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tnb 4:12 Sun Oct 16
Full back options for Sunderland

No, not panicking, just interested.

What are our options at full back for Sunderland now? Do we know if Arbeloa is injured or just wasn't considered necessary on the bench yesterday given the system? I assume Masuaku won't be fit, and clearly Byram isn't plus that fucking suspension for Cresswell.

Were Masuaku available I guess we could go for the same system again with him and Antonio, but assuming he isn't then it seems to me our only option at left back is Ogbonna. He's many things but he isn't a wing back so presumably we are looking at reverting to a flat back four. Arbeloa if fit could play on the left but same thing really.

So in that case the question once again becomes what to do with Antonio. I can see 3 at the back becoming at least one of our go to set ups now and in that system I reckon Antonio has right wing back sown up, but in a back 4 is he (in an ideal world) still better suited higher up? Of course if Arbeloa isn't fit then there aren't really any other options (personally I don't think a few games at right back would do Oxford any harm, but it doesn't seem to be in Bilic's mind).

So it seems I've answered my own question at least if Arbeloa is injured - back 4 with Ogbonna left and Antonio right (of course then we have to decide whether to keep Kouyate at the back or push him forward and bring in Collins - personally I would do the former). Can anyone see any other possibilities?

If Arbeloa is fit, though, what would you go for? Put him at left back and keep Ogbonna in the centre, with Antonio on he right? Or put him at right back with Antonio further forward (but displacing who?) and Ogbonna on the left?

El Scorchio 10:19 Sun Oct 16
Re: Full back options for Sunderland

Exile- the commentators on the stream I was watching yesterday said he was injured and unavailable, so I've taken their word for it. They gave no details like what was wrong or how long he'd be out for.

Athletico Easthamico 9:48 Sun Oct 16
Re: Full back options for Sunderland

Isn't the lad Pike highly rated. Somebody said he reminded them of Stuart Pearce, blond and gets stuck in.

Right sided I think. Need to give him a go sometime.

Mart O 9:09 Sun Oct 16
Re: Full back options for Sunderland

Oh well. Let's just hope for good news. More I think about the cunting ref and his halfwit linesman, the more fucked off I get.

AfM 9:09 Sun Oct 16
Re: Full back options for Sunderland

Zaza coming good seems highly unlikely. His touch around the box is awful. Possible though.

Tore coming good doesn't seem in the slightest little bit possible.

Buster 9:07 Sun Oct 16
Re: Full back options for Sunderland

Was definitely limping as he went down the tunnel.

Mart O 9:02 Sun Oct 16
Re: Full back options for Sunderland

Tell me you're joking, Buster ? That is taking the biscuit if he's injured too...

the exile 8:47 Sun Oct 16
Re: Full back options for Sunderland

Nothing about Arbeloa being injured on Physio Room. What's the story, Scorchio?

Buster 8:40 Sun Oct 16
Re: Full back options for Sunderland

Antonio limped off yesterday.

El Scorchio 8:33 Sun Oct 16
Re: Full back options for Sunderland

Our injuries are ridiculous. It's almost always all the players at one position at once. We will have NO fullbacks available for Sunderland as arbeloa is injured, along with Byram and Masuaku. You couldn't make it up.

Flat back 4 with Oggy and Antonio filling in is probably the way to go. We really need three points from this one.

Lertie Button 8:04 Sun Oct 16
Re: Full back options for Sunderland

Cometh the hour, cometh the man, suely it's time for junior Westley to step up to the plate

After all given he's 22, if he's not ready it must be time to get him off the wage bill permanently

Ricky 7:46 Sun Oct 16
Re: Full back options for Sunderland

Tore is injured for 5 weeks.

The system looks great but it worked so well because Creswell and to a lesser extent Antonio play the wingback role well.

Without Creswell or Masuaka I think the option has to be to drop back into a 4 and revert after Creswells suspension is over.

Iron2010 7:28 Sun Oct 16
Re: Full back options for Sunderland

To be honest I have felt similar about Zaza. Although perhaps not quite as strongly ....

Let's hope we are both wrong.

Mart O 7:17 Sun Oct 16
Re: Full back options for Sunderland

He's fucking terrible, hope he never plays for us again. Not just that he's got the first touch of a rapist, he's fucking stupid and constantly makes the wrong choice. Can't abide seeing the cunt in the shirt.

Doesn't matter what he cost, he was a mistake.

Iron2010 7:13 Sun Oct 16
Re: Full back options for Sunderland

Five million is a lot of money for the club to just write off. Perhaps Tore will improve in a side playing with more confidence.

Mart O 7:03 Sun Oct 16
Re: Full back options for Sunderland

I think the shape yesterday meant Dimi and Lanzini were closer to Zaha. He's been poor, bar yesterday, but not sure any striker would have thrived given how we've been playing.

I'm not having Tore. He's fucking shit.

Iron2010 6:55 Sun Oct 16
Re: Full back options for Sunderland

There seems to be a lot of support for Zaza who finally seems to be benefitting from a prolonged run up top. Another big money summer move was Tore who may be worth a shout to cover Creswell next week. If he is keen to do well then he will put a shift in and he will certainly offer more going forward the Ogbonna.

Mart O 6:48 Sun Oct 16
Re: Full back options for Sunderland

The exile - having watched a fair number of Algerian players, the one thing that strikes me is they don't lack commitment. Tend to like to get stuck in, by which I mean Feghouli would do a decent job for us at right WB.

I agree about not fixing what ain't broken, as well as Kouyate at CB, but still not sure about who would replace Cresswell.

Iron2010 5:35 Sun Oct 16
Re: Full back options for Sunderland

Surely playing with 3 center backs is good news for Oxford.

the exile 5:31 Sun Oct 16
Re: Full back options for Sunderland

Mart - not sure what you mean by "that whole Algerian thing"? Feghouli wouldn't let us down as a wing-back - pretty sure about that.No way should Ogbonna be used as a wing-back - not mobile enough. It's pushing it using him as a full-back too. Can't see Nordtveit in that role either. I think he should stick to his natural position in front of the CBs, so I suppose he is now competing with Obiang for that - Obiang has the shirt at the moment and deserves to keep it on yesterday's showing.

On the "if it ain't broke don't fix it" principle, we should definitely stick with the same back three. I'm a big fan of Ginge but he has been below his best this season and Kouyate was terrific yesterday - I think he has been poor in midfield this season and CB is probably his best position, especially in a three - one of them can burst forward on occasions and he is ideally suited to that. I'm sure Oxford will be delighted to have moved down the pecking order at CB but that's just tough shit. He'll just have to wait for injuries/suspensions, or a sub appearance in a game in which we're 3 - 0 up....ahem!

Iron2010 5:29 Sun Oct 16
Re: Full back options for Sunderland

I think the most important thing is to keep yesterday's shape. It would be a shame to revert to a formation that we have struggled with recently because one player is out for one game. It also needs to be an attacking player as the width Creswell gave us yesterday open the pitch up for Lanzini to play.

tnb 5:18 Sun Oct 16
Re: Full back options for Sunderland

Mart O,

Nor me, hence asking the question. It's certainly a riddle.

Personally I would go back 4, purely because of the players available, of Ogbonna-Kouyate-Reid-Antonio as I agree on Kouyate yesterday, best game for a long time although obviously it's a slightly different job in a 4. That seems the least disruptive option in terms of personnel although that's the heart of the question really I guess - do you prioritise personnel and make the system fit, or system and make the players fit? For me it's always the former but I'm no manager.

Stick with Noble, Obiang, Lanzini, and Payet in midfield which means in effect Cresswell's place goes to an additional attacking midfielder. I like Lanzini central so if Arbeloa is fit I'd have him at right back and give Antonio that spot on the right. If he's injured, I guess it's Ferghouli.

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