Sunderland

[a1canary 0]

These lot are looking more frightening with every game. They''ve got to have a blip at some point. Under normal circumstances i wouldn''t give us much of a chance in this one if they keep playing like they have been.

But I just wonder if the master/pupil back story will be a distraction for O''Neill and his team could trip up. Here''s hoping.

[Beauseant 0]

I don''t understand that to be honest. We''ve lost one of our last eight League games and picked up 8 points from the last 12. Shouldn''t Sunderland be worrying about us?

I can guarantee that Lambert won''t be looking at it negatively so why should we?

[Row D Seat 7 0]

I know what a1Canary means, but we have nothing to fear. We will attack as usual. We played Sunderland at a great time last time. This time it will be a lot harder, but we can do it. Lambert vs. O''Neil - can''t wait.

[Rudolph Hucker 0]

Two form sides - fascinating encounter added to by the manager clash.

 

Sunderland beat Swansea by two wonder strikes as they couldn''t play through them.  Again, another edge encounter for Lambert because it is O''Neill and we all know what that extra spice does for our results.

[a1canary 0]

It''s not hard to understand that they''re are in a spectacular run of form is it? Try this:

http://www.statto.com/football/stats/england/premier-league/2011-2012/form-table/full

I''m not being negative, and as i my last sentence indicates, i have a feeling we might have a chance. But any side that''s up with Man City in the form tables is going to be tough.

[Mr. Bump 0]

[quote user="Beauseant"]

I don''t understand that to be honest. We''ve lost one of our last eight League games and picked up 8 points from the last 12. Shouldn''t Sunderland be worrying about us?

I can guarantee that Lambert won''t be looking at it negatively so why should we?

[/quote]Sunderland''s form is better than ours so no, they shouldn''t be worrying about us but yes neither should we worry about them.

[birchfest 401]

Should be a cracking match no matter what, I think I would be happy with a draw away from home; we beat them at our place and to draw at theres in a season sense would be a good return. No doubt Lambert will have the boys going for all 3!

[Bethnal Yellow and Green 2,424]

Lambert up against the man he stills calls ''the Gaffer'' - both teams will be fully commited that is for sure. The only thing predictable before this game is the big handshake between Lambert and O''Neill at the start and end.

[Jim Smith 2,610]

I don''t see any reason why we should consider them "frightening." They are only 3 points better off than us in the form table. Yes they are on a good run and yes they are obviously a much more solid looking team and more of a challenge than they were when we played them at home but then so are we. They have been on a "new manager" bounce since O''Neill came in which has to end soon. If we were on such a run then the sort of fixture like "fulham" at home would be one where I would expect us to slip to a disappointing one nil defeat to end it. I fancy us to do the same to them.

They are a much better side under O''Neill but at least 2 or 3 of their recent wins have been ground out or as a result of late goals and have been far from convincing. Things have been going their way. That will not continue to happen every week.

[lake district canary 0]

Last time I went to Sunderland we lost 1-0 but also won the championship in the process (was that really 9 years ago?).

Hoping for a better result this time!!

[It's Character Forming 1,204]

The way I look at it, we''ve played 11 of our 19 away fixtures.  So far we''ve lost 4, drawn 4 and won 3, and are undefeated in our last 4.  I don''t see why we should feel defeatist about any of the rest except Spurs - even then, anyone can beat anyone this season.

 

Sunderland will be a tough away fixture but we could easily come away with a point or 3.  I''m looking forward to the trip.

[Jacko 0]

I am just looking forward to Lambert and O''Neill on the touchline. The master v the apprentice. And they will probably be wearing identical gear too...

[Beauseant 0]

[quote user="a1canary"]It''s not hard to understand that they''re are in a spectacular run of form is it? Try this: http://www.statto.com/football/stats/england/premier-league/2011-2012/form-table/full I''m not being negative, and as i my last sentence indicates, i have a feeling we might have a chance. But any side that''s up with Man City in the form tables is going to be tough.[/quote]

 

But they''re not Manchester City are they? As Bly demonstrates on nearly daily basis stats can be misleading. Yes, they''ve had a great run, but this isn''t a trip to the Etihad.

I wasn''t having a pop at you, nor do I think it will be anything other than a very hard game. I do, however, think that our players deserve to have a lot of faith placed in them after their recent run.

[First Wizard 0]

Master vs Padawan...

[York Canary 29]

I''ve been getting more worried about it since O''Neill took over but like others have said, we don''t fear anyone away from home and have played well at places like Old Trafford and Stamford Bridge (should have got points at both) earlier in the season. If anything we''re a stronger unit now and have a more settled back four. Hopefully we can keep Seb and Sess quiet and play to our own strengths at the same time. They''re missing Bendtner with a fractured nose from the looks of the things which is good. Probably means we''ll be playing against Wickham who''ll hopefully get himself sent off! We''ve got every chance of getting something from this game if we stick to what we do best and I doubt the boys will fear anything after playing the big boys already and doing well against most of them.

 

I really hope James Vaughan comes through tonights game unscathed and with at least 45 mins under his belt and then gets a run-out against West Brom which builds him up for Sunderland. Would love to see him more involved now and staying fit to the end