FANTASY FOOTBALL TIPS

The quarter finals beckon. A thoroughly deserved victory for Sunderland at the Stadium Of Light this afternoon saw us not only get through to the next round, not only beat Arsenal, but completely out play and out work the Londoners.

The thoroughly committed performance from all eleven men out there was absolutely incredible. A joy to see such effort, workrate and tenacity. My word. I don’t even know what to say at this point, I’m just over the bloody moon.

Anyway, relive the afternoon with our match report here…

Just the one change to the starting line-up for Sunderland as Lee Cattermole was welcomed back to the side having passed a fitness test, and also regained the captaincy. Fraizer Campbell made way for Catts’ return, and joined the usual faces on the substitutes bench.

Arsenal dominated things for the early part of the game, passing the ball about at will and with us not showing a great deal of attacking intent. That isn’t particularly a slur, we just couldn’t get the ball. Despite the possession the visitors didn’t provide much by way of threat in the opening ten minutes. Mikel Arteta’s freekick was about as close as either team came to breaking the deadlock.

If this was reminiscent of last Saturday, things got even more eerie moments later. First of all Francis Coquelin did his best impression of Per Mertesacker in getting injured doing nothing at all, leading to the young Frenchman being replaced. Elsewhere following a corner, Alex Song also impersonated Mertesacker in handling in the box.

Stephane Sessegnon drove a shot just wide of Lukas Fabianski’s goal, and despite the fact it was never really going in, it did seem to fire us into action. The crowd roared as our high pressing started to pay dividends. McClean and Gardner were industrious in hassling Song and Ramsey in the middle, and the visitors began to look a little rattled.

Twice in this period Sebastian Larsson was nearly played in for an opening goal. First Sessegnon’s delicious slide rule pass was well defended by Thomas Vermaelen, then James McClean’s cross into the six yard area was left by Squillaci but unfortunately Fabianski;s glove pipped Larsson’s boot to the ball.

On the half hour it seemed everyone remembered that it would be quite beneficial to win today, what with it being the FA cup and all that. Firstly, Gervinho stung the palms of a maskless Simon Mignolet when slipped in by a quiet to this point, Robin Van Persie. At the other end some neat passing eventually lead to a Sebastian Larsson “trademark” corner which needed only the slightest of touches from anyone to hit the back of the net. Nobody was obliging.

Arsenal had their own penalty appeal turned down too in the first half. Van Persie was through, and facing Mignolet, was downed in the area by John O’Shea. O’Shea nicked both man and ball, but in the view of Howard Webb (and myself), O’Shea clipped the ball first. Nothing given and relief all round as the game livened up.

With five minutes to half time, the deadlock was finally broken… and in style by Kieran Richardson. Larsson whipped in a freekick which could only be half cleared by Arsenal defence to Richardson lurking just inside the box. The left-back smashed the ball low, across his body and into the corner of Fabianksi’s goal, with the help of a small deflection off of Squillaci.

This was more like it. Arsenal couldn’t seem to handle the quick and high-pressing throughout the first half, and with the whistle nearing, McClean nearly made it 2-0. Larsson again the instigator as his cross was knocked back into the area by Colback, but the visiting keeper did enough to force McClean into hitting the side netting from inside the penalty area.

All in all though, things were going excellently, and when the whistle was eventually blown you’d say the scoreline was almost certainly the right outcome. Given the earlier parallels to the previous weekend’s game though, at this stage even more pertinent that we’d taken the lead.

The second half started well, and the first fifteen minutes of it almost encapsulated the entire first half. Larsson nearly doubled the lead with an exquisite free-kick, and whilst proper chances were few and far between for both sides, Sunderland were by far on top.

There was a mild worry which really needs commenting on in the second half too. Phil Bardsley nearly turned his ankle nastily as the pitch seemed to engulf his right foot when looking for a ball from Larsson, and for a moment we all worried that it was Elmohamady time for the foreseeable. Aaron Ramsey did something similar in the first half, and was eventually substituted, but something needs to be done about this ASAP.

The game wore on the game became more controlled in our favour, with no real chances for either team of note. Robin Van Persie fired a free-kick low and wide of the mark, Craig Gardner did likewise from the other end from open play.

As we entered the final fifteen minutes, the spirit on show from the lads was nothing short of outstanding. The workrate of every single player to chase hopeless causes, put things out for throw-ins instead of letting them run for goalkicks and continue to hustle, hassle and pressure Arsenal in every area of the pitch as we had from the opening minute.

The hard work was soon rewarded as Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain bundled the ball into his own net to put the game well and truly out of the visitors at 2-0.

An incisive breakaway started right down near our own penalty area as McClean slipped in Sessegnon who’d been lurking by the halfway line. In the foot-race with Vermaelen there was only going to be one victor, and when the Dane fell to the ground the writing was on the wall.

Rather unselfishly Sessegnon tried to play in Gardner who’d joined him, but it eluded the former Birmingham man, and found Sebastian Larsson, his shot clipped the post, and in trying to clear the ball Oxlade-Chamberlain could only bundle it into his own net. Unfortunate for such a promising player, but the goal was certainly deserved for the effort on show.

Not that we were to rest on our laurels from this point onwards, as the pressing continued, and half-chances came. McClean nearly finding himself on the end of Sessegnon’s cross, whilst the visitors attempted both crap and chaotic corner routines.

None of this really mattered. The game was over from when Kieran Richardson gave us the lead. You could just kind of tell…

Team (Ratings in brackets)

Starting XI: Mignolet (7), Bardsley (7), Turner (7), O’Shea (7), Richardson (7), Larsson (8), Colback (7), Cattermole (8), Gardner (7), McClean (8), Sessegnon (8)

Subs Used: Campbell (6)

Man Of The Match: Everyone – A first for the site, but a decision that had to be made. The tussle was between Cattermole who was like a brickwall in midfield, Sessegnon who was just a constant menace and played the role of all round striker to absolute perfection. McClean never stopped working, and Larsson’s balls into the area never stopped…. I can’t separate them. This was the ultimate in team performances.

And so we’re in the quarter final of the FA Cup. If you wern’t believing before that this was our year, I think you will be now having witnessed that today.

The performance was second to none, and perhaps even one of the best under O’Neill so far. I can’t sing the praises of the entire team, the endeavour shown quite highly enough. To a man, we were excellent. Arsenal played fairly poorly, but that was also in large part due to the fact we made them look poor today. Take nothing away from us at all.

For weeks now I’ve tried not to get too carried away with talk of going the distance in the FA cup, but when a chorus of Que Sera broke out at the Stadium Of Light, something inside just said “I think this might well be the year”… We fear nobody in the quarter final draw, and a a big day out awaits. I’m sure of it.

Marty’s Party is continuing right the way to May 5th.

Ha’way The Lads.

It’s Friday, Friday, gotta get down on Friday… The famously uttered words Freidrich Neitzsche, and later made even more popular by singing sensation Rebecca Black. Possibly. Anyway, it’s Friday so it’s time for the last Roker Roundup of the week. The feature where we bring you all the important and/or interesting SAFC news of the day.

So February the 17th, and on this historical day, the prohibition era came to an end in the USA in 1933, but the London Congestion Charge was brought in 2003. It’s also the birthday of film director Michael Bay, and Green Day frontman Billie-Joe Armstrong.

But that’s not important is it? Not half as important as SAFC, so let’s see what we’ve been doing today…

Remember 1992 FA Cup Hero John Byrne? Of course you do, don’t be so stupid. Well he’s been chatting with The Journal about our FA Cup chances, and his own memories of that 1992 run. A great read, and one worth checking out, and you can do that here – CLICK HERE

Lee Cattermole is in contention for a return this weekend if he can overcome a late fitness test, but even if he passes it, it’s unlikely he’ll start. He’s also fully aware of the great form shown by Craig Gardner and Jack Colback, but is determined to win back his place in the team – CLICK HERE

Howard Webb is in charge this weekend, which isn’t a particularly great thing, but here’s the official website’s profile of the man int he middle, including stats and that – CLICK HERE

Fraizer Campbell has been talking fairly openly too, admitting that we were knackered last weekend against Arsenal, but the lads are feeling much better this weekend, and confident they can express themselves a bit more as we look for a continued cup run – CLICK HERE

Martin O’Neill’s thoughts on Arsenal’s midweek hammering by AC Milan? That the game itself will have more effect this weekend than the result. Hopefully they’re as knackered as we were. O’Neill is fearing a backlash, but backing us to succeed – CLICK HERE

If you were wondering what deposed manager Steve Bruce is up to, well he could well become the manager of Wolves in the near future. He’s interviewing for it next week – CLICK HERE

Finally though, we save the best news for last. Our own writer and co-editor Michael Graham, who you probably know as Captain Fishpaste, today became a father for the first time. Massive congratulations from us here at Roker Report, and of course I’m sure the SAFC family will do the same.

Round two of the Arsenal-fest is the late kick off courtesy of ITV tomorrow evening. Last week the Mags gave us some top notch entertainment in this slot, so let’s hope we don’t return the favour.

The roles have been reversed going into this fixture as it is now Arsenal’s turn to head into the game with weary legs and jet-lagged heads (hopefully) and it will be interesting to see how Arsene Wenger sets his side out in comparison to his selection for last weekend’s meeting in the league.

At least there will be no Thierry Henry this time around…

Sunderland Team News:

Martin O’Neill will no doubt have been relieved to have been able to allow his players some time to recuperate this week following a hectic schedule as many of his squad were showing obvious signs of fatigue.

Chris Young from the Sunderland Echo detailed via Twitter on Thursday that both Lee Cattermole and Matthew KiIlgallon had returned to light training, with the centre half in contention for tomorrow’s game and the skipper facing a late fitness test and given an outside chance of figuring in the game.

Nicklas Bendtner has also returned to training this week complete with his protective headwear although he is obviously ineligible to face his parent club but O’Neill will be glad to see him back in the fold.

The game has come too soon for David Vaughan, Titus Bramble and Wes Brown who still face further recuperation time on the sidelines.

The only change I expect to see O’Neill making would be to return Fraizer Campbell and Sebastian Larsson back to their more natural positions as apposed to those which they adopted last time out. The break will have done Seb the world of good and can now be relied on to be able to track Oxlade-Chamberlain whilst Campbell’s return to the
forward line will allow us to impose our will on the game more rather than offer Arsenal the amount of respect we did in the league tie.

Arsenal Team News:

Wenger’s defensive crisis went from bad to worse in Milan on Wednesday night as Laurent Koscielny was forced off with a knee injury during the humbling defeat in the Champions League. He will also be worried by the form of Thomas Vermaelen who looks short of match fitness following his return from a spell on the sidelines with an Achilles problem. Couple this with Per Mertesacker’s unfortunate injury picked up last time the two sides met and the Frenchman could be forced to play Alex Song in a defensive role come Saturday evening.

The return of Kieran Gibbs will have pleased his manager although, like Vermaelen, the young full back looked “rusty” at the San Siro which was to be expected as it was his first game since October.

The burgeoning talent that is Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain was excluded from Wenger’s starting eleven midweek but you would put good money on him being recalled for tomorrow’s fixture.

Predicted Lineups

SAFC: Mignolet, Bardsley, O’Shea, Turner, Richardson, Larsson, Gardner, Colback, McClean, Sessegnon, Campbell

Arsenal: Szczensy, Gibbs, Vermaelen, Djourou, Sagna, Arteta, Song, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Gervinho, Ramsey, Van Persie

Classic Encounter

Sunderland and Arsenal met in the last FA Cup tie at Roker Park in January of 1997 and Dennis Bergkamp opened the scoring in stunning style with the Dutchmen pirouetting on the ball, before dancing into the area and placing a curling effort into the far top corner past a helpless Lionel Perez.

The replay was put to bed when Merson, who has ran Sunderland ragged all day, put in a cross for Stephen Hughes to head home.

A bad day at the office for The Black Cats but few will forget another touch of brilliance from Bergkamp that had even Peter Reid on the sidelines and the fans of the terracing applauding.

Get Rich Quick:

You would hope that Sunderland would offer more of an attacking threat this time out, with it being the cup there is little to lose and neither side would be too keen on a replay which would come in the blink of an eye on Tuesday night. With that in mind, from a home fan’s perspective you would hope that the pace of Sessegnon and Campbell as a front pair could cause a relatively makeshift Arsenal defence problems. With that said here are my punts for the game…

• Both Fraizer Campbell and Stephane Sessegnon are available as first first goalscorer at around 7/1, which is a decent price given their recent knack of finding the back of the net.
• It would be foolish to underestimate our guests as they have some serious firepower upfront and the man that finds himself on the scoresheet more often that not, Robin Van Persie, is available as an anytime goalscorer for evens.
• Sunderland to reverse the league fixture and win 2-1? Available for around 9/1.

Song For Whoever:

As if it hasn’t been proven enough already this season with the number of stunning goals we have witnessed from the lads we need to take the game to Arsenal this time around, move Campbell back upfront and, well, shoot to thrill!

PULL THE TRIGGER, YEAH!

Prediction:

Hopefully Arsenal will still be sulking from their midweek defeat and following last weeks showing I can see no reason why, following a full weeks rest, we cant impose our authority on the game a little more and keep this cup run going. I’m going for a reverse of the league fixture and a 2-1 win for the lads!

HA’WAY THE LADS!

Evening all, time for another Roker Roundup. We peruse the news, so you don’t have to wade through all the rubbish. Pretty kind of us eh?

So here’s what’s happening today, February 16th. A day in history remembered for Lithuania becoming an indpendent state in 1918, it’s also Valentino Rossi’s birthday, and in 2005 the NHL abandoned an entire season over a labour dispute. My word, I hope that never happens here!

Anyway, lets see what’s happening in the much more interesting world of Sunderland AFC…

Craig Gardner news – he’s not actually homesick and is “loving it” up here. Changes his mind like the wind that lad! Anyway, he’s very happy, and it’s because he’s actually playing. A fair enough point of view I think, although when Catts and Vaughan come back he’ll have to fight for his place like the rest of them – CLICK HERE

Jordan Cook is to continue on at Carlisle United after getting the green light from Martin O’Neill to do so. Fine by us, he could well be a good player on his return, but right now he needs games. Good stuff – CLICK HERE

Phil Bardsley has been making his mouth go too. We’ve seen first hand how bad the pitch is at the Stadium Of Light at the moment, and now Bardsley has become the first player to actually speak up about it, using words and phrases like “terrible” and “the worst pitch”… It’s pretty bad like, so Bardo has a point. Read more – CLICK HERE

Over in Korea they’ve been talking about Ji Dong-Won. They’re not overly pleased that he hasn’t made much impact having scored against Man City and Chelsea. conversely I think he’s played more games than he really should have. Not through lack of ability, but more while he gets used to the country, league and language. For more on this – CLICK HERE

For a while we’ve been wondering about the fitness of Lee Cattermole. Looks like he’s back now, or at least soon according to Martin O’Neill. Catts will have a late fitness test ahead of the Arsenal game this weekend, and he could well be involved. A bit of a headache for Marty one would think – CLICK HERE

Someone actually impressed with us is Asante Kotoko manager Maxwell Konadu. Recently he was over to watch training and so forth as part of the deal we have with the Ghanaian giants, and he’s been revealing what he thinks of SAFC, O’Neill and our future on our official website – CLICK HERE

Lastly in manager news, Martin O’Neill is leaving us… Only temporarily mind you! On May 15th he’ll take charge of a League of Ireland XI to take on a Manchester United XI. The game at Windsor Park will honour Northern Irish goalkeeping legend Harry Gregg. For more information – CLICK HERE