In parts. I don't think Stoke vs. Sunderland will ever have the makings of a box office match and I certainly wouldn't recommend it to anyone who wants to get into football so to speak. For neutral fans it won't be glamorous but for people who know their stuff they could well enjoy a scrappy match between the two of us. I'm entering the match with some trepidation mind, the Britannia Stadium isn't known for it's welcoming nature and I expect Stoke to get in our faces like they do best. I'm not going to the match but I'd imagine I'd be keeping a low profile and taking protective equipment such is the nature of this match. We've made some shrewd signings indeed, would have liked Tuncay to have signed after this match because he's a quality player and without being disrespectful I expected him to go to an Aston Villa sooner than a Stoke City. Take that how you will but the bottom line is you've got a quality player there. Our signings are bedding in quite well and it's one area us fans aren't used to given our previous manager's, it's refreshing to have a manager with experience and knowledge in this side of the game in Steve Bruce.
Our style of play is well documented by the media but what can we expect from the Black Cats?
Expect a bit of the same from our centre midfield pairs. They're our key and I imagine they'll probably be the strongest area of our two squads, Cana and Cattermole really don't take any prisoners so I suspect they will be going hammer and tong with your midfield. While I think we have that area I expect Bent to get some rough treatment but Jones will give it back, he's big, powerful, fast and just a general handful so may have a better time against your defenders. Bent may prove a bit too lightweight and would need a good sprinting race over empty grass to get one over your defence. Richardson and Malbranque are solid on the wings and do what they need to do but perhaps don't have that ability to constantly take on players time and again, both are vastly experienced though so will know what to expect from you lot. As for our defence, well half of it seems to be in talks with other teams at the minute and we're still really working on bringing that up to scratch. Should Bruce get his way it'll be solid by the 1st of September but it's our weak spot right now. It's generally down to a lack of concentration on their part but they should have a tough time with the likes of Fuller getting at them all day tomorrow. They blow hot and cold so they may do well or may look amateur. Who knows just now.
Expect us to start pretty well and then if it's not going to plan wait for one of our players from last season to get the ball and just hoof it up to Jones because, well.. he's big so that's good enough, and it'll all be done much to Bruce's, Cana's and Cattermole's chagrin who would much rather we played the ball up to our strikers through midfield rather than bypassing them.
We have a whole host of players who used to ply their trade in the North East, Abdoulaye and Amdy Faye along with Andy Griffin used to play for Newcastle, Tuncay and Robert Huth used to play for Middlesbrough and then Danny Higginbotham, Liam Lawrence, Dean Whitehead, Rory Delap and Thomas Sorenson all played for yourselves. Does this mean you will just be constantly booing one player or another or do some of them have the respect of the Black Cats faithful?
You sure do seem to like your north east players, not just Sunderland players it seems. I have a lot of respect for Tony Pulis because he's come up to the Premiership and knows that to stay up he needs experienced heads. While managers pick up foreigners and Championship players, Pulis built a team on players with Premiership experience and he has continued to do that. Tuncay is an astute signing as I pointed out.
As for how our former lads will be treat? Higginbotham never done much wrong, and was a good player. I'd cheer him for his goal against Newcastle to be honest, when the cross came in he was nowhere to be seen and then suddenly he steams in from off camera and heads it in. Thomas Sorenson should be given a lot of respect from our lads, he is one of our best goalkeepers in history if you ask me and I'd like to think he will get a great reception. Delap will probably not get much, he never really got a long stretch with us so it'd be unfair to give him a poor reception. Whitehead I can imagine might get a bit of stick, and in my opinion unjustified stick at that. He's a hard worker with limited ability – maybe that's what Stoke needed right now, he isn't technically gifted but he always puts in a good shift and tries his hardest and that's commendable. It was time for him to go and I'm happy he's stayed in the Premiership, unfortunately he became the target boo-boy so to speak.
As for Liam Lawrence, or as we call him 'Pornstar', he'll be the one who gets the worst reception from us I imagine. While I think he's found form for you lot he was shockingly poor for us and the way he left the club was just poor for all parties involved. He'll never be forgotten for that and I imagine the Sunderland fans will make sure he doesn't forget it any time soon tomorrow.
Which Stoke player, if any, will you be wary of?
Should he play, Shawcross. Against Blackburn Samba gave us a lot of trouble – mainly in an attacking sense. We were poor defending throw ins and corners from Pedersen so I'm not looking forward to the same from Delap, we really need to be more aware in the air when defending set pieces and I don't want Shawcross up there causing havoc. On his day Sorenson has the potential to stop everything that comes his way and I recall last season Whelan was often quite fearsome with shots on the outside of the area if it fell to him. Knowing out luck Lawrence will rattle in a 25 yard screamer to really rub it in.
Who should we be keeping an eye on from your side?
As you can probably imagine, Jones can be a handful and looks more energetic this season. He struggled for motivation late on last year but almost in a Berbatov sense he can play his best by being seemingly effortless. He's skillful on the ball as well as strong in the air, he's fast with long strides but lacks a real goal scorers instinct. Fortunately we have Bent for that now.
As I said earlier you need to pay attention to Cana and Cattermole in the middle. They're tough tacklers and general get noticed by the referee. People know what Cattermole is like but I think our success is coming down to Cana being an unknown quantity to most. I followed him because I enjoy watching Marseille play – who we signed him from and where he was captain – so I knew what was coming but most opposing fans don't know of him. Then the whistle goes and he's in like a shot, a very intense player with a lot of passion to come with it. It's hard to describe so I suggest you just keep an eye on him and you'll understand what I mena.
What is your prediction for the game?
I think it will be a bruising match and I think both teams will get on the score sheet. I'm saying a 1-1 draw provisionally but I won't be shocked if either team can nick it 2-1. You're a tough team to break down at home but I think we have a bit more about us this season than last so am reasonably hopeful we can come away with a win, and a hard fought one at that (and I wouldn't expect anything less). Similarly if you win 2-1 I won't be too surprised, we have Hull [H], Burnley [A] and Wolves [H] as the matches that follow you before we have to deal with last years top two teams so I'm expectant that we'll pick up some points in the next few games even if it doesn't begin tomorrow.
Best of luck,
Luke Harvey.