to come off the bench when we need to shore up/go for the goal


happy enough with pearce and marriappa at the back

HRK has played on the right in the last 2 games so has had no effect on McAnuff

Guthrie come off the bench? Yeah right

either way one of them isnt playing on a side where he is best suited

[Divvy]

======================== FLAPERICI ========================

CUMMINGS ======== MORRISON ===== MARIAPPA ======== SHOREY

MCANUFF ======== LOLGERTWOOD = TABB ======== ROBSON-KANU

======================== GUTHRIE =========================

======================== ROBERTS =========================

[Royal91]

Been told by a reliable sauce that Roberts, HRK & Guthrie aren't starting tonight, Morrison also out.

If true, any remaining optimism has drained from me

If Noel Hunt starts I'm not interested!

[BR2]

Been told by a reliable sauce that Roberts, HRK & Guthrie aren't starting tonight, Morrison also out.

If true, any remaining optimism has drained from me

More important perhaps is whether Steven Fletcher plays for them.
I have a horrible feeling that McLean and Sessegnon will get some success running at our defenders-neither has done much this season so far and Sod's Law they rediscover form tonight.
The other thing is to avoid giving free-kicks away around our penalty area as Larsson's delivery is second to none.
I'm worried.

[andrew1957]

Been told by a reliable sauce that Roberts, HRK & Guthrie aren't starting tonight, Morrison also out.

If true, any remaining optimism has drained from me

One can only assume that Roberts/Guthie would be for disciplinary reasons. I thought HRK had done ok the last two games (one of better players) - surely he has not reared up too!

If Brian is dropping players for disciplinary reasons it seems to indicate that he is relatively secure in his position and that the club have already accepted that relegation is certain. Otherwise if he was facing the sack surely he would choose his best team whatever the consequences.

[royal_ross]

Feds

Cummings, Pearce/Morrison (if fit), Mariappa, Shorey

Robson-Kanu, Tabb, Legs (hear me out), McAnuff

Guthrie (won't be prob Roberts)

ALF

[Webster750]

In a perfect world...

GK: Federici
RB: Cummings
CB: Morrison (if injured, Pearce)
CB: Mariappa
LB: Shorey
CDM: Leigertwood (C)
CDM: Tabb
LM: HRK
CAM: Guthrie
RM: McCleary
ST: Pogrebnyak

Subs:
Andersen, Harte, Gunter, Bryniesta, McAnuff, ALF, Roberts.