Sunday 31 August 2008

Team vs Sunderland

Hart, Corluka, Richards, Dunne, Ball, Wright-Phillips, Johnson, Kompany, Hamann, Ireland, Jo.

Subs: Schmeichel, Ben-Haim, Garrido, Fernandes, Elano, Sturridge, Evans.

(from Sunderland website)

There were some rumours on Bluemoon that Petrov had picked up injury in midweek. Hughes said nothing - but it seems that this is the case (unless Rafa Benitez has realised he's twice the winger Riera is at half the price). Elano is benched after his mini-meltdown on Thursday.

What we're left with is a rather strange looking midfield. The most I can make of it is that we're going to a 4-3-3 with Hamann, Kompany and Johnson in the middle and then SWP and Ireland either side of Jô. It's just about possible we're sticking with the 4-4-1-1, putting Johnson and SWP on the wings and Ireland behind Jô. Yet another possibility involves dropping Kompany into centre half, then having either Richards or Corluka in midfield.

UPDATE: If you find out anything from blues who've made the trip, leave it in the comments.

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