Sunderland pre match

[Arriba Los Zorros]

Feel more confident when we're away. 2-0 Leicester

Yes, me too. Too much pressure to win the home games, although we keep managing to do so! Still think Sunderland will grab their usual poverty results at this time of the season and hold us to a 1-1.

 

PS Remember when Sunderland thought they were bigger and better than us, nice one lads 

[Babylon]

I agree some players looked shattered, but there was the small matter of internationals and travel/time differences to contend with, as well as he emotional impact. I suspect a week of drug taking  recovery time will sort things out to a decent extent..........

Well that's what I was hoping, that it was just internationals.

[foxes161]

not a game we should drop points but they are fighting for their lives.

[Daggers]

They will sit back, so it will be another tough team we will have to break down.

They aren't going to come at us Sam is smarter then that.

 

If he is then then he'll also realise that unless they attack the result is of no use to them at all.

 

Only 12 of their goals this season have come from set pieces so they can't rely on that in order to nick three points. With Norwich's renewed vigor they have to attack and hope Defoe can grab them a lifeline. While they hold some pace in defence they could be tempted to hold a higher line and press the midfield - but let's be honest, they're lacking in all areas.

 

If they sit deep we'll break them down, if they push forward we'll nail them on the counter. Their only genuine option is to attack and hope to fortune - and, with any luck, provide an entertaining game in the process.

[Guest kristianity77]

Ideally, we could do with Norwich putting one over Palace the day before, as that would mean that Sunderland have to go all out for the win as nothing else will do for them.  I'd prefer to play Sunderland when nothing less than 3 points will do for them rather than them thinking 1 point wouldn't be "so bad".

[Clever Fox]

I thought we looked shattered against Saints, never rotating players is taking its toll. Honestly wouldn't argue against a couple of changes to freshen things up a bit, the strikers and wingers get through so much work they look jaded.

Spot on, Mahrez was out on his feet long before he was substituted, Albrighton  and Vardy also looked very tired.

If I where Ranieri I'd order the players to go home and stay in bed for 2 Days complete rest. Then just a bit of light work before Sunday.

I wouldn't take Sunderland lightly either.

[kingcarr21]

Sunderland are not going to play for a draw regardless of other results. They cant afford to play for draws. They have to go for 3 points which will play right into our hands. I can see Drinky and Kante having a beast of a game as there midfield is weak as piss. I feel like this will be a walk in the park. Get an early goal and the home fans will start to grumble, 3-0 win with a Vardy brace and Drinky from distance.

[stripeyfox]

reset counters to zero and start again!It really is one match at a time now, and a match like Blunderland should on paper, be a shoe-in for us. At this stage in the season the table really doesn't lie.However this time last year, a point each suited both us us. This time around, we both need a win, Blunderland to have any hope of staying up, us as insurance against losses in the run-in.This won't be an easy match at all, Defoe always looks dangerous and the team are fighting for their very lives now. But unless nerves kick in - which I don't see any sign of really - I would go for 2-1 to City. Just imagine if Spurs drop another point against Manure on the Saturday!

I think they play after us on Sunday afternoon

[STUHILL]

If they score first then will be longggg afternoon trying to break them down but if we score first then I think we could go on and win it 3 or 4-0. We are due a few goals on paper and their team is really weak. Defoe is the only spanner in the works as he can change a game with his finishing ability. I think the Southampton game was incredibly tough and the win would have given our players a massive confidence boost so I expect us to be on it come Sunday. Lets hope we see Mahrez on fire again as he was well off the pace yesterday. I think a week now will do the players a world of good and they will come back refreshed for this game. 2-0 Leicester

[Ric Flair]

Another Mahrez show away from home.

[UPinCarolina]

I fully believe Spurs will draw against Man U...

 

We'll be 9 clear with a victory. If we win this weekend and they draw, I think we can say with 90% + certainty that the title is ours.

[TJB-fox]

We lose this and suddenly the title race will have completely opened up again.

[MrSpaM]

Still got this mentality in my head that every game is going to be difficult because we are in the premier league, it's been like that since we got promoted. Really cannot get my head around how well we are doing, and completely refuse to take any team for granted.

 

Sunderland is going to be another tough game in the toughest league in the world. They've got a decent squad, it's not going to be a walk in the park by any stretch of the imagination.

[bluebeau]

It will probably be another very close game. At this stage of the season it's expected. Both Sunderland and us are in different circumstances, they will be battling to get vital points to stay in the division and we will be hoping to continue to strengthen our lead at the top. My early feeling on this, is a 0-2 win for us. We are excellent at absorbing pressure from the opposition and I feel if we can counter at our best we can win this one. Defoe's done well this season to be fair, he's a goalscorer at this level and I think Sunderland having him in their squad could be key. From what I've seen of Sunderland under Sam they look like a side who are willing to battle to win points. He's a good manager Sam. 

 

Got a feeling Mahrez and Kante will score. 

 

I've been thinking for a while now that come the end of this season, we should put a bid in & try to buy Defoe. You imagine, if he was on our bench & Claudio took either Vardy or Sinji off, what a great impact sub he would be!  He is a proven goalscorer & even in a sh-t team he is still getting the goals. I'm certain he would jump at the chance to join City.

[Carl the Llama]

I've been thinking for a while now that come the end of this season, we should put a bid in & try to buy Defoe. You imagine, if he was on our bench & Claudio took either Vardy or Sinji off, what a great impact sub he would be!  He is a proven goalscorer & even in a sh-t team he is still getting the goals. I'm certain he would jump at the chance to join City.

Can't tell if serious...

[kingcarr21]

I've been thinking for a while now that come the end of this season, we should put a bid in & try to buy Defoe. You imagine, if he was on our bench & Claudio took either Vardy or Sinji off, what a great impact sub he would be!  He is a proven goalscorer & even in a sh-t team he is still getting the goals. I'm certain he would jump at the chance to join City.

 what you been smoking

[bluebeau]

Can't tell if serious...

 

100% serious I would love for City to get him.

[bluebeau]

100% serious I would love for City to get him.

 

Sorry buddy but I don't smoke or sniff !  Just got good vision for talent !

[bluebeau]

100% serious I would love for City to get him.

 

Do you remember Martin O'God getting 'over the hill'  Tony Cottee?

[kingcarr21]

Sorry buddy but I don't smoke or sniff !  Just got good vision for talent !

Thank god you aren't a scout. Not disputing the fact Defoe is a good footballer but If you truly believe Defoe would fit into a team as hard working as ours then more fool you. He wouldn't compliment our team at all and that is what our success is built on.

[LanguedocFox]

The one thing you can be sure of is that Big Sam will have them defending as if their lives depend on it. I suspect that they will try to absorb all our pressure and then hit us on the break, so hopefully Ranieri will set us up for that. They also bought in some good defensive players in January and although they've not won much recently, they've not lost a lot either - and only lost once at home this year. I hope for another 1-0, but will settle for a draw.

[Carl the Llama]

Sorry buddy but I don't smoke or sniff !  Just got good vision for talent !

Then why are you talking to yourself in your last 2 posts?

 

Defoe is a good finisher but if we signed him I'd jump off a cliff before our results did the same.

[Gerard]

The one thing you can be sure of is that Big Sam will have them defending as if their lives depend on it. I suspect that they will try to absorb all our pressure and then hit us on the break, so hopefully Ranieri will set us up for that. They also bought in some good defensive players in January and although they've not won much recently, they've not lost a lot either - and only lost once at home this year. I hope for another 1-0, but will settle for a draw.

 

Funny enough my mate said he'd take a point next week after the match on Sunday. I said absolutely not.

 

For me we're 7pts clear but the target should be to try and win it before we go to Man Utd. Before the Southampton match I wanted 10pts from the next four matches.

 

I've always felt we need to win it with three games to go or be a minimum of 7pts ahead. Single points aren't much good at this stage of the season we need to go into our next three matches with a win being the only acceptable result. We should have nothing to fear from;

 

Sunderland (a)

West Ham (h)

Swansea (h)

[biggs]

Same team. 0 - 2 Leicester.

[Sublime_Coatsworth]

I recon Norwich will loose at Palace so Big Sam will won't go full out against us as will be happy to grind out a draw.

A nervy two-one to us.