Sunderland v Leeds Utd Match Thread

[Ellandback1]

Sunderland v Leeds United
Friday 4th October 8:00pm | Stadium of Light


Leeds travel to Monkwearmouth on Friday evening, to face an in-form Sunderland side yet to concede a goal at home! They have won all four of their games at the Stadium of Light this term, and currently top the division with 18 points. Despite being top goalscorers (16 goals), Romaine Mundle is the Black Cat's leading scorer with just three goals, showcasing a vast array of attacking options (10 different scorers) Regis Le Bris has at his disposal.

Leeds have actually lost a game less than Sunderland, but sit three points and four places below them in fifth position. Daniel Farke's men lost this resulting fixture last season (1-0) and were held 0-0 at Elland Road. The last time Leeds beat the Mackems was during the 17/18 season (at Sunderland) with Saiz and Dallas on the scoresheet.





Regis Le Bris is likely to stick with the same Sunderland XI that beat Derby 2-0 on Tuesday evening. Ian Poveda misses out on the chance of an Elland Road reunion with a hamstring issue. Exciting forward Eliezer Mayenda has a slight thigh strain and won't be risked, whilst Dan Bollard is still several weeks shy of a return to action following his ankle injury. Alan Browne could play a part against Leeds after no adverse reactions after coming on late against Derby County.

Manor Solomon is making good progress, but with his injury list, won't see any action until after the International break. Dan James will once again miss out with his troublesome hamstring injury whilst Max Wober has been ruled out for six weeks after undergoing surgery in Austria to remove a cyst on his meniscus.

Skipper Ethan Ampadu will be out of action until the New Year (LCL knee injury). He'll be joined on the side-lines by fellow midfielder Ilea Gruev who is expected to be out for 6 to nine months after meniscus surgery. New signing Isaac Schmidt has recovered from his thigh injury, and looks set to take a place on the bench.

[Ellandback1]

I can see this being a 0-0

[Ellandback1]

This is going to be tough!!!

[Barlow Boy]

I can see this being a 0-0

I’d take that right now.

[andrewjohnsmith]

I don't see any unforced changes for tomorrow's game. And really, Piroe or Byram look like the only senior, fully fit options.

Piroe as a 10 (Farke seems to like it) could allow Aaronson to supplement a depleted midfield

Byram was rotated in and out at full back often last season. But since Firpo looks more assured now (albeit not so much in the Norwich game) Byram has just become a late game sub.

Don't think Farke will change anything from the lineup after Gruev went off injured unless there's another injury we don't know about

Meslier, Bogle, Firpo, Rodon, Strujik, Tanaka, Rothwell, Gnonto, Aaronson, Ramazani, Joseph

[GreennWhite]

All things considered, a point will do nicely.

[Irish Ian]

Tonight is going to be difficult trying to bed in a new midfield pairing.
Let's try and be patient with them.

Our best bet is to let them have the ball and try and stretch them with our pace.

Injury wise this international break can't cone soon enough, but Tanaka and Aaronson jetting off after the game to play for their countries is an added worry.

[Jaydog]

Sunderland bigger than 2/1 for a home win.
Surprised at that.

[CUSSIE01]

With all the injuries & Sunderland’s home form a draw would be a decent result but we still have the players to win it. DF has to be smart with his tactics & substitutions, considering we haven’t a game for 2 weeks if Gnonto & Ramazani are our best players keep them on unless they’re visibly tiring. The subs against Norwich sucked the life out of us but with this game coming up maybe understandable, no excuses for similar tactics tonight.

[Cjay]

Pretty wed to his 4-2-3-1.

But wouldn't it make sense to match Sunderland up?

They play 4-3-3.

Would give our midfield which lacks natural dm a more solid look?

Drop Aaronson back?

[Irish Ian]

considering we haven’t a game for 2 weeks if Gnonto & Ramazani are our best players keep them on unless they’re visibly tiring.

That's how you get them injured though.

[Broad Ford]

Gruev out for 6 months! Gonna need to look at the free market or rely on our youth.

Looking at Sunderland's home form of 4 played, 8 scored, 0 conceded averages a 2-0 home win @13.
1-0 @8.5 and 2-1 @10. Some tasty odds there for the leaders playing on home turf against a defense injury hit Leeds.

On the other hand if the attack minded replacements hit the turf running and have exceptional games, overloading the Sunderland rear guard early then Leeds' strikers could put pigeons amongst the cats. 1-2 @9.

2-2 @13, yet over 3.5 goals is only 4!

A special offered is both goalkeepers to make 2 or more saves each in both halves @26
A small stake of 20p returns £5.20 Bets on and fingers crossed.

I'm worried about those loose balls consistently being picked up by the Sunderland midfield to launch yet another attack, but any high press could give the attack minded Leeds replacements the space they need to feed Gnonto and Rama through on goal.

I'll take a point tonight, a win would be fantastic.

[CUSSIE01]

That's how you get them injured though.

I think our players are doing quite well getting injured without playing 90 minutes, totally agree though but losing this game would put us 6 behind Sunderland. Gnonto & Ramazani are young though and if they can’t manage 90 mins at this stage of the season they shouldn’t be playing football imho.

[The Subhuman]

We will fail if we wrap our players in cotton wool. The mistake was made before the season started. If we get more injuries we’ll have to deal with that as and when.

Meslier
Bogle
Firpo
Tanaka
Rodon
Struijk
Gnonto
Aaronson
Joseph
Piroe
Ramazani

Darlow
Schmidt
Byram
Rothwell
Bamford
Thomas
Debayo
Crew
Chambers

[The Subhuman]

I think our players are doing quite well getting injured without playing 90 minutes, totally agree though but losing this game would put us 6 behind Sunderland. Gnonto & Ramazani are young though and if they can’t manage 90 mins at this stage of the season they shouldn’t be playing football imho.

Good point, how many injuries have we had in the last10 minutes of games this season?

[GreennWhite]

We make all these comments about taking players off, not bringing others on at certain times but at the end of the day none of us know the full story behind any players fitness. The club are not going to make their players fitness open to everyone so that other clubs know exactly what state they are in. You can guarantee some players have small injuries that are being kept quiet and are hoping we can nurse them through for a period of time until the likes of the international breaks arrive to give them a better chance to heal.
It comes down to good managment not only from Farke but his backroom team, who know a hell of a lot more than we do.

[Ellandback1]

That's how you get them injured though.

damned if you do, and damned if you don't.

I reckon we're cursed....

[Ellandback1]

Good point, how many injuries have we had in the last10 minutes of games this season?

Both Gruev and Amps played almost every minute last season, and perhaps its just catching up with them?

6 weeks for your body to recover isn't anywhere near enough.

The difference between us and other clubs is that other clubs will rest players and substitute them. Amps was subbed off twice, once in injury time last season.

[Irish Ian]

I think our players are doing quite well getting injured without playing 90 minutes, totally agree though but losing this game would put us 6 behind Sunderland. Gnonto & Ramazani are young though and if they can’t manage 90 mins at this stage of the season they shouldn’t be playing football imho.

It isnt about players going down with injuries it the cumulitive wear and tear on the body, the shortened recovery time until the next game as well as the actual injury riskAlso not every injury picked up requires the trainer coming on, in fact most players play through the pain barrier.

The coaches will have reported pre game as well as in game on every players limits and when they are into the red areas.

[Irish Ian]

Both Gruev and Amps played almost every minute last season, and perhaps its just catching up with them?

6 weeks for your body to recover isn't anywhere near enough.

The difference between us and other clubs is that other clubs will rest players and substitute them. Amps was subbed off twice, once in injury time last season.

I think both did their knees?

I didnt see what happened to Gruev but Amps was hurt in a tackle. Probably not fatigue related unless he was tired and his timing was off.