Varadi

Good to see him back to something like his dominant best, will be very important he's on form against Man Utd - him and Cabaye dominating the centre won us the game last year.

Thought he played well tonight - defensively solid, the fact he doesn't offer much going forward is less of an issue when you have a dynamic left side like we had with Fergie and Oberwanktan tonight.

Interesting option for the left hand side, pleasantly surprised with his showing there tonight.

Brilliant tonight - especially loved his cameo as a defensive midfielder after his legs had gone in the last few minutes. Bring on the mackems....

QPR

There's a 2 week break after the Man United game too, so I'm sure 2 games in 4 days shouldn't be too much of a problem - would like to see a strong lineup.

Haven't read the whole thread so will probably be covering old ground here, but the thing that stood out to me was the lack of movement and pace right across the pitch - HBA was trying to make things happen but seemed to get no support, and we had no-one try to put their defenders on the back foot until Ferguson came on. Really frustrating game to watch.

Excellent post. Think Pardew is more than entitled to feel let down by the lack of backing this summer - just imagine the difference Debuchy and Douglas would have made to the team we finished that game with yesterday? 6 games in and we've lost 80% of our first choice back 5, and it's costing us points - it's frustrating as it was predictable. Also like the idea of leaving out Cisse and trying Fergie wide in a more advanced role, allows us to play a midfield 3 of Tiote, Cabaye and Jonas, which was the basis of a lot of our best performances last season.

Like the look of that Almost certainly be Obertan wide right though....

Arsenal team to face Chelsea: Mannone; Jenkinson, Koscielny, Vermaelen, Gibbs; Arteta, Diaby; Ramsey, Cazorla, Podolski; Gervinho Chelsea team to face Arsenal: Cech; Ivanovic, D Luiz, JT ©, Cole; Ramires, Mikel; Mata, Oscar, Hazard; Torres. #CFC

Slating his own players' attitude in the press - magnificent man management: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2210148/Brendan-Rodgers-tells-Stewart-Downing-Jose-Enrique-face-Liverpool-exit.html?ito=feeds-newsxml

That kid seriously needs to get a girlfriend.

This is the Reading team that started their last league game: 21 McCarthy 02 Gunter (Robson-Kanu - 80' ) 03 Shorey 05 Pearce 17 Gorkss 08 Leigertwood 11 McAnuff 20 Guthrie 07 Pogrebniak (Hunt - 69' ) 09 Le Fondre 12 McCleary Looks really lightweight to me - we should be controlling this game and let our superior firepower do the job.

This made me chuckle; "Even if nothing comes of it, it's at least showing (once again) both us and the players that Brendan 'gets us'" don't even know where to start with that Aye, that quote stood out to me too - they really do seem to think they're some kind of chosen people. Mental.

Aye, can't believe he's portraying him as some kind of put-upon victim. Such a ridiculously pointless threat as well - "look you referees, I really didn't want to have to do this, but I might have to ask Suarez and Stevie G to start diving...."

How do you improve from being Manager of the year? I'm being whooshed aren't I??

Wow.

Wasn't there talk of Simpson being back for this?

I'm viewing any positive result tonight as a massive bonus - fully expect to get beat so refuse to be too disappointed if we do.

always love the F365 weekly stat check: * Sunderland's four goals this season have come from just six shots on target. * Sunderland have recorded an average 34.3% possession this season - lower than Stoke. * Sunderland have not won a Premier League game since March 24. 12 games ago.

Same 3 netted big points for me this week - think Cisse is going to have to go though!

Couple of lads in the pub seemed to be getting genuinely upset with the way he was carrying on but I just couldn't stop laughing. Welcome back Cheik.

sssshhh man, stop talking about it - future opponents might look on here and suss our set piece masterplan...

Brilliant today - made some decent contributions I'm not convinced Krul would've managed.