... and end up back on the verge of the play-offs. To be honest, if we can't beat a poor Stoke side then fair enough. But I think we will and there'll be forty thousand there who'll believe we can. Do we then look forward to the Norwich game knowing a win would put us right back up there ... ... a fanatical sell out away support will believe we should. Is this all false belief or should we think, 'If Luton supporters believe they can do it why shouldn't Sunderland.' After all, they have to come to Sunderland and they won't fancy that. I believe that'll be the game when, as we leave the SOL, we'll start thinking about Wembley and showing the country what a NE team can really do.
This league is mental, just about any team can beat anyone so there will be a few twists and turns to come.
The teams directly above us, 5th and 6th, play each other tomorrow ... ... someone's dropping points. Hopefully a bloodbath on and off the pitch with injuries, red cards and a fleet of ambulances.
I just hope this game against Stoke is all about 3 points and trying to get back into the play-offs and not just about beating Alex Neil....but lets be honest, it would be great to give them/him a right royal stuffing.
This. Reminds me a bit of when Darren Bent came back, hopefully more focus on getting the 3 points than making it all about Neil, let's not take our eye off the ball.
The last time I watched us play Stoke at home, and enjoyed the game, Stanley Matthews was playing for them Drab has been an understatement for them for years, and I'm expecting the same this time round.
From what I've read, Stoke are playing better away, so uncomfortable is the atmosphere at home. But all games are winnable, and this is another. I'd have taken a decent middle eight finish at the start and still would. But the top six is not out of the question at all.
I've seen enough of Luton, Millwall, Blackburn to know that if they believe they're in with a shout there's no reason for us to give up.
I’d settle for a 1:0 to get back on track/to winning ways. But in a way that sees us play smarter with the players we have. Whether that is 4:3:3 or 4:2:4 is for Tony to get right.
From how Neil set our teams up, I'm expecting Stoke to press and get on our lads from the kick off and make it hard for them. He'll try and frustrate both the team and hoping the crowd gets frustrated as well. We need to be patient and back the lads in everything they do and hopefully our front 4 do the business. A quick goal would upset Neil's plans I reckon
Certainly not. Blackburn are ****e. They have two good forwards and that's it. They were awful up here, and they were third then. The top two are the best sides, with huge amounts of money in their teams. There is money elsewhere too in a few others, but I've seen nowt special in them.
Needs a big performance after 3 disappointing results. Hopefully the Alex Neil thing is just a side show and he gets the grief he deserves after we've spanked them 3 or 4 nil I can see it being a minging ****house game with them playing for set pieces and crowding the box at corners. Needs a big performance from Patto, Ballard and Batth. I'd be bringing O'Nien into midfield for this game too
We're currently a few points short of the safety line and this game is the perfect opportunity to get within 1 or 2 points of that. Then the lads can relax and express themselves on the pitch in a way we know they can. Hopefully, that will enable us to finish in the top six, but unlike other years, I'm really not that bothered if we go up or not. I'm enjoying the ride. Smug is right in saying that Millwall and Blackburn, in particular, are no great shakes. So, if we can put a nice little run together, beating Norwich and Luton in the process, then we will give ourselves a great chance of reaching Wembley and showing the unwashed how to win there.
Regardless of the result I think we'll fall short. That's not to say it's a bad thing mind considering it's our first year in the league. I think we might have to break the model a little to get promoted mind. This team is crying out for one or two grizzled old heads at this stage of the season. The aim surely is to get into the PL with most of a team already in place who can compete. Not this needing to buy fifteen players approach we've seen other teams adopt.
The ref will be the first problem, any team can make the play offs no team outstanding Burnley apart.
Would be a great result. Unfortunately I will miss this one. Away for the weekend. Hoping I get to watch the game on my phone at least.
Stoke play tonight - let's hope Brighton toy with them and take them deep into Extra Time We will doubtless benefit from 7 days between games for the first time in a couple of months
