If he went to Sunderland then the chances of them coming straight back up are massively improved. But the question is; what about the season following. I hope that they do get him and come back up: the North East needs to have two, or more, teams in the Premiership and neither of them scrabbling for survival. Yes, I do wish the Mackems well for next season. This is because I am more than five years old.
I don't think there is anyone here who really wants them to not do well and bounce back up. We can have a bit of fun while it lasts tho! They would expect nothing less either.
I am not so sure, I have the impression that far too many people want Sunderland to be playing Darlington in a ground share scheme in Bishop Auckland in a few years. I would simply like the centre of football not to be London or the North West but up here. The only team that I would like to vanish from the Premiership is Manchester United and only because of the unhealthy love in, commercial and otherwise, that the media and the FA have with them.
I don't think it makes you childish to want Sunderland to suffer years of misery - that's a pretty childish outlook to be honest. Everyone is different and sees rivalry different - that is the nature of it. It tends not to be rational or consistent. I know some 60 odd year olds who just want to see them ground into the dirt. Lovely blokes, but the mere mention of Sunderland or sight of red and white stripes makes them change into something else. I suppose that is the beauty of it, it stirs something inside. Wouldn't make it worthwhile if it didn't. I want them to suffer and do as badly as possible. But I'd like them in our division for the derby matches. So ideally them in 17th in the PL every season is perfect. With us challenging for the title