Altamullan

Seriously?

Still believe Mitro will shine this season, with Ritchie, Aarons and Perez potentially lining up chances and Gayle 'doing a Bellamy' and pulling defenders all over the final third it could be effective and great to watch. Sincerely hope this is his only ban of the season and his fitness holds. But don't think Rafa will risk that and we'll get similar style but more experienced alternate before the window closes. Suspect we need to get Sissoko offski asap to do this piece of business.

This looks like a team to me With the possible exception of Shelvey, I think this makes the best of what we've got. Maybe Aarons instead of Gamez for a home game.

Nailed on; Hayden to score!

Thanks for posting a recommendation for the YouTube clip. Can't recall ever having seen Tony Green play. He looked great to watch. There's a definite, pre-Pedro, Beardsley-shuffle at one point! Maybe someone should point Matt Ritchie in this direction, Green would be a great role model for him, and Ritchie has what it takes to achieve similar folk lore status.

Unless his form picks up and sharpish it is not certain he will be a guaranteed starter. If your captain's on the bench, presumably one of the starting 11 takes the band. Who would that be?

Yep. Hope we're not going to be 'black and white' in our thinking though, and go straight from idealisation of Rafa and unrealistic 'sow's ear to silk purse' optimism to he doesn't know what he's doing, it is all shite. First loss out the way, at Fulham (quell surprise) let's crack on with the task at hand.

I liked Gayle's movement and pace last night. Add Ritchie and Aarons pace and determination into the mix and Shelvey could be a vital piece of the jigsaw. He certainly has the ability to pick out passes to them from deep and more importantly, if we play the same formation, pop balls in to the space behind the opponents defence/midfield for them to chase. Add Mitro/someone capable of holding the ball up in the final third and it might just be good to watch.

We played a 4-4-2 first half against Arnhem, Colback and Hayden as central two. Rafa in his interview with Ian Holloway, suggested that this is one of the formations he wants the team to play.

You do realise there are loads of Geordies who support Sunderland don't you? Loads? Apart from the occasional parental/family bias from 'recent emigrants', and the even rarer unfortunate who has had a severe bang on the head/brain injury ('love David Icke me like, and Sunlun') have to say, I've not come across many. So does loads mean 100, 1000, 10,000? Or as much as 0.25%population of Tyneside?

Great pic (s). What a trio. Took a while to realise Lee C wasn't giving Pardew a thumbs-up. I think I understand why Colback is in the team, just wish he did the role more effectively.

Please don't. Let's start there and we can work on the apostrophes later. You don't even need the "of". One step at a time. When did I turn into this? Careful dude, you could be in the early stages of a Miss Jean Brodie transformation. Look out for a sudden interest in tartan frocks and chiffon scarves: terminal phase.

Just for a reality/sanity check, how many people believe he has some contractual 'has to start' clause?

Of all of the poor performances last night, I was most worried about Perez's. I really expected him to thrive in this division. Whilst him and Gayle never looked like it was going to be a good fit, it is the second game in a row where Ayoze has just looked a bit lightweight. In attitude as well as physicality. Not sure how to capture what seems missing, but if you saw Janmaat's drive to get into the box late-on and rage at being called back for a freekick when he was through, it is that. Ayoze needs more of that, and sharpish.

Island heed thinks we need another striker. Listen to Island Heed ... Oh, we did.

Perez has been weak as piss. Vurn having a shocker. Hayden and Ritchie look sharp. Hanley way too hesitant. Gayle looks dangerous. You can tell there's no real understanding between them yet.

Another set piece. Shocking.

Vurn having a stinker. Ayoze not getting the rub of the green. We'll see Aarons in second half: it's Rolando time!!

Bet SMc wishes he brought his brolly.

Put what you can afford to lose on Fulham; better odds and some (tempered) pleasure guaranteed...

'Alreet guv'nor pet, ah'll have a proper nawty warm pint of mild, my old plate. And a packet of chim chimerneys (salt and vinegar). Up the Thamesmen! Down with the Georgies!' I reckon you'd be great company on an away trip Bard hankering after the drink and laughter fuelled transit van away trips of old...

Shortening of clap-ridden slappers? Neutral end might be full of them. Could be really off-putting to away support...

No room now with him and his dog, unless . . . . http://gifrific.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/jack-black-kick-baxter-anchorman.gif Thats it man, leave Lucky alone! :lol: it just gets better!

Funnily enough, the worst game I saw ever, after almost 45 years of attending league football, was the 1-0 win there with Fat Sam in charge and Barton scoring from a pen. Dismal, cold, boring, lifeless...and that was just the half-time beer. I see your 1-0 win in the cold, and raise you the Gullit inspired defeat in the downpour against the Makems.

After 6 days of desperately wanting it to be today, I'm nervous now! Telling myself that with so many changes it is a good time to play us, first game doesn't decide the season, we always struggle at Fulham, blah blah. But really want us to make a statement/put to in a performance. First half last Sat stretched over 90 mins will do!