EFL Trophy - The Black Cats (A)

Team: Sunderland

Date: 04/12/18

Where: Stadium of Light

What line-up should Harry Kewell opt for? What will be the key areas for the Magpies to get a victory? What do you think the final score will be?

Have your say below, join in with the Pride of Nottingham match discussion.

Honestly, I hope Neal Ardley plays some of the outsiders for this game.

If he has an idea that 4-5 players are in starting line-up, use the remaining spaces to formulate an idea on who might take the chance to shine. I don't really care about the result but it would give something positive for the Mansfield game if we worked out which players are ready and prepared to fight.

I think Neal needs to use this as almost a friendly putting his tactics and formation in to practise. Because we have mansfield next Saturday in his first league game and sunderland are a league above us so it will be not only a good test but gives Neal a chance to see his squad in action. I think Neal May want to win this but I think it for him to be more about the squad.

Edited December 1, 20186 yr by super_ram

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/fa_cup/9342009.stm

I remember listening to this game on the radio with @GrannyPie.A repeat of the scoreline isn't impossible

it would be much easier @super_ram because they have to field youngsters against a senior notts squad.

Might aswell play the strongest squad but avoid anyone who might be recovering or likely to be injured. Rushing Matt Tootle back seems rash.

Play well but use it to learn what works best for notts because the league is more important.

I was going to attend this game as I would love to attend the Stadium of Light but It's just too far for a Tuesday night game. I hope like @Chris said Ardley plays some outsiders as Mansfield is a much more important game. It would be a good chance for Ardley to see the quality and attributes of some of his fringe players so he can see if they would fit the bill in the first team. However I do feel as though Hardy might now want to target this competition due to a lack of finance. If we could progress then it would mean some extra revenue for Hardy to spend in January if needed.

Not interested, just use the game to try and win.

Lead into Mansfield with some confidence and belief, how they play does matter but the scoreline doesn't for me.

Just win Notts for the confidence and to get the wheelbarrow patched up, a good performance and result could help with the game against Mansfield.

I’ll be listening to this tonight a good first test for Neal Ardley ... I’m excited for this game because it will hopefully stamp Neals intent.

Why on earth has Richard Duffy started?

It looks like a strong squad and I would imagine it's close to Ardley's starting lineup against Mansfield. Disappointed!!

So far so good .. Have I heard right that Hawkridge is playing right back or am I getting deaf 

With no Turley in defence I’m worried Fitzsimmons won’t have that support. 

Richard Duffy looks a little shakey but I’m hoping he settle to the game. 

Vaughan starts very pleased about that when I spoke to him he seemed a little disappointed  about the lack of game time. 

1-0 sunderland... Good saves from Ross but the hit the on comeing dan jones .. didn’t deserve that

51 minutes ago, allardyces tash said:

Why on earth has Richard Duffy started?

It looks like a strong squad and I would imagine it's close to Ardley's starting lineup against Mansfield. Disappointed!!

I was thinking it my self I had visions of his bad games this season and thought why? Unless it’s to see if he the right man for notts a last chance may be.

Notts can't even beat a team of youngsters, depressing. Notts are not very good this season.

Some Sunderland reserve side that was…

GK – Ruiter – 31 – Played top flight Dutch football.
DF – Ozturk – 26 – Former Hearts player.
DF – Looven – 35 – Played for Celtic, Zaragoza and Sheff Wed.
DF – Oviedo – 28 – Former Everton player, 46 caps for Costa Rica.
MF – McGeouch – 25 – Former Hibs player, recent caps for Scotland.
MF – O’Nien – 24 – Part of the Wycombe team that got promoted.
MF – Power – 25 – On loan from Wigan, played Championship football.
FW – Watmore – 24 – Played in the Prem.
FW – Sinclair – 22 – On loan from Watford who paid £4Mil to get him from L’Pool.

Sounded like DJ handed them that 2-0 though. Ross made some good saves and Notts had some chances from all accounts. Like many have said it'll have given Ardley a chance to look at the team before the big game at the weekend. GULP.

What's the point in a B team fielding such a strong squad, I though they had to be under 24 or 21?

From the radio it sounded a decent game from notts just two mistakes by Dan Jones which wasn’t his fault if Brisley and Duffy would have been in there positions and doing there job Jones tried to do his best and cover his team mates.

Time to focus on the league, it can be a blessing to be out of a cup nobody seems to take seriously.

Only 2 - 0 is a decent return considering recent form and heir first one was a fluke so all in all better than I would have expected.

Happy to be out of the cups anyway , it’s all about survival now and we can concentrate 100% on that.

I am not remotely bothered about Notts having lost, however I do feel annoyed that Sunderland fielded the squad that they did because it takes the p out of the competition. Is the money really going to make a massive difference to them?