Sunderland Boxing Day

@Keefly Bantam leading the way.

 

Sunderland seem oberly confident for this one on their forum.

Hope the players feel the same way and we can turn up and spoil the party.

Up the city

 

I’d be very happy with a point

 

Thing is... they lost to Portsmouth who are top there not exactly on a bad run

 

I work alongside a staunch Makem who is far From confident. If the Makems score early the crowd generally get behind them, but when the opposition start brightly the home crowd get edgy. I think to be fair Payne and Ball would walk into their team and they’re the 2 they seem nervous about

 

I'm quoting Sunderlands home record 6 wins 4 draws, IMO hardly impresive for a team who are favourites to be Champions.

 

Really?

22 points from a possible 30?

They'd be on for around 100 points with that form.

 

That's Keighley residents in their Sunday best, mate.

 

East Boldon or Seaburn pre match for us. Couple of stops on the metro and a quicker way out of there after the game, hopefully.
Come on City!!

 

It’s gonna be a cauldron. Always intimidating place to go anyway. I wonder if DH will tinker at all on that basis or just stick with what we got.

It’s a game where we need the experienced pros like Caddis to calm the nerves.

 

Equally they won't have played in front of a crowd that size before. Most of the current team have been brought in during the last window. If we start well they'll feel the pressure as much as us

It's a game where we need to be positive and score because it's unlikely they won't score I reckon!

 

Am I right in thinking they only play one forward in Maja?

He's scored 12, but beyond him I don't see much of a threat?

McGeady scores a few, but I don't think they're a free scoring side by any means.

 

Maja is doubtful for today too. Wyke is back though but as much as I rate him I think we defend against target man type strikers better than the faster nimble ones.

 

Sounds like Wyke may start on the bench.

 

Safe journey to Sunderland for David Hopkin's Bradford Army.

 

Very true

 

I think we are second highest scorers in the league and are the only team in the English leagues to score in every league game this season? It's another one of those "their home form is shit" (3rd best home form in League) things I think.

We play three up top; one centre forward (Maja) with Gooch and McGeady in advanced wide roles. Though with Maja a bit doubtful, you may see Watmore or even Wyke (though I expect him to come off the bench). Maguire and Power have goals in them from Midfield too. Maguire won L1 Goal of the Month for October and November... So he's probably got his eye on another worldy!

Confident? Not overly so. We have to back ourselves given our position, but match at the weekend ruffled some feathers. I also remember a few disappointing big-crowd Boxing Day defeats through the years, so even if we were miles ahead in the league, I'd still be a bit nervous. Really just hoping the new lads embrace the opportunity to show the stay-aways what they're all about.

 

It’s out wide I fear for us. They have some real quality out there. Caddis should cope but Chicksen? Can’t see it. He will be in for a long 90 minutes.

Is Mellor fit? I think he will play for that reason. To give some support and also be used for our out ball on the right wing to relieve some pressure.

If Sunderland stretch the game and keep wingers and fullbacks wide and we play the same formation we played last week we could struggle a bit.

I am confident however with a few minor tweaks we can turn up and have a great day today.

Feeling much more confident than a month ago.

 

Didn't realise Walsall was a cup game. Interesting stats. The Sunderland results I've paid attention to generally saw you score 1 or 2 - but that's me being selective.

I'm not in fear of a hiding, maybe a similar game to the one at VP with Sunderland's unbeaten home form accounting for our upturn in performances.

I'd take a point, but not very confident...

 

SUNDERLAND ARE GETTING KO’d TODAY !!!

We are going to go out there and win !

COME ON CITY!!!!!