****official black cats v citizens match thread****

[Nigels Tackle]

a winning start to 2012 please boys

[john@staustell]

I think he'll rest Silva today. We did it in the home game v Newcastle and still pissed them.

[Crossie]

Time to remind Sunderland they are shit.

[Ted Hughes]

Just talking to a mate on a coach heading there. I'm jealous. Don't get to many away games these days but I can smell the cold North East air in my nostrils today & feel as if I should be there. Last time we played regularly in top games like this I was travelling to many of them watching Denis Tueart etc. Today has really brought that feeling back.

Come On City !

[ruralblue]

I would like to see Silva rested too, or at the very least benched in case we need him to weave some magic late on in the game!

These three points are very valuable today!

[Pretty Boy Lee]

Hope dzeko plays for the sake of my fantasy team.

[feedthegreek]

just been on sunderland site, bardsley richardson wickham bramble, and turner all out, they have to rely on oshea and brown
could be good for us.

[Douglas Higginbottom]

Massive game and time to make a big statement.Very possibly with a "weak" team to show the strength of the whole squad.

[Bridge'srightfoot]

Only 3 points will do. Time to step it up and take advantage.

[Ted Hughes]

I think 3 points today goes a fair way to putting the trophy in our cabinet. This is a potentially hellishly difficult month & this gives us a buffer to get through it without too much damage.

As for the team selection though; I have to admit I've no idea what to do for the best. I'll leave it to Bob, he gets paid for it.

[ashton287]

Taking liverpool on tuesday into account i think aguero and silva will both be rested.

I have a tenner on 4-1 with a £200 return so fingers crossed for a good showing with a late laps in defence at 4-0.

[city72]

Just talking to a mate on a coach heading there. I'm jealous. Don't get to many away games these days but I can smell the cold North East air in my nostrils today & feel as if I should be there. Last time we played regularly in top games like this I was travelling to many of them watching Denis Tueart etc. Today has really brought that feeling back.

Come On City !

Are you mad "smell the cold North East air" its like a summers day up here ive just been for a run it is bermuda shorts weather for us up here today, you southern softy. Gutted i couldnt get a ticket today been to Sunderland and Newcastle away every year for the last 5 years but not today so heading to Gateshead to watch it in a bar.
CMON CITY

[CityGer]

Fancy a big performance and a goal from AJ today. Might back him to score at any time at 5/2 if he starts.

[guv111]

There's only so much a jumping-jack clown of a manager can do. The Sunderland players might be feeling inspired by O'Neill's Keegan-esque enthusiasm at the moment, but City's flair and possession should prove to them that they are still shite, just slightly more energised shite. Steve Bruce assembled a Championship (division) side costing many times their worth, so even if O'Neill was as good as he thinks he is there's no reason to be unduly concerned today. Our players' attitude is all that matters.

[Fidel Castro]

I don't speak to black cats

[Bingo Lewis]

3pm kick off on sky? is that not unusual?

[Buffalo Soldier]

Hart, zabba, kompany, lescott, kolarov, Barry, de Jong, yaay, Nasri, Johnson, dzeko.

[Mark (Blue Army)]

3pm kick off on sky? is that not unusual?

I don't think their having today as a super Sunday because of new year, that's why its a 3pm kick off

[1950]

Not sure whether Yaya can do two games in three days without resorting to 'strolling around' against Liverpool. Apart from that, good selection.

[twosips]

The only good thing about De Jong in for Silva is that we'll see Yaya attacking. I love Yaya as an attacking midfielder. He does those runs more. Which are fun.