Author Topic: Spyin' Kop: Sunderland preview  (Read 3744 times)

Offline Spartacus.

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Spyin' Kop: Sunderland preview
« on: August 19, 2005, 09:44:11 pm »
The start of the Reds' home League campaign sees the return of Spyin' Kop. A little late, but unfortunately Armin was away and everyone else forgot! Thanks to Ian Hamilton of onesunderland.com for helping us out with the Sunderland view of the game ahead.

On with the questions...

RAWK: Congratulations on promotion.  Your side seems unrecognisable to the one we knew.  What's changed?

In short, we've gotten rid of the dead wood, and replaced them with players who actually care about this club. Under Peter Reid/Howard Wilkinson, we had far too many players who were content to simply pick up their pay cheque, and didn't give a damn about what happened to the club. Mick McCarthy didn't have a cat in hell's chance of keeping us up when he first came here - something we all knew - but he's done a great job of reshaping our squad on a budget, even if it has meant that we've lost certain players (like Phillips and Craddock) who we'd rather have kept.

RAWK: What are your expectations for this season?

Simply put: survival. We're not asking for much - just something that every promoted club wants. In 12 months time, if we're looking forward to a league game at Anfield rather than Gresty Road, then we'll be over the moon.

RAWK: Who do you think are your most important player(s)?

Julio Arca, without a doubt, is the best player in the squad, and a lot is going to be expected of him in the Premiership this season. Elsewhere, we've got several players who are consistent and get the job done without being too flashy. Dean Whitehead was impressive last season after making the step up from Oxford, and he was good in the game against Charlton last weekend.

RAWK: Your worst player(s)?

I would have said Jeff Whitley, but we sold him during the summer, and it's far too early in the season to be criticising any of the new players.

RAWK: Do you have a particular memory of any previous meeting between Sunderland and Liverpool?  Perhaps something that happened to you that day or a decision you disagreed with?

You might want to edit this. Gary ****ing McAllister diving and winning a ****ing penalty at the Stadium of Light against us a few years ago, which denied us the winner (about four years ago).

RAWK: Any young up and coming players in the squad that we might not know about?

In pre-season, we tried out young defenders Ben Christensen and Dan Smith - the latter of which is one to watch for the future, but right now, I wouldn't expect any unknown youngsters to make the team in the Premiership.

RAWK: What sort of line-up will  Mick McCarthy put out against us?

Obviously, TLT (Le Tallec) won't be involved, which is a moot point really, since he wasn't in our first squad this season. Our defeat to Charlton might change things (especially in our lacking-in-pace defence), but I'd guess we'd be using a 4-5-1 formation, with Jon Stead up front by himself. Injuries are also restricting our selection, but I'd look for:

Davis; Wright, Arca, Breen, Caldwell, Lawrence, Welsh, Whitehead, Miller, Robinson; Stead.

RAWK: Do you have a favourite/best chant(s) and perhaps any that require an explanation?

I think all of our chants are self explanatory - but one of the favourite chants right now has to be our cover of Spandau Ballet's "Gold", which goes a little like this.

"Juli-oh, oh! Always believe in your soul, you're indestructible (oh), always believe in, Juli-oh! Oh!"

RAWK: Where do you expect Sunderland and Liverpool to finish in the Premier League?

Liverpool: probably 4th. Sunderland: we don't expect anything, but we're hoping it's better than 17th.

RAWK: Which Liverpool player will you fear the most?

Anyone who has pace! Obviously, your front pairing of Morientes and Cisse will give us one hell of a task, but there's no easy games in the Premiership. Of course, you've also got Steven Gerrard, while I reckon Riise is another player to keep an eye on.

RAWK: You may have noticed we won a big shiny cup in the Summer, would putting one over on the European Champions make a result at Anfield extra special or does it make no difference?

Any trip to Anfield is special, but I'd guess that being European Champions would just make Liverpool an even bigger scalp to take. That'll be the case for a lot of clubs this season.

RAWK: Care to predict the score?

I'm horrible at these things, and anything that isn't a cricket score would be good for us. A draw would probably be pushing things, but I'd say you'll end up nicking it 2-1.

Thanks once again to Ian Hamilton for all his help. Further views from Ian and the Sunderland fans visiting us on Saturday can be found at:

http://www.onesunderland.com and http://www.ftmforum.com/

© Armin 2005
« Last Edit: August 20, 2005, 10:55:08 am by Rushian »
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Offline BSBW

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Re: Spyin' Kop: Sunderland preview
« Reply #1 on: August 19, 2005, 09:56:27 pm »
Well done Christine and of course Armin  :wave

Shite song by the way Ian.
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Offline Lush is the best medicine...

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Re: Spyin' Kop: Sunderland preview
« Reply #2 on: August 19, 2005, 10:28:45 pm »
Dean Whitehead was impressive last season after making the step up from Oxford, and he was good in the game against Charlton last weekend.

He looks like a damn good player - have him in my fantasy team.

How come he doesn't reckon Elliot won't start - he's probably the best striker they have.

Offline ksparks063

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Re: Spyin' Kop: Sunderland preview
« Reply #3 on: August 19, 2005, 10:53:04 pm »
good post, now lets twat the bastards...

Offline kopkev

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Re: Spyin' Kop: Sunderland preview
« Reply #4 on: August 19, 2005, 11:12:43 pm »
mentioning mcallisters dive for a peno but conveniently forgets the goal by god that was ruled offside, nowhere near offside. saw sunderland in pre season out here on the west coast of canada, they got stuffed 3-0 by vancouver whitecaps, good mackem support though, about 200 came over on tour from england. had a good few bevvies with them after the game

Offline Holiara

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Re: Spyin' Kop: Sunderland preview
« Reply #5 on: August 20, 2005, 04:34:40 am »
Thanks for the work you put into this! I liked this feature a lot last year and was waiting for the comeback :wave

Now lets prove Ian right and win nicely tomorrow.

Offline Andy-oh-six

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Re: Spyin' Kop: Sunderland preview
« Reply #6 on: August 20, 2005, 09:37:06 am »
predicting 2-1. Being positive there   :P

The sad thing is I expect Mick MCarthey would be happy with a narrow defeat aswell.
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Offline HIRA

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Re: Spyin' Kop: Sunderland preview
« Reply #7 on: August 20, 2005, 10:12:12 am »
Right now I think many people think they are the worst in the league. We shall prove that right tonight, I hope.
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Offline Rushian

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Re: Spyin' Kop: Sunderland preview
« Reply #8 on: August 20, 2005, 10:54:38 am »
Good response from Sunderland - think Arca is a superb little player and wouldn't have minded him at our club.
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Offline fudge

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Re: Spyin' Kop: Sunderland preview
« Reply #9 on: August 20, 2005, 11:05:53 am »
Good response from Sunderland - think Arca is a superb little player and wouldn't have minded him at our club.

is it just my imagination or weren't we looking at him couple of seasons back
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Offline carven

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Re: Spyin' Kop: Sunderland preview
« Reply #10 on: August 20, 2005, 01:43:18 pm »
Yay! Spyin` Kop's back!
Right now I think many people think they are the worst in the league. We shall prove that right tonight, I hope.

Seconded.

Offline ecmdtan

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Re: Spyin' Kop: Sunderland preview
« Reply #11 on: August 22, 2005, 01:18:49 pm »
they got stuffed 3-0 by vancouver whitecaps,

Abit out of touch...but Whitecaps???  Since when where they revived?  Are the Eighty Sixers dead and buried?
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Offline kopkev

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Re: Spyin' Kop: Sunderland preview
« Reply #12 on: August 22, 2005, 08:41:40 pm »
vancouver team is again called whitecaps after owner bought the rights a couple of years ago ,no longer the eighty sixers.