When considering at strategy for Sunderland at Manchester United, many supporters will feel very little can be done to give the club a real shot at taking down the Red Devils, many fearing the worst before it happens. However, if Sunderland are to try and get something out of the game at Old Trafford, they might have to make some key changes. Here are several suggestions on how they could come away from Old Trafford not disgraced:
Things Sunderland Can Do To Get Something At Manchester United
Reinstall Pantilimon
Vito Mannone came into the first team during midweek for the League Cup game against Manchester City, and it must be said that he was poor. He was at fault for at least two of the goals and could have conceded more. This one is probably a given as Pantilimon has been seen as the No.1 for almost a year now and many feel he has done little wrong in that time.
Drop Sebastian Coates and Patrick van Aanholt
Van Aanholt needs resting/taking out of the firing line, his confidence and performance levels are at an all time low, the opposition know this and are targeting him. Coates, as Advocaat has said, “needs to be sharper and to stop being shy”. Until Coates can do these things then the defence of a team struggling in the league is no place for him.
Yedlin to keep his place in defence
DeAndre Yedlin featured for the first time for Sunderland in the midweek defeat to Manchester City. Yedlin was one of the few players that came out of the game with any positives to his name. He’s quick and is a very good crosser of a ball. His defensive capabilities are still questionable due to the manner of the defeat in midweek but at the minute. Sunderland, however do not have many options, and with confidence very low with the rest of the defenders at the club, Yedlin who has just come into the club/first team is the only one with any real confidence and this alone should make him a certainty for the starting line up.
Play Duncan Watmore
For whatever reason, Watmore did not feature against Manchester City. Many expected him to at least play a part but he was not even amongst the substitutes. His exclusion came as a surprise, he had scored a hat-trick against Manchester City’s Under 21 side only a couple of days earlier and is brimming with confidence and a desire to break into the first team. He will be fresh for this weekend and his inclusion may concern the Manchester United team, as they may know little about him so he could very well be a surprise element. If this rising star does not even get a place on the bench this weekend then questions will be asked as to why a player scoring and performing well at U21 level for club and country cannot get a look in at for a first team which is struggling at present.
Keep Fabio Borini in a central strikers role
The central attacking role is the one he favours; he played there midweek and looked sharp at times. He has had success in this role in the past and will run and chase/close down the opponents all day. A front three of Borini, Lens and Watmore could cause United’s defence problems.
Bring back Lee Cattermole
After a shaky start to the season, Cattermole was taken out the firing line. Is it time he was brought back in an attempt to give the defence some much needed protection? He came on at half time in midweek with Sunderland trailing by four goals. Sunderland did not concede again while he was on the pitch. This obviously was not all down to Cattermole but to do with City not playing in top gear due to the game being won. He did far better than the man he replaced though, Jack Rodwell. A midfield defensive partnership of Cattermole and M’Vila could give the Sunderland defence the protection it desperately needs.
Keep an eye on Martial
This may be stating the obvious but this youngster needs to be watched very carefully or he will be a certainty to be on the score sheet come full time. He is bang in form and full of confidence but still has his doubters and will want to keep proving people wrong. A man-marking job on him could be the way although this could be dangerous, one wrong challenge and Sunderland could find themselves a man down. He will have to be watched closely but United have others too who you could say the same about.
Can hope be taken from United’s home form?
Is there hope in that they have not been at their best in front of their home fans? United have shown at times this season that they have not necessarily been at there best at home this season, the 0-0 vs Newcastle and the first half against Liverpool spring to mind. If Sunderland can start brightly and unsettle United and their fans, then the seemingly impossible may happen.
Sunderland are not expected to get anything from this game at Old Trafford but stranger things have happened. United are not the force they once were at home and if they take it for granted that three points are a certainty then you never know, Sunderland may just come away with a credible result to give their confidence a much need boost. They certainly need it.
