Championship - Sunderland AFC vs Ipswich Town Preview & Matchday Thread

[Frosty]

Sunderland AFC v Ipswich Town




Sunday 6th August 2023 – 17:00


Stadium of Light








Pre-Match Thoughts - Mike




With the dawn of a new season now less than a week away I think it is only fitting to reflect on what an incredible season it was last time. Yes we all had high hopes back in August that it might just be our turn for a little bit of success and glory but I don't think any of us really expected the season that Kieran McKenna and the boys delivered which culminated in our long awaited promotion and return to the Championship, which is where, at the very least, we belong. That awful game down at Bristol Rovers was the catalyst for our season turning round and boy we did it in style, little did we know we were to go on an incredible unbeaten run right through to the end of the season which saw us sweep aside all before us, our last defeat came on 21st January 2023 away at Oxford Utd, some Twenty games ago.

Of course it wasn't just the results that had us all drooling, sometimes our Football was a pure joy to watch, teams couldn't live with us, we were scoring for fun and keeping clean sheets at the other end too, Derby, Barnsley, Peterborough etc all ruthlessly put to the sword. To score over One Hundred League goals, accrue Ninety Eight Points and have a goal difference of Plus Sixty Six and still not be crowned champions beggars belief but there is little doubt in most people's minds that we were by far the best team in the division, and by some distance.

Of course all that is in the past now as we embark on a new journey back in the Championship, we have to get used to the fact that this will be a completely different animal, games will be much harder most weeks, we won't get to dominate every game we play as we did last season and teams will be much harder to break down. The Morecambe's, Chletenham's & Forest Green's of this world are now replaced with the likes of Leicester City, Southampton & Leeds Utd, not to mention Two crucial local Derby games with our small neighbours from up the road. One thing we can be sure of is that McKenna and his troops will be more than up for the task and will relish it, as a squad they believe in themselves, in Mckenna they trust and if pre season is anything to go by they have good reason to as well.

While Pre Season games invariably mean little it cannot be ignored that when we have gone with something close to a full strength side we have blown away Preston North End, more than matched Premier League Luton Town and disposed of Champions League Leipzig on our way to winning the Innsbruck Cup in Austria, our fitness levels in all of those games looked very good indeed and it augers well for the big kick off Sunday

The Summer transfer window has seen us add Four players to the squad in the shape of Cieran Slicker, Jack Taylor, George Hirst (on a full time basis) and Omari Hutchinson from Chelsea on a season long loan, the ever dependable Mark Ashton informs us there will be at least Two or Three more arrivals before the window closes which will only add to our strength in depth, that surely must mean that a couple will be heading out of the door too.

It's always exciting waiting for the new season's fixtures to be released and this time around it had even more excitement attached to it due to our return to the Championship. To say we have been given a tough baptism of fire would be an understatement, we open up on Sunday Aug 6th with a very tough trip to Sunderland for a dual in front of the Sky cameras, that is being thrown into the deep end for sure, August also see's us welcome Two of the bigger boys in Stoke City & Leeds Utd to Fortress Portman Road so it most definitely could have been easier. That said those sides won't be relishing coming up against us so soon either, a team full of confidence & momentum and who are very strongly fancied to do well by a lot of neutrals, press and indeed the bookies.

So what of Sunderland FC, after narrowly missing out in the play off's last time around Tony Mowbray will be keen to go One better this time, Sunderland will almost certainly be in the mix at the upper end of the Championship table for sure, they have lost a few players from last term but have also added some new faces to their ranks, at present it reads as though they are struggling for strikers thanks to injuries which have carried over into this campaign. The Stadium of Light is never an easy place to go and the secret will be for us to silence the partisan home crowd from the off, do that and the pressure mounts on the home side which plays into our hands.

It is always a bit of a lottery trying to make predictions this early in a season but I feel that it would be a good days work to come back to Suffolk with something to show for it, in other words I would not be too disappointed with a point from such a tough fixture. Sam Morsy and co will be chomping at the bit to get started, we have strength in depth and everyone will be wanting to start that first match, we do seem to have a few niggling injuries at present which hopefully are not too serious, Christian Walton, Harry Clarke, Massimo Luongo and Nathan Broadhead all fighting to be fit for the big kick off, but whoever gets the nod to pull on that famous Blue jersey we know they will give their all for the badge.

So what are my thoughts on our chances this season, well to be honest I am very confident and excited as to what the season holds for us. I genuinely believe we can surprise a lot of teams and have a very successful 2023/24, our style of Football will be much more suited to this division thatn League One for sure. A lot of fans are saying this season is about consolidation and to a point they are correct, to establish ourselves back in the Championship is the number One priority, however, I feel a top Ten finish at the very least is more than attainable, in fact I am sticking my neck out and saying the experts have it right and we will be flirting with the play offs, nobody at the club is happy with sitting still, they want more and they want in quickly, a lot of our building last season was with the Championship in mind as can be seen by the calibre of player we already have at our disposal.

So I am sticking my neck out and saying Town to finish in Fifth place before grabbing a day out at Wembley in May, what happens there is anyone's guess so enjoy the ride, support the boys week in week out like your life depends on it, they didn't let us down last season and I don't believe they will this season either, it's going to be another exciting Nine months and I cannot wait to get started, oh and let's not forget the long awaited victory over those beleaguered Budgies at long last. COYB'S.........IPSWICH TIL I DIE !!!!!




The Opposition – Sunderland Honours



League

First Division / Premier League

Champions (6): 1891–92, 1892–93, 1894–95, 1901–02, 1912–13, 1935–36
Runners-up: 1893–94, 1897–98, 1900–01, 1922–23, 1934–35

Second Division / Championship

Champions: 1975–76, 1995–96, 1998–99, 2004–05, 2006–07
Promoted: 1963–64, 1979–80
Play-off winners: 1990

Third Division / League One

Champions: 1987–88
Play-off winners: 2022


Cup

FA Cup

Winners: 1936–37, 1972–73
Runners-up: 1912–13, 1991–92

Football League Cup

Runners-up: 1984–85, 2013–14

FA Charity Shield

Winners: 1936
Runners-up: 1937

EFL Trophy

Winners: 2020–21
Runners-up: 2018–19


The Manager – Tony Mowbray









Head to Head








Match referee – Sam Barrott









SUNDERLAND 1 IPSWICH TOWN 1

[AzzurroMark]

Oh yes, football is back, along with this excellent feature which is an absolute must read! Thank you Mike for your devotion to the cause (as well as everyone else who makes this forum tick).
I can feel the usual pre-season excitement, the butterflies building. We don't know what to expect, however, as mentioned, we have certainly shown up well against teams you'd have expected a challenge from in the friendlies! While cup games always sees the 'underdogs' raise their game, I think our FA Cup game against Rotherham and the two against Burnley stand us in good stead as a marker for how our style could stand up in the Championship. We were never overawed against either team. Yes some argued at the time that Burnley started with a weaker side, while failing to recognise that we did similar.
There are some huge games coming up against teams with real pedigree! I think we are really starting at the deep end with one of the toughest fixtures possible. Tony Mowbray has vast experience as a manager at this level! Sunderland had a very good season last time around and will be thereabouts this season. Yes the three relegated Premier League teams will be real powerhouses, however the Championship is a different beast and one they might take time adjusting to. Teams will see those 3 in particular as their 'cup' game and will certainly raise themselves against them.

I fancy us for draw at Sunderland, 2-2 is what I'm going for! If we do get a win I will be delighted, however a loss would not be a disgrace, though of course keeping some form of momentum going really is key for the first few weeks in the Championship.

[Bluemike]

Yes Mark spot on, it was ok for Burnley to be weaker but not us when in fact we played about Eight B team players, I tend to take more notice of Vincent Kompany who said we were about the best team they had played than I do the "Muppet Brigade" lol

[hallamblue]

Thank you Mike, for an awesome pre match piece . Start as you mean to go on- Like Town

I’m going for a draw : would be a decent start tbh. But I am nervous about our defence. Get some established / experienced Championship CB’s in through the door, we’d be a different prospect.

And for the record from the off, I’m going for Town in the top 6!

[shabba]

Very hard game, if sunderlands signings come off then I expect them to be right in the mix this year. Good young team, good manager, very well supported, settled etc.

I'd be happy with a draw, especially if we have some injuries as looks the case.

[Bluemike]

I must admit I'm a little bit disappointed that we appear to be going into a very tough opening game with no strengthening of the defence at all considering its glaringly obvious we are a bit vulnerable in that department, maybe we are in the midst of a deal or Two.

[marko69]

Excellent opening write up.

For me, its a real shame the first of the two crucial derbies isn't until Christmas. Could be a hugely different Town team by then with potential injuries. Really wanted that miniature hoodoo off the clubs back early in the season because as of right now, reckon ITFC would be favourites and defeat them.
I KNOW its not only about Norwich (before some smarty decides to state the obvious) ——>> but December isn’t great.

That aside, looking fwd to what Kieron and the lads can achieve this season. Tough trip, voted draw. 1-1

Tony Mowbray caption:
“Why are they doing that tosser gesture in my direction? I thought they loved me.”

[shabba]

I must admit I'm a little bit disappointed that we appear to be going into a very tough opening game with no strengthening of the defence at all considering its glaringly obvious we are a bit vulnerable in that department, maybe we are in the midst of a deal or Two.

On the flip side, its great Hirst is already here. I'm happy we are going into the first game with him here and settled etc rather than being a deadline day signing.

We know we want more players, just got to be patient, its a long season so even if they come on deadline say its OK with me (vs not signing anyone).

[Dubai Blue]

Personally I like the fact that we are essentially the same outfit that finished last season and while we certainly need more bodies as the season unfolds, this may give us a faster start than teams who will be getting used to having new faces around and still building little partnerships all over the pitch.

I also rate KM extremely highly as do we all and I think his tactical nous translates into a big advantage at any level, not just league 1.

I fancy us to take a win from this and I'm really happy that we have Sunderland away first up because its essentially a 'free roll'. If we lose, nobody will lose too much heart.

[Shed on tour]

Gone for a narrow 2-1 defeat in the prediction league. Opening day fixtures are always difficult to predict as you always get a few surprising results. Will be delighted if we bring something back from the Stadium Of Light.

[Bluemike]

Sunderland have sold 37,104 season tickets for the opening game of 2023-24 campaign - with five days to go until their first match against Ipswich Town at the Stadium of Light on August 6.

Season tickets went back on a month ago, following the club’s early bird offer, with 37,692 seats made available for the Ipswich Town game in total.

As of 10am on Tuesday, August 1, the club had sold 37,104 for the Ipswich Town game as they prepare for a second consecutive year in the Championship. That means that 96.37 per cent of tickets made available have in the home end have been sold.

With corporate tickets and away supporter numbers not included in the 37,104 figure, the Stadium of Light is likely set to welcome over 40,000 fans to Wearside over the weekend.

[hallamblue]

sh*t ground , no fans ……

[Bluemike]

Sold our allocation I see, although half of them ain't actually going lol

[Dubai Blue]

Any way to watch this game from afar. Understand the new TV service won't be starting until the first home game right?

[hallamblue]

Someone on twtd has posted Walton is out injured for several games. Know nothing more than that. Could be a complete load of cobblers of course .

[shabba]

Its on sky, if you dont have sky then I'm not sure if another service has it on, might require some googling. (depends which country/sports offerings etc you have).

Worst case buy a Now TV pass for £10 to watch it, if that works in your region/or use a UK VPN?

Regarding seating, odd its 'sold out' - the ground holds 48k yet only 40k ish available/in use?

RE Walton, that is a shame but I'm ok with Hladkey, more worried about Broadhead and Lungo.

[Bluemike]

I'd be surprised if planter Fasciitis keeps him out for long, I've had that and yes it's painful but I carried on my job and everyday life perfectly fine, in actual fact when you are up and about on it it's not a major issue, when I first got out of bed and stood on it for a while it was uncomfortable, so man up Walton you tart and get your arse up to Sunderland!!!

[marko69]

Think its graded, Mike. Acute PF is a killer.

[Bluemike]

The other day his was a mild issue

[marko69]

Back in the 90s, training for a half marathon. I was all for having my foot amputated from the ankle. Bit extreme but…… that was some sore stuff right there.

Hallam…….. you’re a physio are you not? Would “mild PF” keep him out?

[hallamblue]

PF meaning plantar fasciitis?

I’d say not if it was mild… but some PF’s can be so painful the person can barely walk. I doubt it’d be a huge issue for a GK.

It’s interesting that there’s Achilles and PF problems in the camp though. Could be down to the hard ground and they return to full on running in ore season etc . Probably a common niggling injury players might get. But lower limb biomechanics can also be a cause of these injuries- that needs to be identified and attended to because the injury is a symptom of the underlying biomechanics issue.

Both are an over use / repetitive overloading injury, which means structures (tendon) tensile strength weakens, and you get pain from weakness. Both respond to eccentric loading ( lots of it). Adjuncts to rehab can include a certain type of ultrasound and corticosteroid injection, although I doubt they’d do this as it has been shown to catastrophically weaken tendon and cause ruptures.

If patients were walking through my clinic door with these problems it would be analgesia and strengthening, and often me referring them on gif a foot biomechanical assessment for orthotics.

Re rehab time: The longer the problem has gone on, the longer it takes to recover.

[hallamblue]

https://www.twtd.co.uk/ipswich-town-new ... ton-injury

[Bluemike]

So in other words and as I said, get your arse to Sunderland Walton.

[hallamblue]

Here’s another thought. Is he injured…. Or being sold?

[Bluemike]

Says on TWTD that Luton were told he's not for sale.

[number 9]

Hladky did get a lot of playing time in preseason…

[Bluemike]

Sunderland humped 5-2 at Hartlepool tonight

[hallamblue]

Iol…. And as we know pre season friendlies mean nothing ( pity really), I was hoping for some good news lol

[Dazzz67]

Can see this being a tough game for both sides, a draw is the most likely result.

2 - 2.

[number 9]

Does anyone know when the match pass on TownTV will be available for the Sunderland match?