Erimus 63 515 3.1k Posted October 3 Share Posted October 3 We need a separate thread for rival team discussions. Friday evening is Sunderland v Leeds. I think a draw would suit us, anything but a Sunderland win though. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bruce 2,101 1.8k Posted October 3 Share Posted October 3 Always good to have a promotion rivals thread. Far better than a mid-table rivals one or relegation rivals one. Not sure about Sunderland v Leeds. Unfortunately they can't both lose. I don't think Sunderland have the depth to maintain a promotion challenge then again I thought that of Ipswich. However Ipswich had already had nearly 2 seasons under McKenna building a team while Sunderland have been flailing. Sometimes, though, a manager just clicks and Sunderland do seem to have a core that have played together for a while. Patterson, Hume, Ballard, O'Nien, Bellingham, Rigg, Neil, Roberts, Mundle, Mayenda with some smart recruitment in Mepham and Browne. I prefer our squad over theirs but if they stay on a good run with another 20 points from the next 10 games then they have to be seen as a real threat for the whole of the season. Leeds are sort of the opposite. You expect them to be around the top 2 by the end of the season. They remind me of Bournemouth and Sheffield Utd when they went back up in the second season after relegation. Leeds have arguably the second best squad after Burnley (maybe Sheff Utd) but you get a feeling of vulnerability about them. They haven't done badly but they do feel like they haven't clicked. I guess Leeds are going to be threat all season—no matter what—while if Sunderland falter now they could start to sink. On the basis that we want as few threats as possible then Sunderland losing is good. On the other hand, if we want a crabs in a bucket scenario with no team locking in the top 2, a draw hurts them both. A Sunderland win probably won't trigger any sort of Leeds implosion so is probably the worst option. So, my preference is a draw. Or one team doesn't show up, gets docked 3 points then the rescheduled match ends up with a 0-0 draw and serious fixture congestion. That's the dream scenario. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SouthernSmoggie 4,616 6.4k Posted October 3 Share Posted October 3 Early days but the table is starting to take a bit of shape now. Sheff Utd, Leeds, and Burnley all right up there already is a bit ominous - was hoping for a couple of hangovers from last season there perhaps. Personally don't expect these three to leave the top six. Sunderland are the surprise overperformers for now. Who knows if they'll stick around - nobody thought Ipswich would last year! Luton and Coventry probably the biggest disappointments, but even so they're only a couple of wins off the pack. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marvanelli 592 400 Posted October 3 Share Posted October 3 Rather Sunderland win to be honest. Their squad is ridiculously weak outside their first 11. They don’t even have a recognised striker. I think Leeds will be the team that will much more likely challenge the autos than Sunderland. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TeaCider24 14,586 19.5k Posted October 3 Share Posted October 3 (edited) Leeds win, definitely. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SmogDane 4,120 8k Posted October 3 Share Posted October 3 This thread should be called "Who finishes Second", because according to @Blanco ... We are g.... .. .. ......... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blanco 5,227 6.9k Posted October 3 Share Posted October 3 28 minutes ago, SmogDane said: This thread should be called "Who finishes Second", because according to @Blanco ... We are g.... .. .. ......... We certainly are @SmogDane 🙂 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnglianRed 6,817 16.4k Posted October 3 Share Posted October 3 35 minutes ago, SmogDane said: This thread should be called "Who finishes Second", because according to @Blanco ... We are g.... .. .. ......... 6 minutes ago, Blanco said: We certainly are @SmogDane 🙂 We are...going to finish third? What happened to your usual optimism? 😁 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blanco 5,227 6.9k Posted October 3 Share Posted October 3 33 minutes ago, AnglianRed said: We are...going to finish third? What happened to your usual optimism? 😁 You have failed at Hangman @AnglianRed 🙂 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hammy legend 1,041 1.1k Posted October 3 Share Posted October 3 A draw is the ideal result, both sides having a couple of sending offs wouldn't go wrong either. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aphex_Boro 1,579 6.5k Posted October 3 Share Posted October 3 Gruev and Ampadu both out for a while for Leeds, think they are down to the barebones a bit in midfield Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Erimus 63 515 3.1k Posted October 4 Author Share Posted October 4 12 hours ago, Aphex_Boro said: Gruev and Ampadu both out for a while for Leeds, think they are down to the barebones a bit in midfield Hallelujah. Is that inappropriate? 🤣 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dunnerzzz 44 1.4k Posted October 4 Share Posted October 4 Should be a good game, looking forward to S'land vs. Leeds. Else, hard to talk about promotion rivals when the table could be flipped come March and many bosses have said their goodbyes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JonnyMFC 1,666 1.9k Posted October 6 Share Posted October 6 Can we change the thread title to Playoff rivals please 😂 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Erimus 63 515 3.1k Posted October 6 Author Share Posted October 6 1 hour ago, JonnyMFC said: Can we change the thread title to Playoff rivals please 😂 Done that for you. Please bear in mind that the next 4 games 3 of those being at home will show a new complexion. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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