Tough uncompromising Reading
wins a gritty game; Everton full of fight but lack quality in final third lose
by a solitary goal.
Perfect football weather; wet and
windy; for the ball to played on the ground.
Second home game in quick succession for the Royals, looking for a first
win against league leaders Everton; both sets of fans were raucous and exuberant.
Hahnemann remained the ‘keeper,
the back four remained largely unchanged with Bikey starting instead of injured
Duberry, Ingimarsson, Murty and Shorey finished the back line; Oster started
wide right, Harper and Gunnarsson in the middle with Hunt wide left; Long and
Doyle stayed up front.
Everton were without Yobo and
remained largely unchanged, Lescott moving into centre back and Nuno Valente
starting at left back, Stubbs and Hibbert completed the back line, Osman,
Arteta, Neville and Carsley made up the midfield with Johnson and Anichebe up
front, Howard remained in goal.
Johnson was quick to use his pace
but the cross in was easily claimed by Hahnemann.
Hunt work the ball on the left
and fires a good ball in but Lescott clears then Seol crosses from the opposite
side for Hibbert to clear.
Everton start at a brisk pace and
the game feels open, Arteta, Johnson and Osman attack, Reading clear the
ball. Bikey gives up a throw in from
Anichebe and Neville’s long throw is headed on by the ####ian but the Royals
defence stands firm, the ball is broken quickly with Howard claiming the long
forward pass. Johnson combines with
Osman and the diminutive midfielder delivers a great return ball for a Johnson
cross to be deflected for a corner kick, Arteta's dead ball lacks quality.
The midfield is combative and
fast paced both sides hungry for the ball.
Seol receives a good cross field
ball from Harper, he crosses into the area for Doyle but Lescott gets there
first to concede the corner kick; the ball falls to Bikey he is accurate but
his shot lacks power and Howard claims.
Seol takes on Lescott on the
right and whips in a cross to the far post, Hunt wins a corner off Hibbert;
great battle all day between the winger and the right back; Lescott clears the
ball in.
Nuno Valente wins a ball on the
left and passes infield to Carsley, his pass finds Anichebe and then Hibbert
who delivers a fine cross for Arteta, with no room to shoot he lays a ball back
for Johnson, the forward doesn’t hit the ball first time and by the time he
gets his shot off he is closed down, he gets a corner which Reading can only
clear to Neville, the final shot skews behind for a goal kick.
For one of the few times in the
match Johnson gets beyond Bikey and passes in Anichebe but the youngster’s shot
is poor.
Doyle gets played in with a neat
long ball, he has time but turns and shoots at Howard, Seol delivers a ball from
the right to Hunt but Hibbert steps up to win possession. Johnson is brought down and the kick is taken
quickly, Arteta finds Osman but the shot is hurried wide.
Seol can’t beat Arteta and Reading is pushed back
before losing possession to the visitors.
Carsley delivers a delightful through ball from the middle, Johnson
leaves it perfectly for Anichebe, and the striker didn’t anticipate the move
and the ball is picked up by Hahnemann.
The game’s pace is high but the
play is more about endeavor than skill, from both sides.
Hunt’s free kick is half cleared
and it finds Harper and Seol before Hunt plays a ball in, it comes off the arms
of both Neville and Lescott before going for a corner. Reading
has a legitimate claim for the deflection off Lescott but nothing is
given.
Anichebe gets into the area on
the left and delivers a smart cross for Osman but Shorey gets in front of the
midfielder and clears, Hahnemann claims the ball in the area.
The referee allows advantage with
Doyle running at Everton but Hibbert comes inside to tackle him, a poor
clearance from Nuno Valente hands possession back to Reading and Bikey plays a ball in deep, Doyle
can only shoot wide.
Everton look to stay solid at the
back and use the midfield to out fight Reading, the Royals are equally
committed and try to find the flanks to get in behind the visitors.
Lescott finds the space for
Johnson to exploit with a good cross field ball, the pacy striker wins a throw
in but a series of three deliveries from Neville are all cleared.
Doyle puts a ball in at the back
post for Hunt, the header isn’t clean and Everton can clear their lines. Shorey keeps up the pressure on the Toffees
by getting in on the left after beating Anichebe but the pressure is relieved
when Seol’s cross goes tamely behind.
Johnson gets forward but Bikey
easily shrugs him off the ball, Arteta’s delivery off a free kick is straight
at Hahnemann who distributes the ball quickly only for Seol to pump a poor ball
in which goes behind; again.
The Korean gifts a free kick to
Everton with a foul on Arteta, the Spaniard’s ball in is easily cleared; the
midfielder’s ball in today have lacked his normal quality and have failed to
create problems for the defence.
The play is getting a touch scrappy;
both sides are evenly matched for commitment and spirit.
Johnson’s snapshot is deflected
wide, Arteta’s ball in falls to Neville, his shot is blocked; Hibbert plays the
rebound out wide to Arteta but the Spaniard sees his cross cleared, Doyle makes
a quick break until he is closed down by Hibbert and Osman.
Nuno Valente fails to clear a
deep Reading ball which falls back to the Royals, it only finds its way to
Howard from the resultant cross.
Osman fails to hit the target
after neat Everton movement, Hahnemann fires the ball quickly up field and
Lescott plays it safe and concedes a throw.
The long ball in can’t be cleared by Stubbs who is artfully delayed by
Doyle leaning in, Hibbert is asleep and lets Hunt get across him, the winger is
able to control the ball and get it past Howard from close range for a late
first half lead.
Reading attack at the whistle with Stubbs
clearing for a throw, the ball works its way to Doyle but he fails to trouble
Howard.
Anichebe runs on for a deep ball
which is cleared by Bikey; excellent all afternoon; the big man muscles Johnson
of the ball to snuff out Everton’s next attack.
The away side are trying to
increase the tempo and get an equalizer, but realize concession of a second
goal may kill the game.
Arteta receives the ball in
midfield and sees the Reading defence open up as he runs forward, dithering too
much he doesn’t shoot and his wayward pass is easily cleared by Reading. Hibbert feeds Johnson at inside right and the
shot comes off Bikey for Hahnemann to claim.
Arteta and Johnson combine on the left, Bikey is there again to clear
the ball behind, the ball is half cleared but Osman can only send the ball at
Hahnemann.
Despite the away side getting
more possession Hahnemann has yet to be tested.
Each side continues to work hard
with little quality in the final ball.
Pienaar comes on for the injured
Anichebe. Arteta feeds Johnson in; Bikey
clears the ball ahead of the striker. A
ball breaks for Johnson and he gets by de la Cruz but is pushed wide and has to
be content with a shot from a tight angle; Hahnemann claims another weak Arteta
free kick. Hibbert’s deep ball finds
Hahnemann instead of Johnson and Shorey’s free kick at the other end is claimed
by Howard. Seol commits another foul for
yet another Everton free kick, before it is taken McFadden come in for Hibbert,
the ball falls into the six yard box but Bikey calmly takes a touch and clears
the ball from danger, Reading clear the corner kick but a ball in for Carsley
allows Johnson space but he can only fire a looping header into Hahnemann’s
grasp. Another Everton attack ends up as
a corner kick after good interchanges between Pienaar, Arteta, McFadden and
Neville, Reading
clear twice before breaking to attack, Lescott stops the break with a foul on Seol;
the centre back clears the resultant free kick.
Pienaar crosses too long then Shorey and Doyle combine to send in Harper
but Howard claims; McFadden breaks down the right and delivers a good cross
from the byline which Reading clear behind, Arteta meets the ball at he far
post but the ball in isn’t great and reading clear.
McFadden is booked for a dive in
the Reading
penalty area.
Bikey clears another long ball
meant for Johnson.
Pienaar feeds McFadden on the
right, the Scot’s shot loops over Hahnemann but come off the crossbar, Johnson
hits the post with his shot under pressure from de la Cruz; easily a claim for
handball off the substitute; and Reading clear again.
McFadden has the last Toffee
chance but his shot is blocked well by Gunnarsson.
A game full of determination,
spirit, fight, toughness but skill and class was fairly scarce for the
visitors. Arteta was off form and should
have come off, Osman was tepid, and Anichebe and Johnson still need to work on
their partnership. McFadden was a decent
substitute but Pienaar had little impact.
Everton looked tired and fresh out of ideas.
A game full of determination,
spirit, fight, toughness but skill and class was fairly scarce for the home
team. Bikey was excellent throughout,
Hunt was full of running but Reading lacked quality in the final third and
would have been beaten by a better finishing team. Coppell will be happy with the three points
but Reading
have failed to settle into a rhythm this season.
Bennett was fine, nice yellow for
McFadden and pretty sensible refereeing; not stopping play for Oster was a
touch harsh though.
A game of two halves; Reading win the first half; Chelsea throw caution
to the wind and win the second; Drogba back amongst the goals with a 2-1 away
win.
A slick, wet pitch, raucous home
fans, a wet Wednesday night, perfect for football. Coming off and a draw; against the Champions;
Reading fans
were looking for a more open and attacking game for the first home
fixture. The Reading #13 was out tonight as was a decent
contingent whom had made the trip west.
Hahnemann stayed in goal, the
back four changed with Murty dropping into a full back role, Ingimarsson,
Duberry and Shorey finished the back line; Oster started wide right, Harper and
Cisse in the middle with Hunt wide left; Long and Doyle stayed up front. This was a more attacking team than Sunday’s.
Cech stayed in goal, Ben Haim
deputizes for Terry, Ferriera and A.Cole out wide with Carvalho in the middle;
Wright-Philips worked the right flank, Sidwell; guaranteed a torrid reception;
sat in alongside Lampard and Malouda played on the left; Kalou partnered Drogba
up front.
Reading
started bright and attacking; Doyle on left worked the ball into the area,
Oster at the far post failed to shoot and took the ball on but was pushed wide
and ended up with a poor cross which Chelsea
cleared.
Reading set their stall out with determined
midfield play and looks to exploit the flanks.
Chelsea looks
to attack and get the ball forward quickly.
Wright-Philips finds space on the
right, delivers a great ball for Drogba but the Ivorian is offside.
Long and Hunt combine on the left
to deliver a great far post ball for Oster, he pulls it back and Harper’s shot
is cleared behind, Hunt shoots and gets another corner kick, the ball goes far
post and Kalou clears for another corner, Ingimarsson heads wide.
Reading’s
width causes Chelsea
problems, they trouble the visitors on set pieces and Cisse is dominant in
midfield. Chelsea struggle in midfield but look crisp
going forward; Cole fires in an early cross which Hahnemann claims. Cole’s next cross is just to long for
Drogba.
Kalou passes to Drogba; the big
man turns and shoots wildly. As the half
wears on Chelsea
start to show more fight in midfield; Malouda misses the opportunity to play in
a wide open Drogba and sees his shot cleared.
Oster plays a deep ball but Hunt
can’t get the right touch and Chelsea clear, Kalou makes a mazy run at Reading but his final ball lacks a target and Reading clear.
Wright-Philips delivers a free
kick into the area but Hahnemann is smartly off his line to claim ahead of
Drogba. Malouda runs into trouble in the
left channel but wins a corner, Murty clears the first and Drogba skies a good
chance at the far post from the second.
Carvalho sees a long shot fly
wide.
The game is settling down and
being mostly played between the areas, both teams can’t quite play well in the
final third.
Wright Philips works the right
channel and finds Kalou inside, the ball to Malouda is cleared easily and
Reading break quickly in the right, Carvalho’s professional foul earns him a
yellow card; Shorey delivers a poor ball in off the free kick.
Sidwell is nutmegged in midfield
and hauls Hunt down; he gets a yellow; which delights the home fans.
Bikey comes on for Duberry and
less than a minutes later is on the score sheet. Shorey delivers a long free kick into the
area, Ingimarsson heads on for Oster to head back across goal, Cech comes off
his line but fails to connect and clashes with his defenders, the ball drops
inside the box for an easy tap in; Bikey will never get an easier Premier
league goal.
Cech does better the next time
around, Sidwell gets a yellow for persistent fouling and Shorey delivers a long
ball in the box only for Cech to claim.
Carvalho finally comes off to be
replaced by Johnson.
Harper delivers a ball into the
area, Oster has his shot blocked but Reading maintain possession, Cisse delivers
a looping ball to the back of the area which Ferriera misjudges; he cuts inside
but overruns the ball a touch, Doyle; coming in late; smashes his shot straight
at Cech.
Kalou is stripped by Ingimarsson
who play Doyle on the flank; his cross goes wide for a Chelsea goal kick. Doyle gets on the end of a far post cross and
nods it back across the goal, Oster takes hit shot first time but it cannons of
the post to be cleared by Chelsea. A Reading
cross isn’t cleared well and the ball falls to Oster who almost lobs Cech.
Malouda and Cole combine on the
left and deliver the ball inside for Sidwell, his ball for Kalou is too long;
Bikey heads a long free kick down but Chelsea clear; Hahnemann claims Kalou’s
cross in front of Drogba; Oster cross sails over his teammates; Bikey clears a
cross from Wright-Philips, for a corner kick, Johnson finds space but can only
head at Hahnemann from close range.
Sidwell combines with Kalou and
Wright-Philips but the Reading back line can’t be breached; Hunt and Long
combine to set up Doyle but he drifts too wide and shoots at Cech; Long
dispossess Cole but the referee awards a Chelsea free kick; Oster crosses after
being sent free by Murty, Cech claims the high ball in; Wright Philips delivers
a pacy ball through the D, Cisse misses his clearance and Lampard; in space and
behind the midfielder; has not time or speed of though to take the ball on,
Chelsea get a late corner but Kalou can’t combine with Sidwell.
Coppell keeps his side unchanged
as they come out for the second half, Mourinho changes Chelsea around
dramatically, Wright-Philips fills in as right, Mikel comes in for Sidwell and
Pizarro replaces Ferriera. The formation
is switched to look almost like a 4 2 4.
Straight from the whistle Chelsea attack in numbers
at pace. Mikel, Pizarro and Drogba
combine through the middle but see the ball cleared. Chelsea come forward again, Bikey misses a
defensive header and Pizarro knocks the ball on, Drogba does likewise and Lampard
is quickest to the knock on, he knocks the ball forward; taking Shorey out of
the play; and drills the ball past Hahnemann.
Chelsea continues to attack; going forward in
numbers looking for the winner. Reading is struggling to cope with the increased intensity
of Chelsea.
Cisse gives Reading some respite;
although he is struggling to cope with the runs of Lampard; with a cross into
the Chelsea
penalty area, Cech claims and starts another attack.
Malouda wins a corner kick, Lampard
takes it short and Mikel feeds Wright-Philips, the diminutive winger blazes a
shot wide.
Drogba receives the ball 35 yards
out and fights two Reading
players to keep possession and spray the ball to Kalou; who occupies the inside
right position; he evades the pressure and sends a return ball to the unmarked
Drogba. The big Ivorian turns and places
his shot past Hahnemann’s outstretched left hand for a goal.
Reading are still looking for a
way to play football and not capitulate, Pizarro sees his powerful strike blaze
high; Doyle sees a cross claimed by Cech; Drogba crosses for Kalou but
Hahnemann claims; Cole whips one in from the byline but it’s just to high for
Drogba; Hunt puts in a decent ball into the area but Cech gets plenty of
distance to his punch; Kalou works the ball on the left and threads a ball
through to Pizarro, the striker fires a low cross/shot across Hahnemann, the
ball goes wide but not without a static Lampard failing to stick a leg out for
an easy tap in; Reading get a corner but the delivery in the box is poor;
especially as set pieces have been a threat for the Royals; the home team
starts to apply some pressure and retain some possession as the last twenty
minutes come around.
Unfortunately a piece of terrible
refereeing scuppers the chances of a Reading
fight back as Cisse receives a second yellow from an unsighted Dean.
It’s a scrappy end to the match;
with their fight gone Reading
just go through the motions. Chelsea eases off and just let Reading play in front of them.
Certainly a game of two halves
for Coppell, effective and energetic in the first and hopelessly outsmarted in
the second. His players were game and
showed plenty of skill, Cisse dominated in the first half, Hunt and Oster put plenty
of balls in the area, but finishing wasn’t great as Cech wasn’t really
tested. Oster hit the post but had two
other similar opportunities he chose not to shoot. The first goal was poor defending, the second
just pure class.
Mourinho gambled and won in the
second half, his team was tepid in the first, Wright-Philips not having any end
product, the defence missing Terry and the midfield unable to cope with Reading’s pace and
energy. Putting four up front and
leaving the midfield almost bare worked and worked quickly. After that Reading was too stunned to retaliate. Masterful tactician with large stones.
Dean has a word with Ben Haim and
Doyle for persistent argy bargy in the area.
Generally the referee was competent; he was quick to reach for his card
in a first half that had little or no malice on the field of play.
Most of his cards were about
right except the second yellow for Cisse.
Without a clear view of the play he waits for Pizarro to start ludicrous
play acting and then books the Frenchman.
Awful decision, particularly if you watch the incident frame by
frame.
Pizarro is hauling back Oster to
get to a lose ball, the ref is standing less than ten yards away but can’t see
the shirt pulling, Cisse and Pizarro both make a move for the loose ball,
Pizarro’s method is to get both feet of the floor; studs up; and hope he hits
something; Cisse is more technical, trying to poke the ball to Oster he misjudges
it and his toe happens to collide with an airborne Peruvian. The contact is minimal and Pizarro sits back
on the turf, miraculously the force of the blow; which of course happens to
defy the laws of physics; is delayed by the shin pad and with circus like
agility the cheating Chelsea
striker rolls over grabbing his leg and howling like a baby. Mike Dean can’t see the incident, Pizarro’s
body is between him and the ball, but he does react only when the Peruvian
cheats, he is conned into thinking it was anything more than a fifty fifty
ball. So a referee can’t see a player
wrapping up his opponent and hauling him back, nor can he see a dangerous two
footed lunge but he does have super x-ray vision and can see through flesh; at
worst a foul; maybe even a card for Pizarro, booking Cisse halted any chance
Reading had of a comeback and killed the last twenty minutes.
Oh, and Wright-Philips doesn’t
get a red for a sloppy two footed crunch tackle a few moments later?
C’mon Mister Dean, you were
awful, go and hang your head in shame.
Missed out on Europe
by three points but played well with good signings, Redknapp has strengthened
the squad looking to climb higher this season.
Yet again he has shown some astuteness in his transfers.
Transfers:-
IN: David Nugent (Preston, £6m),
John Utaka (Rennes, £7m), Sulley Muntari (Udinese, £7m), Sylvain Distin
(Manchester City, free), Hermann Hreidarsson (Charlton, free), Martin Cranie
(Southampton, £150,000), Arnold Mvuemba (Rennes, undisclosed)
A Championship striker looking to
make the grade, a ####ian forward, an exciting Ghanaian prospect, a City
reject, a quality Icelander, an English prospect and a loaner made
permanent.
James was the best English ‘keeper in the Premier League last
year and probably top three, still has the occasionally calamity but good
between the sticks, Ashdown can only improve being James’s understudy.
If James stays fit Harry will be happy, problems if he gets a
knock or two.
Defence:-
Primus is experienced and still
quality at centre back, Stefanovic brings experience and adaptability to the
back line, he’ll have to compete hard to start at left back., Lauren is still
to find his feet at Portsmouth but is a decent right back, Traore will provide
good experience and competition at left back, Hreidarsson exudes class
determined and good with the ball, makes any team he plays for better, Taylor
quality out wide with a penchant for stunning goals, Distin is solid at the
back and a good addition, he’ll provide good competition for places, Pamarot
may not play too many games but he’s a decent right back, Cranie is a prospect,
Campbell is only 32 and still has bags of quality, likely Captain at Pompey
this season, Duffy is a prospect and O’Brien is experienced cover.
Midfield:-
Muntari will blossom under Harry
and then leave for a bigger club, meanwhile he’ll be a great signing and prove
valuable in the Premier League, Mvuemba will provide depth, Kranjcar will get
goals and has a good footballing brain, Hughes is experienced cover, O’Neil
will do well if he plays in the middle, Davis has been playing well for
Portsmouth in the middle and Mendes is a key midfield fixture for Portsmouth
and contributes goals.
The new signings will work and
Muntari will allow Kranjcar and co more freedom to attack.
Attack:-
Nugent was quality at Preston but can he make the Premier League his own? Utaka
brings plenty of goals and experience to the mix, Mwaruwari will provide good
depth with his experience, Kanu still has a great first touch, he’ll be a
useful substitute or partner for one of the more traditional forwards and
LuaLua can be good but isn’t consistent
Some new talent and more
established players, the mix could be exciting but it could also flop,
particularly Nugent.
Manager:-
Redknapp is one of England’s best
managers, he is able to create a competitive team without much money, he has
the knack of doing well in the transfer market and he has resurrected a career
or two and has tactical nous. Now he has
a bit more cash to spend as well.
Redknapp will want to compete for
a European spot this season. They will
be a top eight team at least and probably do well in one Cup.
Reading FC
Missing out on Europe
by a couple of points in the first Premier League season show the team’s quality
and the manager’s nous. They have a good
club set up and haven’t been mad with transfers as they seek to reach further
heights.
A Frenchman from FC Nantes and
another Frenchman from Portugal.
OUT: Steve Sidwell (Chelsea, free), Greg Halford (Sunderland,
£3m)
Goal:-
Hahnemann is solid with plenty of
experience, he was kept busy last season but had plenty of stops, Stack is the
number two but got plenty of outings in Cup competitions last season, Federici
has lots of potential and Hamer is a prospect.
Surprisingly solid in goal, with
some depth, Hahnemann needs to continue his good form or Reading will struggle.
Defence:-
Murty is a key right back and orchestrates
Reading’s back line, Shorey is a quality left back with talents that got him an
England call up, Sonko will be looking to come back strong from injury, #13
will be its usual boisterous self, dependable and ever present since 2001,
Halls will be looking to break into the first team if he is injury free,
Ingimarsson has been solid at the back for the Royals for a couple of years,
he’ll continue in that vein and look to create a solid partnership with
whomever gets the other centre back role, Sodje will struggle to make the first
team but is good cover, Bikey showed promise when he came in at the back, will
make it tough for Sonko to win back his place, De La Cruz is an experienced
fullback with international experience, good squad player, Brown will miss the
start but shows promise, Bennett is a good prospect, Osano is a versatile
prospect, Duberry still has plenty to offer Reading and will be; at the very
least; good cover at the back, Gilbourne
and Pearce are promising youngsters and Mate has great goal scoring record from
the back but a knee injury ruled him out for much of his loan spell.
Plenty of depth and good competition
could do with protecting the ‘keeper a little better.
Midfield:-
Cisse is going to help in the
middle, a little bit of an unknown
quantity, but maybe a Sidwell replacement, Gunnarsson is a good tackler who
scores important goals, Little is a wide player who can run at people and
crosses well, Hunt is developing well under Coppell and is getting more play on
the left, Oster is a good squad player and can play either wing, Harper is
solid in the middle for reading, Convey is looking to get back into the squad after
an injury scuppered him last season, Seol is pacy on the wing and pops up with
goals, Fae is a promising young French midfielder who has experience and goals,
Henry Davies and Bozanic are young prospects.
Sidwell’s departure shouldn’t be
too much of a blow with players coming back from injury and some young
talents.
Attack:-
Lita will stay at Reading but
will likely miss the start of the season, his goals have helped make Reading
more than just a club who fights for League survival, he’s shown he can score
against the top clubs, Doyle keeps ####ing in the goals for the Royals, a good
young Irish talent, Kitson scores goals and shows toughness in coming back from
injury, he’ll look to bag a hatful in his first full Premier League season,
Long provides youthful cover in attack and Cox can play in midfield as well as
score goals, adds good depth to the squad.
A touch light if injury strikes
but no shortage of talent and they can score against top clubs Lita will be
tough to replace if he is poached.
Manager:-
Coppell’s playing days were cut
short by injury but his managerial skills are blossoming, he’s shown his skills
with his high finish with no big names and they still play attractive
football.
Top eight for sure and if the new
signings are really exceptional then a place in the top six isn’t too far
fetched, the Royals will focus on the league, Sidwell may not be as hard to
replace as you’d think.
Sunderland FC
Championship Champions will be a
tough act to follow especially with a history of yo-yoing between the top two
divisions in recent years. Are Quinn and
Keane the two guys to return a semblance of glory to Sunderland?
Transfers:-
IN: Paul McShane (West Brom,
£1.5m), Kieran Richardson (Manchester United, £5.5m), Michael Chopra (Cardiff,
£5m), Russell Anderson (Aberdeen, £1m), Greg Halford (Reading, £3m), Dickson
Etuhu (Norwich, £1.5m), Craig Gordon (Hearts £9m)
A rising Irishman, a Manc reject,
one goal every two games for Cardiff, a Scottish mercenary, a Reading misfit,
an ex Canary and a very expensive Scot,
OUT: Stephen Elliott (Wolves,
undisclosed), Tommy Miller (Ipswich, free), Arnau Riera (Falkirk,
loan), Kenny Cunningham (released)
Goal:-
Gordon will either make or break
Sunderland’s Premier League return, if he’s that good they’ll climb into the
top half of the table, if he’s cack then they’ll just avoid the drop, a ballsy
acquisition, Carson will be the
The Premier League is better than
the SPL and more o####rind than internationals, but Sunderland
will be a more settled environment than Hearts.
Defence:-
Halford didn’t show much quality
with Reading, but he is young and may fit in at the Black Cats, Nosworthy is a
converted right back playing in the centre, he’ll want to perform better in the
Premier League this time around, McShane has improved as he has moved and now
faces his sternest test so far, Collins is a manager’s choice and an ex Seal,
Anderson is a good team player who wants the next challenge, he’ll add depth at
the back, Clarke, the ex-Potter is injury cover, Varga is good defensive cover
who will want to bring his SPL experience to the field, Hartley is a prospect
and Wright is injury prone cover.
Tough time in store for this
defence, the Black Cats let in 47 goals last season, 69 in their last Premier League
season, Watford let in 59 in relegation form and
in their promotion season they let in only 43; the picture isn’t particularly
bright at the Stadium of Light.
Midfield:-
Edwards is good on the right, can
score goals and shut down opposition players and had a flying start, Whitehead
has been consistently good for Sunderland and can play at the back, Richardson
will look to nail down a regular first team place and brings Premier League
experience to the mix, Miller has never quite lived up to his early promise,
Hysen has already become an impact player at Sunderland, good goals from
midfield, usually the left, Leadbitter is a dependable player with an eye for
goal, Kavanagh can attack and defend in midfield, a useful utility player,
Richardson; once released by Sunderland; will play well in the reserves,
Wallace brings good pace out on the flanks and can fill in a left back and
Etuhu brings plenty of Championship experience to the mix.
A good Championship midfield with
a penchant for goals, life will be tougher in the Premier League, one or two of
the wide players will shine.
Attack:-
Stokes is a prospect (2), Murphy
brings one goal every five games to the mix but scored freely in the
Championship season, (10), John has bags of experience, pace and an eye for
goal(4), Chopra scored freely for Barnsley and Cardiff but his Toon routes have
irked some fans, if he doesn’t score freely they’ll be on his back, Yorke still
has talent and will be good cover in the attack, his premiership experience will
be useful and Connolly was last season’s top scorer and has plenty of goal
scoring experience.
This is a free scoring front
line, youth and experience; goals will be harder to come by in the coming
season.
Manager:-
Great player and one good
managerial season. He’ll be a good
motivator but can he get to grips with the tactical nature of Premier League
management, so far two of his three most expensive buys are risky gambles, if
they come off he’ll manage to get into the top half, if they don’t work then
he’ll just keep above relegation.
