Each week before every Sunderland game, you along with a few representatives from Read Sunderland will decide who they would choose to grace the pitch for the Black Cats and why.
Think yours is better than any of ours? Tweet @ReadSunderland your XI in the days leading up to the next game and you might be the first to be picked to have your say on Read Sunderland.
Ryan Groves- (4-3-3) Pantilimon, Jones, O’Shea, Coates, Van Aanholt, Cattermole, M’Vila, Rodwell, Defoe, Toivonen, Lens.
With Adam Matthews and Younes Kaboul both expected to miss the weekend’s game, it seems Dick Advocaat is forced to play the partnership of O’Shea and Coates despite a dismal defensive effort mid-week against Exeter. A clean sheet appears to be like gold dust at the moment and whilst the pair could perhaps prove doubters wrong, it seems reasonable to assume that Sunderland are still in need of defensive reinforcements. Much in the same vein, Patrick Van Aanholt due to a worrying lack of competition at left back.
The midfield three should remain the same to allow for some continuity to develop, whilst hopefully allowing Jack Rodwell to find his groove following his last two promising performances and his two goal two assists effort against Exeter. M’Vila and Cattermole will be pivotal in the outcome of the game this weekend; if they can control the tempo of the game and nullify Aston Villa’s midfield, Sunderland could well leave Villa Park with points. Latest loan signing Ola Toivonen is expected to grace the starting line-up following his move from Rennes and whilst I’m not entirely sure where he’ll play, I think it’s obvious that he should be thrown right into the starting lineup. Jermain Defoe may well find himself out wide again playing an inside forward role, to allow for the more aerially dominant Swede to lead the line, supported by the pace and width of Lens on the opposite flank.
With four days left in the transfer window, a win at the weekend could be an enormous morale boost and pressure relief that hopefully will be reinforced by the arrival of a few more new faces over the next week.
Chris Sparks (4-3-3) Pantilimon, Jones, O’Shea, Brown, Van Aanholt, Cattermole, M’Vila, Rodwell, Watmore, Defoe, Lens.
A few surprises in my team selection, most noticeably in the centre of defence. I’ve gone for the experience of John O’Shea and Wes Brown, they may lack pace and energy but make up for it in experience and leadership. The former Manchester United pair can offer the Black Cats something different in a defence that has faltered so far. The defenders have played together before and I feel that having a familiar back four will enhance our stability in the game.
The rest of the team is more or less unchanged from last week’s draw with Swansea City. The team showed fight and determination and should be rewarded with the chance to prove themselves again. Jack Rodwell, in particular, has impressed so far ans hopefully he can keep up his form in the heart of what will be a very busy midfield on Saturday. The only other change is Duncan Watmore in place of Danny Graham, Watmore has earned his chance and offers more to the team than Graham. This will also allow the prolific Jermain Defoe to move infield and hopefully add to his goal tally in the process. New signing Ola Toivonen will be the perfect impact substitute late on in the game and offers the team a new dimension.
Here are some of your XI’s that you sent into us at @ReadSunderland…
@ReadSunderland same as Swansea, worried about the defence after Tuesday and the pace of villa.
— Joe Elliott (@jelli_98) August 27, 2015
@ReadSunderland the side that ended the game last night
— CharltoP (@pab1073) August 26, 2015
