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The lively debate among Sunderland AFC fans about who should make the cut for the club's all-time greatest Premier League XI has been as fervent as ever. Supporters shared their picks, showing both a blend of nostalgia and contemporary choices that reflect the rich history and the evolving squad dynamics of the club.
One fan, Nick, advocates for a 4-4-2 formation featuring some of the club's most iconic players blended with recent stars. His dream team includes Sorensen in goal, a backline of Nosworthy, Kaboul, Kone, and Van Aanholt, with midfielders Larsson, Cattermole, Sessegnon, and Arca, and the striking partnership of Jones and club legend Phillips. Nick’s strategy leans heavily towards creating a chaotic attacking scenario, relying on relentless crosses and the prolific scoring capabilities of Kevin Phillips.
John’s line-up strikes a balance with a classic 4-4-2 setup, embracing both past and recent talents. He positions Sorensen between the sticks, protected by Kay, Alderete, Mukiele, and Alonso. His midfield consists of Sadiki, Diarra, Xhaka, and Schwarz, with the irreplaceable duo Quinn and Phillips upfront. John's team presents a mix of resilience and creativity, capturing the essence of Sunderland’s “2025 vintage.”
Paul proposed a 4-3-3 system to showcase Sunderland’s versatility through different Premier League campaigns. He selects Mignolet as goalkeeper, backs him with Bardsley, Ballard, Mukiele, and Gray, places Henderson, Xhaka, and Reyna in the midfield, and sets up an offensive trio of Jones, Quinn, and Phillips. This arrangement emphasizes a strategy that harnesses playmaking ability and dynamic forward movements.
Reece chooses a 4-2-3-1 format highlighting Pickford's goalkeeping skills, a defence composed of Hume, Kaboul, Ballard, and Alonso, with Cattermole and Xhaka as holding midfielders. Larsson, Khazri, and Defoe take on the advanced midfield roles, showcasing a blend of tactical intelligence and scoring threat.
Across the board, Sunderland fans not only focus on player selection but also on managerial strategies that could best leverage the strengths of their chosen XIs. With preferences for managers ranging from the defensive astuteness of Sam Allardyce to the more fluid and attacking approaches of other contenders, it's evident that Black Cats supporters value a blend of tactical nous and club identity.
We encourage you to weigh in with your personal picks for Sunderland's all-time best Premier League XI. Whether you lean towards the historical heavyweights of the club or believe in the talents of recent stars, your contributions add to the rich tapestry of supporter culture at Sunderland AFC.
To get involved, simply comment below your ideal team setup and managerial pick, and let's keep the debate alive! Who knows, your selection might just be the next fan favourite!
Remember, it’s all about the glory of the game and the pride of wearing the red and white. Until then, keep singing for the lads, and watch out Newcastle - our dream team can surely tackle anything you throw at them!
To Play!
Goal Gurus. How To Play each week.
First you need to create an account. Click Here.
2025-26:
Predict scores for your team 2025-26 season.
Join our league, forecast games (P)
Nail exact scores (CS=3pts),
or get results right (CR=1pt).
Your total points (Pts)
and prediction ratio (%) break ties like goal difference.
1. Players can join the Goal Gurus game at any point during the season
2. Obviously, the sooner a player starts the earlier the more chances they have of accumulating points (and having a higher prediction ratio) therefore the incentive is to join the game sooner rather than later.
3. It’s three points for a correct score line.
4. And 1 point for predicting the correct result.
5. And each game player predicts on counts as a game played.
6. Players are separated who are level on points by the 'Prediction Ratio %'. The 'Prediction Ratio %' is an algorithm that weights the prediction in terms of how close the prediction was percentage wise to the actual result. For example, if a person predict exactly right the score line that would be a 100% prediction ratio.
7. The winner of the league will be the person who is top at the end of the season. Yes, there will be Prizes.
Meet our AI bot BALL-E!
