Can Sunderland make a statement of intent against Plymouth?

01/24/2025 01:00 AM

The visit of the struggling Pilgrims feels like an ideal chance for the Lads to turn in a dominant performance and victory, but what do our writers think?

Anthony Gair says...

It's the old adage of 'doing a Sunderland', isn't it?

We could go out and wallop Man City 5-0 then go to Yeovil Town and lose 3-0.

I know I'm exaggerating, but I'd love to not have that sort of pessimism entering my brain when this sort of question is asked!

We've been wonderful to watch for about sixty minutes of every game, but we always hold that slow start to a half, which could cost us one day. Thankfully, we're astute defensively which should stop that sort of fear, but we do invite teams on until we adapt to their style of play after about fifteen minutes.

Hopefully we just go out there and do a number on them, but Plymouth will be out to prove everyone that the Burnley game was just a blip in form, and they'll be back with intent.

Jon Guy says...

The two games against Derby and Plymouth had to be seen as must-wins and if we're to look to the top two, anything but three points is a huge blow.

They have a new manager and he's bringing in a new style, so it's difficult for our scouting team to have a detailed idea of their identity at present, but maybe that's still a work in progress.

You'd hope we'll play two up front, but they're likely to play deep so we'll need to look to unlock the defence rather than rely on our speed on the counter.

There has to be a growing belief and confidence as we clearly deserve to be where we are in the table.

I hope we come out of the traps from kick off and put them under pressure. An early goal would force them to be more positive, and we can exploit the gaps.

I'd hope for a good performance and a comfortable win.

John Wilson says...

It certainly could be a time for a 'statement' performance and result but I'm starting to give up predicting when Sunderland will come out all guns blazing.

Don't get me wrong: I'm thoroughly enjoying this season and I'm long enough in the tooth to know that exciting seasons like this don't come along very often.

It raises people's spirits and subconsciously has us all walking around with a spring in our steps.

I look forward to every game, mostly knowing I'm going to be entertained, but one of the slight negatives in these hopeful times is why we don't start games on fire and come out fighting, hoping to blow the opposition away in the first twenty minutes.

I said before the Derby match that I thought the attitude of the team would be spot on.

We'd been cruelly denied a win away at Burnley and I guessed that the squad would be chomping at the bit to turn a lowly Derby team over, but yet again, predicting the psychology of footballers is a mug's game and we slowly relinquished control of the game to Derby.

Let's not forget that goal difference could still play a huge part in this season's final placings and whilst we continue to win by the odd goal, other teams are putting two, three or more past the opposition.

We have the worst goal difference of the top four teams so we need to start being more ruthless and killing teams off.

Viewing the Plymouth game, once again my 'glass half full' side comes out.

We made hard work of it at Derby but we did win, so maybe as confidence starts to flow through the Lads again, a return to home soil, Enzo Le Fée's home debut, seeing everyone else putting goals away and with Leeds vs Burnley on the horizon, this would be a good weekend to get revenge against the bottom team...or will it be another banana skin?

Supporting Sunderland for decades plays tricks with your mind!

Mark Roberts says...

Ask yourself: 'What's the important factor — is it the three points or the entertainment?'

As always in a dilemma, I like to take some advice from one of our best chants.

'We're on our way, we're on our way, to the Premier, all the way'.

'How do we get there? I don't know. How do we get there? I don't care'.

'All I know is Sunderland's on their way'.

Saying that, smashing Plymouth would be massively beneficial to our goal difference, as we're behind Sheffield United by four and Burnley by nine, and a pretty much unassailable sixteen behind Leeds United.

It may go down to goal difference but equally important would be a goal for Wilson Isidor after a pretty torrid week.

Finally, I'd love one of our gladiators to shout up, 'Are you not entertained?' after we better Burnley's score from midweek.

Tom Albrighton says...

'Brutality' is the first word that springs to my mind.

Saturday's game comes with the same pressure riding on the undercurrent of recent weeks as the finish line starts to appear in sight.

With no disrespect to Plymouth, they're incredibly poor at the moment and I can't help but think that whilst their new gaffer might be great at giving a speech, he looks less capable of setting up a team.

Of course, in true Sunderland fashion, Plymouth will come here on the back of a hiding which more often than not sees teams set up ultra defensively to save any further blushes, and with this being Sunderland, it's not hard to envisage where this one might go.

That's why I want to see some absolute brutality on show.

Too many times this season, we haven't showed the ruthlessness and killer instinct we should've done, but this weekend seems the perfect opportunity to offer no respect to an opponent down on their luck. We have to start fast, put to bed any notion that Plymouth may shore up a leaky back line, and really punish any mistakes they may make.

Saturday doesn't feel like a season-defining game but after two tough away games (for different reasons), it does feel like a great chance to set the tone for the coming weeks.

Whilst three points take precedence above all else, I'd love to see us show Plymouth as little respect as possible and really flex our muscles when putting them to the sword.