ExiledGeordie

It'll be a hectic start with a derby type feel to it. Once it settles down we should be able to exert our power and ability over them. Not a straightforward match though. The annoying thing is I'm going to friends for lunch so may miss the second half

I think he'll go with power, play Gouffran and Diame, try and neutralise them and use our superior players to finish them off. Just my guess

Yeah I think we are solid enough at the back and we still have Lazarr as a potential option at left back, Gamez too if he can get fit. Some more midfield power and cutting edge creativity could seal the deal.

The combination of Pardew and Ashley was the perfect storm to turn me off nufc. Listening to Pardews excuses, gripes, arrogance after watching the dogshit football we had to suffer through was horrific. I remember vividly those endless games where we went in at half time 1-0 only to come out and defend that lead. Inevitably the opposition gained confidence, we cracked and either ended up drawing or losing. The loss to Reading at home epitomised this for me.

I'm enjoying the resolute solid nature of our displays and I'll happily sacrifice some free flowing football for that. We've been a soft touch and poor defensively for too long. Hopefully as the team improves and he brings in better players we will add that bit of qualify going forward.

The wins keep coming. We'll just take have to learn to be more clinical in front of goal to put teams away because that could end up costing us points. The internstional break has probably come at a decent time to regroup too.

I agree. Can't see lascelles leaving. How mad is it that we're in the Championship and are confident we won't be losing anyone to Chelsea. Can't see Lascelles leaving, Rafa is building something good

So glad we don't have to listen to his drivel as our manager or watch patchy football with awful tactics.

Or he can continue his role as backup, playing in games like this, scoring 2 goals and assisting 1, on our way to a 4-0 win. how you can moan about a performance like this I don't know. Nice and optimistic there considering he's put in a solid shift That said assuming we go up I think Benitez will buy a new starting striker, Gayle will rotate in and Mitrovic will barely get any game time and probably be sold.

West Ham!

Get in!

Good team, no complaints

Last season save for an effort from Benitez we were almost destined to go down after a few years of squeaking by. I think this is Sunderlands year. They look terrible.

They probably will on Tuesday

And nobody else? You perv...

I like the idea of Atsu and Ritchie on the pitch at the same time

Yeah you'd hope that once Lazarr settles in and gets a few games he'll add something different to the side. Probably see more of him second half of season but we need a bit more down that left side.

Grew to take a win into the break. Hoping as we see more of Atsu and Lazarr eventually gets a regular run out we'll be even more clinical with balanced wing play. Team is evolving and improving all the time and it's good to see.

Pure speculation, like. It's more to do with his godawful performance against Wolves plus Clark's assured displays since then. By all accounts his attitude wasn't the most committed at the start of the season but hopefully that's changed.

From what I heard he was "unsettled" at the start of the season wanting away and hasn't been fussed about learning English. Hopefully he's settled a bit since then but maybe there are still some issues bubbling away

Ideal to win going into the break. Loads more to come from thise side, Astu seems like he'll add loads of attacking threat. Lazarr will come in eventually too

Struggling as of recent particularly in that role behind the striker but he'll come good eventually.

Yes option to buy

They were talking about todays line up on Total Sport last night, and Anderson was saying whilst he would expect midfield and forwards to be rotated, he thought Rafa should be settling on a fixed back four, as they are important to play alongside each other regularly. Whilst I can see that argument, I also think rotating them (certainly pre-christmas) is the way to go. If you play a steady back 4 regularly, then ne or two get injured, you bring in one or two squad players who have to adapt to the system/other players quickly. With the rotation policy, some squad players are playing semi-regularly alongside the 'first choices' like Lascelles. So if/when they have to come in, then they still know how to play alongside each other. I still think its great that we have such a squad where all players know they are going to get chances, so they are hopefully more ready to come in/on, as they know they are going to get chances to play. That's a good thing about rotating the defenders in terms of a long term effect. At least if they've played together a bit then when the injuries ineveitsbly come you're not pairing players together how haven't played together much. As ever it's a fine balance but I fully trust someone of the calibre of Benitez to get it right.

Ofcourse it's started I mean when the injuries and suspensions kick in for all teams and true form starts to tell that's when I've a,ways felt the season has started if not numerically speaking. Teams who you might not have predicted to do well and have started well often start to drop off around this time. We are a new team, we are still settling down and therefore I think we'all continue to improve because we have better depth than others.