Sunderland pre match chat+DF Press Conference

[Cjay]

Same as Norwich quick turnaround so early thread.

We travel to Tyne and Wear to the early Championship leaders.

A slight surprise package under ancient French manager Regis Le Bris the departure of star player Jack Clarke doesn't seem to have done them any harm with replacement Romaine Mundle already stepping up with 3 goals.

Mundle with a rejuvenated Patrick Roberts, new striker Wilson Isidor and wonderkd midfielder Chris Rigg has helped make Sunderland a dangerous team in transition who are happy to sit back and go at teams on the break.

They are not afraid to press high however on occasion with the energetic midfield including Dan Neil happy to get involved.

And this has lead Sunderland to be not only the Championship leaders but top scorers as well.

And as you'd expect from a team comfortable not having the ball they don't concede many either, only 6 goals in 8 games.

And 4 wins in 4 at home and no goals conceded.

A tough ask for our stretched squad and walking wounded players.

But one we must overcome to make it to the 2ppg mark at the 2nd international break.

Given DF's hatred of rotation and the stretched nature of our squad you don't expect much change.

But Gruev may be out it seems, slightly worrying how easily Norwich got at our defence at times especially given that is what Sunderland do best with fast breaks.

Is an argument for Bamford maybe? Byram?

A point would be a decent result perhaps? All be it 16 points from 9 games is playoff form at best which is not what we hoped for this season.

A real challenge to come.

[DDB220]

They got at our defence, but how many shots ? Other than the penalty. We were very good defensively last night away from home.

Worry !!!!! Based on what ?

Sunderland will be a different proposition but this is a winnable game.

I would stick with Joseph, his first poor game last night, every player has their ups and downs but he cannot have another blank evening or below par performance as his starting position comes under threat.

[Chilli D]

They got at our defence, but how many shots ? Other than the penalty. We were very good defensively last night away from home.

Worry !!!!! Based on what ?

Sunderland will be a different proposition but this is a winnable game.

I would stick with Joseph, his first poor game last night, every player has their ups and downs but he cannot have another blank evening or below par performance as his starting position comes under threat.

I agree about Joseph.
He didn't really do anything wrong last night but was anonymous for large parts of the game.
I like how he berated Bogle when he blasted his shot over the bar with Joseph square of him and a largely unguarded goal.
He should not be dropped for one below par performance but he could really do with a goal to boost his confidence

[WhiteRose]

I had hoped joseph would be the answer upfront but 1 goal in 8 games is just not the return we need - he hasn’t done anything particularly wrong but come on he should have more than that playing for Leeds - Bamford seems to flick and flap at every ball so not sure he is any good either so if I were Farke I’d have piroe at 9 and stop messing around with him playing deeper.

Could be a demoralising defeat this one, we have too many injuries and no potential stars from the youth set up. like Ipswich last year Sunderland seem to have found a formula to get results.

Think for once I’ll be glad to have the international break.

[The Subhuman]

I'd not drop Joseph. He's playing well for the most part. Also we don't have a viable replacement, Paddy very likely to get injured playing full games.

For me

Meslier
Bogle
Firpo
Tanaka
Rodon
Struijk
Gnonto
Aaronson
Joseph
Piroe
Ramazani

[The Subhuman]

I agree about Joseph.
He didn't really do anything wrong last night but was anonymous for large parts of the game.
I like how he berated Bogle when he blasted his shot over the bar with Joseph square of him and a largely unguarded goal.
He should not be dropped for one below par performance but he could really do with a goal to boost his confidence

Bogle going for goal was the correct decision, decent angle, the ball was almost teed up for him but then the slice.

[Onemanstanding]

Toughest game of the season on paper, can't see us getting much from this with a stretched squad.
Hope I'm wrong.

[Cjay]

Don't know why I had it in my head that the Sunderland manager was young.

He's 48

Older than DF

Can only assume its because I knew he'd only been a first team manager for a few years I guessed he was like 35,36.

My bad

[The Subhuman]

I had Sunderland down as the easier game after their recent form. Don't think there's much between Norwich and them, both are top 8 and play off contenders. As are we.

We have 2 points from 3 games against (current) contenders so far.

[Cjay]

They got at our defence, but how many shots ? Other than the penalty. We were very good defensively last night away from home.

Worry !!!!! Based on what ?

Sunderland will be a different proposition but this is a winnable game.

I would stick with Joseph, his first poor game last night, every player has their ups and downs but he cannot have another blank evening or below par performance as his starting position comes under threat.

A few things.

For one they beat Burnley comfortably (score doesn't tell the story) Burnley barely had a shot just lots of the ball and Sunderland just kept breaking on them.

That could be us we've seen it before.

But for me I just think the last team we want to face with our injuries is one happy to sit in a low block and smack you with pacey breaks.

[Cjay]

Gruev latest

We are still awaiting for further assessment, as it stands it looks a bit better but we have to wait for the scan



Other injuries

Nobody else is ruled out from the game yesterday. Isaac Schmidt looks a bit better so we will try tomorrow in our last training session, we will try with him tomorrow.

Manor Solomon is progressing We had hoped he would train today but that wasn't possible, so it's unlikely for the game Friday, we will have to go with what we have got.



Young players and Charlie Crew

Several young players are involved in our training at the moment, some from the under-21s. I back them and if we need to bring them on the pitch I would 100 per cent trust them to deliver. If we are forced to use them I trust them.

Charlie Crew has some comparrisons to Archie Gray, but this is unfair. It's not normal a 17-year-old is in the starting XI (like Archie), it is unfair to expect Chrlie to do what Archie has. He always want sto learn though and we are working lots with him to take hat next step. He is down to earth, well educated, humble and a very good football player, but there is a big step to first team football. He is on a good path already training with the first team.



Leeds' workload and substitutions

It is a tricky period but I am used to it. I know the load is sometimes incredible. This is a special circumstance with 3 games in 6 days and two away games. You have to use the options in your squad and share the options.

If you played with just XI players through these three games it would send the wrong sign to all the players in our squad, they need to know we need them.

With Dan James and Manor Solomon not available at the moment, we have to make sure Gnontoa nd Ramazani are available to start all three games for us and not just to start but to deliver. We speak about how we can help those players to support their recovery.

We cannot afford at the moment another injury. It's a tricky time but we are used to it.



Fringe players

I trust my whole squad. Joe Rothwel and Joe Gelhardt, it is improtant to trust the players and back these players. We are ina competitive environment where everyone is sharp and ready to go



Sunderland

They have done really well so far. You have to win as many points as possible and they have done that. They have really godo shape, good players and they are strong on teh counter attack. They are a really dangerous side. I am respectful of their work but we also kjnow we are in good shape. We have to be at our best to give ourseves a chance.

When you don't have all the key players available it is about unitya nd sticking together.



Potential new signings

We will first wait and see on Ilia and see. It is professional of us to check who is available and what we could do, but to be honest I am not a big fan of signing people out of contract when you get to October. They have bene out fo trainingf or months, it may take them a while to get up to speed and a player who is injured could be back before the new signing is ready.

It can be a panic signing. It is professional to check to see if there is someone who suits the needs, but i am not a big believer of it. But let's see. First we wait and hope for the outcome of Ilia Gruev.

Sometimes though it could be bad for the whole group. It can send a sign to other players we don't trust them.



Start to the season & Leeds promotion favourites

After so many changes and all the players we have had go a and come in, we have an exciting group. But when you have such a young group together, it would be unfair to put the burden of being teh big favourite on their shoulders.

We have a good group, I believe in this group and we can be right there in the mix, but it is unfair to give us the label of big favourites.

This season I would say in the away games we are unbeaten so far, 8 points so far and two really different away games with wins. Tow tough opponents away with draws. It is nearly perfect and a really good outcome.

Our home games our performances have been on a really good level.

[Cjay]

Schmidt a maybe and Solomon a no by sounds of it.

Gruev bit better than expected he hopes but they need to see the scan results first.

DF isn't keen on our younger players so don't expect to see much of them unless desperate

Unlikely to use the free agent market.

[The Subhuman]

If you played with just XI players through these three games it would send the wrong sign to all the players in our squad, they need to know we need them.

That seems to be a change from last season.

[Cjay]

That seems to be a change from last season.

Hope you aren't suggesting DF changes his mind depending on which way the wind blows

vince-vince-mcmahon.gif (330.47 KiB) Viewed 2398 times

[The Subhuman]

Hope you aren't suggesting DF changes his mind depending on which way the wind blows

vince-vince-mcmahon.gif

Or it's probably lip service,.

[Johnsie123]

Imo we need piroe on from the start I just don't think Jiseph has got enough for us to score enough goals,we have got to win this one.I know it's early in the season but we cannot afford to lose to many points I got a feeling it is going to be 90 plus points to go up automatically .

[Cjay]

Sunderland have a number of injury problems and fitness doubts.

Ian Poveda came off injured last game.

Alan Browne has only recently returned from injury.

New signing striker Ahmed Abdullahi

New defensive midfielder Salis Abdul Samed

Both been unable to play yet

First choice cbs Dan Ballard and Aje Alese both injured.

Dutch cb Jensen Seelt is also injured.

And impressive teenage striker Eliezer Mayenda who has 2 goals and 2 assists already is also injured.

[Lebowski]

Did Norwich really get at our defence ? Man of the match for them wa certainly the referee, he gave them everything he could. I thought we defended very well and were the better team. We cant expect every game to be like Cardiff where the home team had no attacks at all.

Anyway, although I am a Yorkie, I moved up to Sunderland as a child and all of my schooling was there until I moved back down to Yorkshire. Growing up there as a Leeds fan was character building

I still have mates up there and they are still banging on about 1973. They hate us with a passion and as a football crowd are a sour lot. It doesnt take much for the crowd to turn on their own team there. I went up last season and sat in with the home fans, not a great experience ! However one of my mates has been so cocky about this game and they are all celebrating their perfect home start...WE WILL WIN THIS GAME

[1964white]

They got at our defence, but how many shots ? Other than the penalty. We were very good defensively last night away from home.

Worry !!!!! Based on what ?

Sunderland will be a different proposition but this is a winnable game.

I would stick with Joseph, his first poor game last night, every player has their ups and downs but he cannot have another blank evening or below par performance as his starting position comes under threat.

One shot on target, the penalty.

Yes, stick with Joseph, he's young, fit & energetic.