Sunderland vs West Ham Utd | PL | 16.8.25 | Predictions & Match Thread

[stubbo-admin]

Match Centre:

Odds:
:Sunderland: 2/1
Draw: 9/4
WHU: 5/4



Pre-Match Press Conference:
Official Press Conference



Tactical Preview: 
Analytics United



Watch-along:
Hammers Chat



Streams:

SportHD 

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Don't click on any ads and use a VPN).
  

[Massive Attack]

I do wonder how stubborn Potter is, and how long he'll stick the to failed 5 at the back formation?

I hope he's more reactive than I think he is.

Over half a year stubborn, I suspect. 

[Lee Trundle]

I do wonder how stubborn Potter is, and how long he'll stick the to failed 5 at the back formation?

I hope he's more reactive than I think he is.

[Massive Attack]

I would only be surprised if Potter DIDN'T play Guido and JWP on Friday.

I fully expect our starting line-up to be pretty much the same.





 

I reckon he's fanny-dazzled by having a WORLD CUP WINNER amongst the ranks which is why he gets so horny to play Rodriguez. When in reality up against Premier League opposition he resembles a blind man searching for his house keys that his dog just ate. I honestly wouldn't be surprised if he asked for his autograph on a matchday programme after every appearance he gives him. 

[scott_d]

I would only be surprised if Potter DIDN'T play Guido and JWP on Friday.

I fully expect our starting line-up to be pretty much the same.

 

[El Scorchio]

Can't disagree. Unless there's some behind the scenes shit or reason going on, the starting midfield against Sunderland made zero sense considering everything we saw in preseason.

[Lee Trundle]

It's a big surprise he never got any more time, unless he's going on loan and that was always the plan for this season. But at the moment he's just sitting in the reserves, right? 

I've stopped being surprised by Potter's team selection and the game time he's giving players.

I've just accepted it doesn't make any sense, rather than try to work it out.

[El Scorchio]

It's a big surprise he never got any more time, unless he's going on loan and that was always the plan for this season. But at the moment he's just sitting in the reserves, right? 

[Lee Trundle]

Fearon looked our best midfielder preseason, and he only played about 15 mins.

He's quickly been banished, never to be seen again.

[El Scorchio]

Looking at that Sunderland side again, I didn't realise they were mostly inexperienced young players that humiliated our Team of seasoned Pros. If ever there was a good time to start someone like Potts, who we did play all the time in Pre-Season successfully, it was Saturday. So what does Partridge do, drops him! 

Geezer's on a madness.

It's shit like that which should make it clear to Sullivan that investing in young players with potential is the way forward.

Aye, or have a Manager that actually believes in the youth when you do have them on your books. See Potts, Scarles who have both been demoted back to the Bench not costing us a penny.

I get Scarles, to an extent given he did have some struggles at times, but I will be astonished and absolutely disappointed beyond belief if Potts doesn't start at least one of the next two games after what he showed us in preseason and what the players who started on Saturday showed us, if we haven't bought one or two good players in.

[Massive Attack]

Looking at that Sunderland side again, I didn't realise they were mostly inexperienced young players that humiliated our Team of seasoned Pros. If ever there was a good time to start someone like Potts, who we did play all the time in Pre-Season successfully, it was Saturday. So what does Partridge do, drops him! 

Geezer's on a madness.

It's shit like that which should make it clear to Sullivan that investing in young players with potential is the way forward.

Aye, or have a Manager that actually believes in the youth when you do have them on your books. See Potts, Scarles who have both been demoted back to the Bench not costing us a penny.

[El Scorchio]

Looking at that Sunderland side again, I didn't realise they were mostly inexperienced young players that humiliated our Team of seasoned Pros. If ever there was a good time to start someone like Potts, who we did play all the time in Pre-Season successfully, it was Saturday. So what does Partridge do, drops him! 

Geezer's on a madness.

It's shit like that which should make it clear to Sullivan that investing in young players with potential is the way forward.

[scott_d]

Where's Mark, I've been stealing (and still am) a living from this club Noble? 

Exactly what is his role?  Does he do magic tricks in the dressing room? 

So out of all of the people that are responsible for what is going on at our club, you decide to pick out Mark Noble?  That is very odd.

[Massive Attack]

Looking at that Sunderland side again, I didn't realise they were mostly inexperienced young players that humiliated our Team of seasoned Pros. If ever there was a good time to start someone like Potts, who we did play all the time in Pre-Season successfully, it was Saturday. So what does Partridge do, drops him! 

Geezer's on a madness.

Agreed,  was so predictable that he reverted to safety for his selections.

Yep, he totally bottled it just like he normally does. 

[Massive Attack]

Forgot to add that Potts just enjoyed a full season up against sides similar to Sunderland in the Championship as well and faced them once himself admirably only losing 0-1 at Sunderland wven though down to 10 men.

It really couldn't have been a better opportunity for his 1st Premier League game to ease him in and test himself, Potter you wanker!

[Tomshardware]

Looking at that Sunderland side again, I didn't realise they were mostly inexperienced young players that humiliated our Team of seasoned Pros. If ever there was a good time to start someone like Potts, who we did play all the time in Pre-Season successfully, it was Saturday. So what does Partridge do, drops him! 

Geezer's on a madness.

Agreed,  was so predictable that he reverted to safety for his selections.

[Swiss.]

Where's Mark, I've been stealing (and still am) a living from this club Noble? 

Exactly what is his role?  Does he do magic tricks in the dressing room? 

[Massive Attack]

Looking at that Sunderland side again, I didn't realise they were mostly inexperienced young players that humiliated our Team of seasoned Pros. If ever there was a good time to start someone like Potts, who we did play all the time in Pre-Season successfully, it was Saturday. So what does Partridge do, drops him! 

Geezer's on a madness.

[southbankbornnbred]

I don't think I can forgive Potter for not playing Potts on Saturday, or even bringing him on.

It's so fucking pointless playing the likes of Guido and Irving when, let's face it, neither of which have a long-term future at the club.

Potter is all talk and no bollocks when it comes to the academy, just like all our recent  managers before him.

In fairness to Partridge, he does talk a lot of bollocks.

Endlessly.

He’s basically a roll-neck wearing management consultant with a laptop and a 2006 copy of Football Manager.

Sounds like a lot of the so called experts on here and the various YouTube channels.

Yep - spot on. They’d probably do the same job as him, too.

But the embarrassment would be all his.

[El Scorchio]

I don't think I can forgive Potter for not playing Potts on Saturday, or even bringing him on.

It's so fucking pointless playing the likes of Guido and Irving when, let's face it, neither of which have a long-term future at the club.

Potter is all talk and no bollocks when it comes to the academy, just like all our recent  managers before him.

Very bizarre RE Potts. If it was to put Guido in the shop window, well that's probably sent the Saudis running, and if it was to prove to Sullivan our midfield is garbage and we immediately need at least two players, then mission absolutely accomplished.

Surely Potts starts sooner rather than later.

I wouldn't count on it.
This is the 6th consecutive competitive game where Potter has not used a single academy player.
Scarles came on against Southampton on 19th April and since then we've not seen a single youth player kick a ball in the first team.

Maybe, but it just baffles me that he plays (well) in preseason- better than most of the others- then doesn't get on. He's surely got to start against Chelsea or Wolves because I can't really see a reason why he shouldn't. I don't really understand why Alvarez wouldn't get some minutes as well if he's named on the bench. I get the idea of Soucek and Wilson (spits) subs when we were 1-0 down to chase an equaliser but they clearly just made our weak link in the side even weaker.

I am pretty lenient on Potter in general, moreso than most on here, but it's things like that where he really doesn't help himself, and I'd love to know what he's actually thinking when he does this because it seems to fly in the face of everything he and we have learned about the players in preseason. 

[twoleftfeet]

I don't think I can forgive Potter for not playing Potts on Saturday, or even bringing him on.

It's so fucking pointless playing the likes of Guido and Irving when, let's face it, neither of which have a long-term future at the club.

Potter is all talk and no bollocks when it comes to the academy, just like all our recent  managers before him.

In fairness to Partridge, he does talk a lot of bollocks.

Endlessly.

He’s basically a roll-neck wearing management consultant with a laptop and a 2006 copy of Football Manager.

Sounds like a lot of the so called experts on here and the various YouTube channels.

[scott_d]

I don't think I can forgive Potter for not playing Potts on Saturday, or even bringing him on.

It's so fucking pointless playing the likes of Guido and Irving when, let's face it, neither of which have a long-term future at the club.

Potter is all talk and no bollocks when it comes to the academy, just like all our recent  managers before him.

Very bizarre RE Potts. If it was to put Guido in the shop window, well that's probably sent the Saudis running, and if it was to prove to Sullivan our midfield is garbage and we immediately need at least two players, then mission absolutely accomplished.

Surely Potts starts sooner rather than later.

I wouldn't count on it.
This is the 6th consecutive competitive game where Potter has not used a single academy player.
Scarles came on against Southampton on 19th April and since then we've not seen a single youth player kick a ball in the first team.

[El Scorchio]

I don't think I can forgive Potter for not playing Potts on Saturday, or even bringing him on.

It's so fucking pointless playing the likes of Guido and Irving when, let's face it, neither of which have a long-term future at the club.

Potter is all talk and no bollocks when it comes to the academy, just like all our recent  managers before him.

Very bizarre RE Potts. If it was to put Guido in the shop window, well that's probably sent the Saudis running, and if it was to prove to Sullivan our midfield is garbage and we immediately need at least two players, then mission absolutely accomplished.

Surely Potts starts sooner rather than later.

[southbankbornnbred]

I don't think I can forgive Potter for not playing Potts on Saturday, or even bringing him on.

It's so fucking pointless playing the likes of Guido and Irving when, let's face it, neither of which have a long-term future at the club.

Potter is all talk and no bollocks when it comes to the academy, just like all our recent  managers before him.

In fairness to Partridge, he does talk a lot of bollocks.

Endlessly.

He’s basically a roll-neck wearing management consultant with a laptop and a 2006 copy of Football Manager.

[scott_d]

I don't think I can forgive Potter for not playing Potts on Saturday, or even bringing him on.

It's so fucking pointless playing the likes of Guido and Irving when, let's face it, neither of which have a long-term future at the club.

Potter is all talk and no bollocks when it comes to the academy, just like all our recent  managers before him.

[onsideman]

I realise that Man Utd were preciously the exception that proved the rule,  but it shouldn't surprise anyone that teams that have spent £150-£200m look better than they did last season... especially if they don't spunk it on a Kilman or a Fullkrug