Baggies Prepare For First Premier League Match Under Irvine vs. Sunderland - gbasalmon's Blog

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Baggies Prepare For First Premier League Match Under Irvine vs. Sunderland

Posted on December 24, 2014 at 01:39 PM.

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Alan Irvine has some decisions to make in formulating his starting XI for the season's first match versus Sunderland. His squad put up a 1-2-0 record in three friendlies, falling in defeat to both Lazio and Eintracht Frankfurt but ending the friendly slate with a 4-1 smashing of Genoa. Let's break it down by position.

GOALKEEPER - Ben Foster

Foster is the undisputed first choice keeper, seeing action in the first two friendlies. Although backup Boaz Myhill was in goal for the Baggies' win against Genoa, Foster will be between the posts versus Sunderland.

CENTERBACKS - Jonas Olsson & Joleon Lescott

Olsson will be one of the starting centerbacks by virtue of his captaincy, but word is that Irvine may have a short leash with him because of his ill-advised challenges that resulted in him being booked twice in the preseason - a yellow against Genoa and a red against Lazio after only 20 minutes of play. Lescott will probably grab the other spot due to his strong effort against Genoa. Craig Dawson started the other two friendlies, but his performance was middling at best and he himself was booked against Frankfurt.

FULLBACKS - Sebastien Pocognoli & Andre Wisdom

Pocognoli wasn't exactly setting the world on fire during the preseason, but Irvine will probably want to show off his new signing from Hannover 96. Wisdom, a Liverpool loanee, was impressive in the preseason, showing good passing skills and linking up nicely with Saido Berahino on multiple occasions.

DEFENSIVE MIDFIELDERS - Craig Gardner & Claudio Yacob

Craig Gardner was impressive in his first action with the Baggies and his performance should earn his a match against his former club, Sunderland. He scored a goal only 6 minutes into the match with Genoa and was impressive throughout. Yacob is the main beneficiary of first choice Youssouf Malumbu's sprained ankle that he suffered at Frankfurt. Malumbu's ankle is showing improvement and he will be on the bench for this match, but Irvine will probably start with the healthy Yacob.

WINGERS - Chris Brunt & Saido Berahino

Chris Brunt might have taken a seat in favor of the impressive Silvestre Varela, but Irvine will likely opt for experience over Varela's youth. Varela was impressive as a 65th minute substitute versus Genoa, netting two goals in less than a half hour of playing time. Brunt may need to perform impeccably to stave off Varela. Berahino has no such concerns, showing great pace and a nose for the goal in the preseason. He would have scored a beautiful goal against Genoa were it not for Brown Ideye's offside position.

CENTER ATTACKING MIDFIELDER - Graham Dorrens

Before the match against Genoa, it would have been Stephane Sessegnon in this spot but Dorrens played flawlessly in the Baggies' win, notching three assists.

STRIKER - Victor Anichebe

While Brown Ideye showed flashes of brilliance in the preseason, Anichebe was the only striker to actually net a goal. This alone should give him the nod over Ideye and the unimpressive newcomer Georgios Samaras, who only saw 20 minutes of mop-up duty against Frankfurt.