This week we caught up with Gary, editor of Sunderland blog We Are Wearside, to get his thoughts on Southampton, some insight into how our opponents will line up, and his prediction for the game this weekend.
Southampton
It has been a very non-Southampton style season for Southampton. Inconsistent, conceding goals losing at home and losing to some poor football teams too. Defeats to the likes of West Ham and Swansea I imagine are difficult to accept when you are trying to launch an assault on the top half of the Premier League. Losing Virgil van Dijk, who is in my opinion your best player, is probably a big part of that poor form. However, you’re not going to be in trouble at the bottom of the league, so I’m sure you lot can quite happily sacrifice the usual top half finish for a cup final!
Sunderland suffered the same league form dip when we somehow found our way into the Capital One Cup final. Let’s hope the Saints have a better time at Wembley.
Sunderland line up
David Moyes looks to have finally found a system that works and that our players can show some vague organisation that we haven’t had all season. I expect a similar team to be named to that which destroyed Crystal Palace last week, though injuries will force a few changes.
John O’Shea and Jack Rodwell suffered hamstring injuries against Palace so it’s likely neither will feature, which means, oh dear, Joleon Lescott will probably get his first start for the club. Jordan Pickford is back in full training but he will probably sit this one out before returning maybe after the FA Cup weekend. I expect us start with a 5-3-2 come 3-5-2 formation with the following line up;
Vito Mannone (GK), Lamine Kone (CB), Jason Denayer (CB), Joleon Lescott (CB), Billy Jones (RWB), Bryan Oviedo (LWB), Darron Gibson (CM), Didier Ndong (CM), Seb Larsson (CM), Adnan Januzaj (ST), Jermain Defoe (ST).
Prediction
I am fully expecting a cagey affair, probably a last-two on Match of the Day sort of game. Amazingly we have managed two clean sheets in two games which is unheard of for Sunderland. I can’t see us managing three in a row, but I am filled with optimism after seeing us score four goals because that just never happens. That optimism combined with general Sunderland fan scepticism can only bring me to one prediction; 1-1 draw!
Thanks again to Gary from We Are Wearside for his insight, and we look forward to this weekend!
