SUNDERLAND THREAD

[mcdowell42]

Subs Fabianski, Jenkinson, Flamini, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Gnabry, Sanogo, Bendtner
2:05pm - 22 Feb 14

[Yankee_Gooner_Dandee]

i love the starting lineup except for monreal. cazorla hopefully gets to play the 10 by himself instead of being stuck wide. rosicky can do a better job wide than santi.

[clockender1]

Blimey augie was right - pod and Giroud up top.. Shocker

Not sure about jack n tets protecting the back four though.

[scotgooner]

Come on you reds

[augie]

Blimey augie was right - pod and Giroud up top.. Shocker

Not sure about jack n tets protecting the back four though.

[Ryanswannell]

Great goal

[gp543]

Sunderland really are shit. Good on the big man, just what he needs.

[LDB]

If we inject a bit of tempo here we can have this won by half time but somehow I have a feeling the game will still be in the balance after an hour

[clockender1]

Oh mrs Giroud, your boy scores when he wants, scores when he wants....

[northbank123]

If we inject a bit of tempo here we can have this won by half time but somehow I have a feeling the game will still be in the balance after an hour

Yeah although we obviously haven't played as well in the last few months we've also made a habit of making games unnecessarily competitive. It's something that Liverpool have done well a few times this season (like against us) - I don't rate them as a great team but quite often when a side turns up at Anfield half-asleep they'll be 3 down before they know it.

Great goal and a top effort from Podolski. I'm not going to make out he's the messiah or the solution to all of our problems but he offers us such a different option. Obviously he is a good finisher but there's more than that. Imo his directness can only be matched by Chamberlain and Podolski operates in more dangerous areas, as even when playing wide Chamberlain drops deep and central a lot more to get on the ball. His one-track focus on goal and willingness to shoot are refreshing and provide a great balance to the excellent but often pensive creative players we have. You have to hold a gun to most players' heads to shoot from outside the box, for that effort Podolski picked up a ball with no danger and relatively little time but one great touch, quick backswing and he's brought a good save out of Mannone from a long way out.

Really think this is a chance for WIlshere to kick on too. Thought he was excellent throughout the game on Weds given the conditions.

[northbank123]

Also although we got a great start with the goal we've dropped the tempo. We're still comfortable and untroubled but the danger is Sunderland creep into the game and we don't lift the tempo and performance.

EDIT: scrap that Absolute gift but reward for pressing from Rosicky and Podolski and nicely taken.

[augie]

[Ryanswannell]

Our players are just walking past Sunderlands players at the moment.

Just scored again as I type Nice finish by Giroud

[robbo10]

What a great goal!!!!!

[augie]

Blimey augie was right - pod and Giroud up top.. Shocker

Not sure about jack n tets protecting the back four though.

I know on the sky website their picture line ups has podolski up front but is he really playing up front ??