Unavailable:
Sunderland – Cattermole
Southampton – Forster, Gardoş,
Long, Rodriguez, Wanyama
When Sunderland took the decision to appoint
Sam Allardyce to replace Dick Advocaat, it was a real coup for the club
considering how traumatic the past few years have been at the Stadium of Light.
In recent times, the Sunderland hierarchy have recruited managers to see them
over the line in a survival battle, but have not expanded on that success –
Paolo di Canio comes to mind as the archetypal flash in the pan. Clearly, those
in charge wish to see a manager who can build a legacy at the club, yet this
has not come to pass. Allardyce may be the man who can harness their dreams to
create a realistic plan for his team to aspire to in the coming years, if he is
allowed the time to do his job. The 61-year-old remains underrated and
undervalued despite his continued success – harshly dismissed at West Ham,
despite the fact that he altered his playing style to be based on offensive pace
rather than the long-ball game associated with Andy Carroll.
Nevertheless, Allardyce realised the gravity
of his new club’s position last week as they capitulated away at Everton. In
his pre-match press conference for this game, he still seemed to be confused as
to how his team imploded despite the fact that they had just come from two
goals behind to level. He was then questioned as to whether there is a frail mentality
at the club after several thrashings such as the one handed out at St Mary’s
last season. Saints chalked up eight goals that day as they demolished the
visitors, but their record at the Stadium of Light makes for grim reading for the
South Coast club since their return to the Premier League. In five games in
Wearside, Saints have lost three, and drawn two, including a couple of extremely
disappointing cup defeats when Mauricio Pochettino opted to play weakened
teams.
Evidently, they will want to rectify that
situation this weekend, and maintain their unbeaten away record in the league,
yet they will be without key man Victor Wanyama in the centre following his red
card against Bournemouth. The Kenyan completely lost his composure and allowed
himself to be sucked into a naïve early booking, before receiving his marching
orders in the latter stages when his team were under the cosh. This has cost
him and his team, and it is vital that he makes better decisions in order for
his talent to shine through. Oriol Romeu will most likely deputise, and he will
need to support Jordy Clasie who is still adapting to the intensity of the
Premier League.
Apart from that, Ronald Koeman will most
likely stick with the rest of the line-up that played last time out. Yet he
will have to address the issue of the team fading in the second half. This has
now happened twice against both Leicester and Bournemouth, but it is unclear
what is behind such a drop in energy after dominating the first half in both
games. The defence held out well last Sunday, however the attacking midfield trio
struggled to maintain a threat which would have stifled the Cherries’ high
pressing game. Sadio Mané, Dušan Tadić and Steven Davis will have to remain
dynamic in order to concern the Black Cats if Saints can get themselves in the
lead, instead of dropping deeper where they will be nullified.
Saints will also have to deal with the
uncertainty of not knowing what formation they will be coming up against, as
Allardyce elected to use a 3-4-1-2 system at Everton, whereas his team lined up
in a more conservative 4-2-3-1 in the previous week. The Sunderland boss has
talented players that he can call upon in the midfield and the striking
department, but they are not all blessed with Premier League experience. Koeman
will have to make sure that his team is adequately prepared to face somewhat of
an unknown quantity, who could challenge them on the day.
Key
Battles
Toivonen/Fletcher
v Van Dijk: Virgil
van Dijk and Maya Yoshida managed to provide a sturdy rearguard as Saints had
to repel a second half onslaught from Bournemouth. It was particularly
impressive from the Dutchman considering the fact he had not played with
Yoshida beside him at centre-back before. It also underlined the improvement he
has made since performing badly when his team were under a similar level of
pressure against Leicester. The centre-back has settled quickly on the South
Coast – bar a couple of hiccups against Manchester United and that game when he
faced the currently unstoppable Jamie Vardy. On Saturday, he will undergo a
different challenge to that which Josh King posed last weekend. It is likely
that he will be up against Ola Toivonen or Steven Fletcher. Both are strong,
physical players who will attempt to ruffle Van Dijk’s feathers in order to
free space for Jermain Defoe (or another speed merchant from the midfield) to
run in behind. Fletcher would be a more mobile option, however Toivonen has
made a career out of spearheading an attack in a similar style to Graziano Pellè.
Either way, good communication between the Dutchman and José Fonte will be
imperative in order to cope with the chosen targetman and those running off
him.
M’Vila
v S. Davis: Despite
his obvious flaws in terms of showing too much aggression, Lee Cattermole does
have the ability to marshal a midfield if managed correctly. This Saturday, he
will not be fit though, therefore it is time for Yann M’Vila to show his worth following
his summer loan move from Rubin Kazan. The French international’s career has
stalled somewhat after what was the wrong decision to play in Russia instead of
furthering his career in a superior European league. In his formative
professional years at Rennes, he emerged as a player who could hold down a
starting slot in the engine room for his country, as his displays highlighted
how he could ably protect his back four and anchor the midfield. Allardyce
requires him to start showing that form again, as he faces the experienced
Steven Davis. The Northern Irish captain was pivotal in Saints’ superb first
half against Bournemouth as he played just off Pellè, encapsulated by the first
goal where they combined beautifully to allow the former to score the opener.
The midfielder has not only provided the stability needed in a team that
includes the offensive Mané and Tadić, but his recent goalscoring threat has
been a real boost to Koeman.
Possible
Line-ups
Sunderland:
Pantilimon
– Yedlin, O’Shea (C), Kaboul, Van Aanholt – Johnson, Rodwell, M’Vila, Lens –
Defoe, Fletcher
Mannone, Jones, Brown, Larsson, Borini, Gomez,
Toivonen
Southampton: Stekelenburg –
Soares, Fonte (C), Van Dijk, Bertrand – Clasie, Romeu – Mané, S. Davis, Tadić –
Pellè
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