Old Trafford, New Era? - MUFC v SAFC Preview
The lads find themselves on a 4 game unbeaten run coming up against a Man United side who seem to struggle to put 2 passes together at the moment. It seems again like a prime opportunity for Sunderland to pick up a 2nd away win of the season. I’m not getting too far ahead I promise, it’s an opportunity we have to try and take.
News from the Home Front
The most important news is that despite online reports that Mukiele was suffering from a thigh strain, it was actually a thigh strain that was suffering from Mukiele and he’s absolutely fine according to head coach RLB. We also have a clean bill of health for the rest of the regular 11 and the bench. Mundle, Cirkin and Alese are still around a month or 2 away from being ready and the same with Leo Hjelda. Diarra as we know is out until end of November and Reinilido is serving the 2nd of his 3 game ban.
Regis Le Bris has once again been nominated for the manager of the month award for September and Granit Xhaka and Robin Roefs have been nominated for September’s player of the month award. I’d love to know if that has ever happened in our clubs history. So overall a positive week for the Black Cats and hopefully it continues.
Change afoot?
Pressure has been growing on Rueben Amorim after another disappointing defeat to Brentford last week and rumours have been circulating that a change of system or formation is been considered by the United boss however online speculation is that the club is waiting until November to sack him to save a few quid on Compensation. Who knows what will happen given the Portugueses stance on his methods and philosophy I still envisage seeing him using a back 5 when defending and a back when 3 attacking.
On the injury front for tbe Red Devils, no big shocks or changes are expected and Amad, who has been away following a family bereavement, returned to training later on in the week so I expect to see him probably on the bench. The last place he deserves to be. Rumours had been circulating that Amorim was asked to consider changing his formation but how true that is I don’t know, given the defence he put up when questioned by journalists a few weeks ago. It wouldn’t be far fetched for the hierarchy at United to ask this because they don’t seem to have a clue wha they are doing.
Clash of styles?
Sunderland use their central midfielders to overcrowd and dominate the centre defensively and link up wide play when attacking. Where as Amorim likes his teams to dominate possession and overload the flanks. So given that both teams like to attack the flanks it will be interesting to see if success for either team comes from defensive players being caught high up the pitch on the counter. Defensively, RLB gets his team to be compact and is quite happy for teams to play around his shape rather than through it and will often win the ball back when teams try to play through the lines or by forcing a mistake through pressing.
The Red Devils are certainly guilty of over committing to attacks and pushing too high. Just last week they were completely undone by a long ball from Jordan Henderson through to Brentford’s striker who scored with ease. I do wonder if this is something that RLB will try to exploit by leaving Wilson higher up the pitch. Xhaka has shown he’s got an incredible ability to play balls over the top and turn defences around or catch them out all together. What Sunderland will need to be wary of is late runners and players trying to exploit space around the edge of the box. Bruno Fernandes is a very capable player of causing problems with his passing and shooting so I think Xhaka will be keeping a close eye on him.
Will it be Rigged?
I do wonder, given how attacking Manchester United are, how Chris Rigg will fair, he is a fine young player and seems to have slotted in well so far, replacing Diarra after he picked up an injury. However, I think Rigg is at his best when he is attacking and I wonder how much of that he’s going to get to do. A good performance at Old Trafford where the worlds media will be watching will be a great platform for the 18 year old to announce his presence in the Premier League.
The midfielder will no doubt get a lot of minutes this season and looks like he has used the summer to grow and improve his physique. He is still only 18 so I will be expecting him to make mistakes, play the wrong pass, the hardest thing about the Premier League is that it really is sink or swim. You have to be able to learn and quickly but given what we have seen from Rigg, the amount of first team and international experience he has, I think he will come good and can hopefully chip with a couple of a assists and goals.
Predictions
I think as long as Sunderland can stay solid and bide their time and allow Manchester United to over commit and make mistakes, we’ve shown we are capable of taking opportunities when they are presented to us. However, we are taking on an opponent who’s back is against wall and a head coach with a point to prove, he may well fall on his own sword or they may come out fighting.
I think we are been taken a lot more seriously as an outfit following our 2 televised games against Aston Villa and Nottingham Forest but should only encourage us as fans. I think we may well pick up a 2nd away win of the season but wouldn’t be disappointed with a draw going into the international break.
