*** Sunderland v Champions - Official Match Thread ***

[Tony P]

@MCFC: TEAM NEWS: Hart, Maicon, Kompany (c), Kolo Toure, Zabaleta, Garcia, Milner, Yaya Toure, Silva, Aguero, Tevez #sundvcity

[AG7]

TEAM NEWS

Hart
Maicon, Kompany, Kolo, Zabaleta
Garcia, Milner
Silva, Yaya, Tevez
Aguero

[AG7]

TEAM NEWS

Hart
Maicon, Kompany, Kolo, Zabaleta
Garcia, Milner
Silva, Yaya, Tevez
Aguero

So no Barry, no Nasti, Zaba moves to left, Maicon comes on right, Milner comes in, Yaya stays further up ... what's with all the tinkering Mancini? At least Silva-Tevez-Aguero stay together up front.

[Tony P]

I assume he's resting GazBaz. Yaya further forward is always a good thing.

[DoomMerchant]

@MCFC: TEAM NEWS: Hart, Maicon, Kompany (c), Kolo Toure, Zabaleta, Garcia, Milner, Yaya Toure, Silva, Aguero, Tevez #sundvcity

Have to say i like the attacking intent and addition of Milner, but why is Kolo back in the frame instead of Nasty? Kolo did fine for a spell but i can't help think we're [strike]not[/strike] tempting fate with him on the pitch. Is Lescott injured again? i don't get the CB rotation, but maybe someone can enlighten me.

Looks like a good team though that i'm not too fussed about other than Kolo. Come the fuck on CITY.

cheers

EDIT: i was unduly double negative. Soz.

[Tony P]

Team's been changed, Nasty for Maicon. Three at the back?

[Wonderwall]

3 at the back then with zabaleta left wing back and Milner on the right?

[SmallTimeCharlie]

@MCFC: TEAM NEWS: Hart, Maicon, Kompany (c), Kolo Toure, Zabaleta, Garcia, Milner, Yaya Toure, Silva, Aguero, Tevez #sundvcity

Have to say i like the attacking intent and addition of Milner, but why is Kolo back in the frame instead of Nasty? Kolo did fine for a spell but i can't help think we're [strike]not[/strike] tempting fate with him on the pitch. Is Lescott injured again? i don't get the CB rotation, but maybe someone can enlighten me.

Looks like a good team though that i'm not too fussed about other than Kolo. Come the fuck on CITY.

cheers

EDIT: i was unduly double negative. Soz.

Hard to say, but seeing as Kolo is off to ACON, rest Nasti and avoid unnecessary injury. Think we need to purchase in Jan.. happy to see Milner back, esp that it means Yaya further forward. Let's hope Garcia continues to improve. Sunderland away is where you see what you made of..

[AG7]

UPDATED
TEAM NEWS

Hart
Nastasic, Kompany, Kolo, Zabaleta
Garcia, Milner
Silva, Yaya, Tevez
Aguero

It's Nastasic in for Maicon. So guessing he's playing left-back, or a 3-5-2 with Milner and Zaba as wing-backs?

[AG7]

So which formation are we playing people?

4-2-3-1
Hart
Zaba, Kompany, Kolo, Nasti
Garcia, Milner
Silva, Yaya, Tevez
Aguero

3-5-2
Hart
Nastasic, Kompany, Kolo
Zaba, Garcia, Yaya, Silva, Milner
Tevez, Aguero

5-3-2
Hart
Zaba, Nastasic, Kompany, Kolo, Milner
Garcia, Yaya, Silva
Tevez, Aguero

[DoomMerchant]

3 at the back then with zabaleta left wing back and Milner on the right?

i'm sure...stubborn fucking Italian bastard. Let's hope he's right. :)

Wasn't it MON who proved that Milner should be playing through the middle and not out wide?

I'm too nervy today.

cheers

[Moonchesteri]

Please just play four at the back.

Kolo at RB, Zabba left maybe?

[AG7]

So which formation are we playing people?

4-2-3-1
Hart
Zaba, Kompany, Kolo, Nasti
Garcia, Milner
Silva, Yaya, Tevez
Aguero

3-5-2
Hart
Nastasic, Kompany, Kolo
Zaba, Garcia, Yaya, Silva, Milner
Tevez, Aguero

5-3-2
Hart
Zaba, Nastasic, Kompany, Kolo, Milner
Garcia, Yaya, Silva
Tevez, Aguero

CITY SUBS

Pantilimon, Lescott, Rekik, Barry, Razak, Sinclair, Dzeko

[Beefymcfc]

4 at the back with the usual going forward. Kolo on the right, Zab's on the left. Vince and Nasti in the centre.

Doesn't look too bad going forward but I hope Yaya gets more than he did against Reading.

[I Just Blue Myself]

So which formation are we playing people?

4-2-3-1
Hart
Zaba, Kompany, Kolo, Nasti
Garcia, Milner
Silva, Yaya, Tevez
Aguero

3-5-2
Hart
Nastasic, Kompany, Kolo
Zaba, Garcia, Yaya, Silva, Milner
Tevez, Aguero

5-3-2
Hart
Zaba, Nastasic, Kompany, Kolo, Milner
Garcia, Yaya, Silva
Tevez, Aguero

Neither of those. My bet's on:

Hart
Zabaleta Kolo Kompany Nastasic
Garcia Yaya
Silva Tevez Milner
Aguero

Actually, Kolo RB / Zaba LB is not a bad shout. Could be that as well.

[AG7]

SUNDERLAND STARTING XI: Mignolet, Rose, Larsson, Gardner, Kilgallon, Colback, Johnson, McClean, Cuellar(c), Fletcher, Sessegnon

So Larsson starts and so does Johnson, that was all pre-game mind-games from their end.

[Beefymcfc]

SUNDERLAND STARTING XI: Mignolet, Rose, Larsson, Gardner, Kilgallon, Colback, Johnson, McClean, Cuellar(c), Fletcher, Sessegnon

So Larsson starts and so does Johnson, that was all pre-game mind-games from their end.

Looks like it. Either that or we'll see one/both of them breakdown mid-match.

[Peter Doherty (AGAIG)]

3 at the back then with zabaleta left wing back and Milner on the right?

Moves nervously from one foot to the other....

[steveo_88]

If we're going to play Kolo I'd rather play him in the centre, he seems to be less jittery than at full back, surely Zabba at right and Karim on the left would be fine.

Kolo has been good the last two games so keep him in the centre if Matija and Vinny aren't both fully fit.

Wing backs would mean YaYa playing deeper which I don't like. We should be looking to score early and boost the goal difference today, like Reading but actually score early this time!

[AG7]

Our Match Day Centre on OS as well as Match Day Live on PremierLeague website has us lined up as 4-2-3-1:

Hart
Nasti, Kompany, Kolo, Zaba
Garcia, Milner
Aguero, Yaya, Silva
Tevez