Match Day Thread Sunderland AFC v Millwall FC – Saturday 29th March 2025 - KO 15:00

[Nads]

Thought it was good to see Roberts and Mepo being back to good form too. Both were really good.

Roberts was excellent, and we are a better side when he plays, there’s no question.

I’d love to see Mayenda given a game as a 10, been on my mind for a while that die to those lovely little inside through balls he puts in.

Yesterday was absolutely fine and a win that starts that ‘get some momentum’ movement which was all I wanted before kick off.

Also, Millwall are always a tough, competitive side to beat.

It’s always a good solid result to take 4 points from them.

 

[Robertson]

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https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/sport/25048465.regis-le-bris-sunderlands-trai-hume-alan-browne/

REGIS Le Bris revealed that Trai Hume was only fit enough to take part in a small section of one Sunderland training session this week, before playing a starring role in Saturday's win over Millwall.…

“It was a great goal and he was consistent again," said boss Le Bris.

"He always plays at a very impressive level. He can pick up different positions, he is very important to us. And if he scores, it's even better.

“He didn't train a lot this week, only part of the session yesterday. He's a warrior.

"He's a very strong character. He always wants to play. These kinds of players are very important because they are always consistent and good from a football perspective.

"But his mindset is very strong and he shows the importance of consistency. Even with the pain and a small injury, he can play and he's well connected with the team."

With Hume moving over to left-back, Alan Browne dropped back from midfield to right-back and was rock solid, despite the fact he was playing out of position, contributing to what was only Sunderland's second clean sheet in 11 games.

Le Bris said: "I'm really pleased. For fans and journalists, the question was massive before the game, who will play right and left-back.

"We found a solution with Browney and Trai off the left. Browney is versatile, experienced and well connected with the team. He always wants to give his best. He played well today against a specific winger."

Sunderland now have a full week on the training pitch before Saturday's game against West Brom, where Le Bris expects to welcome Hjelde and Enzo Le Fee back into his squad.

 

[Nads]

I massively undershot my jacket wear. Left around 89 mins, was frozen through. Power walked into a warm boozer.

It was ****ing Baltic. Fortunately I’d been out with dog pre match down coast and could see it was gonna be that way and went for layers.

Still couldn’t feel my fingers after like.

 

[Smug in Boots]

Yeah i know im just saying it wasn't a make shift defence though at all. Browne done a pretty decent job at RB and Hume is equally as good on the Left as he is the right. We're blessed to have him.

I agree mate, he's my player of the season and man of the match yesterday ...

... our recruitment takes endless criticism but he's another we took another massive chance on.

We have to be honest and accept that he could've failed to make it, become homesick, been badly injured or whatever.

It's easy to bleat on about how Sunderland have brought in certain players like that but the value of the squad, and the overall quality, can't be argued with imo.

 

[Nads]

I agree mate, he's my player of the season and man of the match yesterday ...

... our recruitment takes endless criticism but he's another we took another massive chance on.

We have to be honest and accept that he could've failed to make it, become homesick, been badly injured or whatever.

It's easy to bleat on about how Sunderland have brought in certain players like that but the value of the squad, and the overall quality, can't be argued with imo.

Says everything about Trai that whenever he has a bad game, it’s flagged.

They are rare, and he always contributes both ends and runs his bollocks off.

He is one of the best signings we have made, often overlooked how once he went in the team he never ever looked like dropping out. Does the same for NI as well always there for them too.

220k we paid weren’t it? And rejected £7.5mill from Galatasaray when they wanted to replace Sacha Boey who went to Bayern.

Top lad, top signing, smashing player. Huuuuuuume!

 

[Smug in Boots]

Says everything about Trai that whenever he has a bad game, it’s flagged.

They are rare, and he always contributes both ends and runs his bollocks off.

He is one of the best signings we have made, often overlooked how once he went in the team he never ever looked like dropping out. Does the same for NI as well always there for them too.

Top lad, top signing, smashing player. Huuuuuuume!

Huuuuume was declared 'shyte' earlier this season and there were many demands to 'upgrade' on him. You may be able to buy a £5m player who's quicker/better/defensively minded/whatever but you just can't buy his attitude and influence on the rest of the team. I'd guess that he's not shy of speaking his mind in the dressing room ... you can buy talent but not always character.

 

[Nads]

Huuuuume was declared 'shyte' earlier this season and there were many demands to 'upgrade' on him. You may be able to buy a £5m player who's quicker/better/defensively minded/whatever but you just can't buy his attitude and influence on the rest of the team. I'd guess that he's not shy of speaking his mind in the dressing room ... you can buy talent but not always character.

Bloke is absolutely full of character, on and off the park.

There would be times in the PL when he’s on toast for sure, but you know what Smug mate, him and every other RB in the league, the wingers on the PL are obscene.

Over a season in the PL he would be just as valuable as any RB in the league; he would step up.

He got savaged after Gordon terrorised him, but much as we hate to say it about a Mag that lad has terrorised RB throughout the PL when on his game, including Portugal international Dalot, Dutch international Timber and England international TAA.

Hume for me can do the full journey with us and be our PL RB for sure. He will adapt and adjust like he has throughout our recovery and rise.

 

[Smug in Boots]

It seems RLB has his favorites and seemingly nothing will deter him, if he gets us what we want all well and good whether we agree or not.
He will live or die by his choice.

Exactly, he won't risk his neck on the various whims and preferences of supporters.

We all have our favourites and don't always agree on what the team should be, how we should set up, when we should make subs, etc.

If we don't get our way it doesn't mean the club are doing the wrong thing or that it's a slap in the face.

As long as RLB's favouritism is based on how the players are in training, how their attitude is and how they fit the tactics there's no problem for me.

 

[WorkyTicketFTM]

Alex Neil made loads of Subs. That worked out well for him.

Cos Millwall are ****e! Sure there was something put on the screen against Leeds going into the last 15 mins saying they’ve scored more late goals than anyone last 15 and we’ve dropped more points in last 15 than anyone else and I’d wager we’ve not made 3+ subs in most of them. Millwall away being one of them. One sub made when we have a 1 goal lead away from home, ridiculous. You’d think we have the Sunderland Paraplegics on the bench, not professional footballers. If a 19 year old £3m international footballer can’t be “trusted” to see out the last 15 minutes of a championship game then god knows why we’ve bought him.

It’s one of these where if we win, it’s fine. If we concede, it’s 2 points dropped and we move on... But the longer term affects of flogging young lads for 90 minutes 40+ games a season will start to show going into the play offs if we aren’t careful imo. It’s not even really a dig at the manager he’s doing a brilliant job but just frigging throw a few subs on to waste some time and manage the game out.

Doubt that’ll be the same now with Coventry scoring 3 or 4 injury time winners last month mind

 

[Nads]

Just on Aleksic.

I am one of those who feels he should have minutes, however let’s also remember he’s a teenager. Who didn’t speak a word of English, in his first season here.

I expect he will be a major player next season, seldom do we see a young foreign lad playing a lot season one.

The Serb caps already say it all, he’s a talent and we will get that benefit down the road.

 

[WorkyTicketFTM]

Huuuuume was declared 'shyte' earlier this season and there were many demands to 'upgrade' on him. You may be able to buy a £5m player who's quicker/better/defensively minded/whatever but you just can't buy his attitude and influence on the rest of the team. I'd guess that he's not shy of speaking his mind in the dressing room ... you can buy talent but not always character.

Quality player, what a find by the scouting dept too. £150k I think he was. Worth £10m minimum now he’s got everything to go far in the game and captain material imo. Great defensively, starting to look better going forward. Attitude is top drawer like you said, real old school no nonsense player and he took that chance very well yesterday.

 

[Nads]

Quality player, what a find by the scouting dept too. £150k I think he was. Worth £10m minimum now he’s got everything to go far in the game and captain material imo. Great defensively, starting to look better going forward. Attitude is top drawer like you said, real old school no nonsense player and he took that chance very well yesterday.

He has captained us and NI several times, he absolutely has that.

He’d be a shoe in for me if Dan went.

 

[LFT]

Bloke is absolutely full of character, on and off the park.

There would be times in the PL when he’s on toast for sure, but you know what Smug mate, him and every other RB in the league, the wingers on the PL are obscene.

Over a season in the PL he would be just as valuable as any RB in the league; he would step up.

He got savaged after Gordon terrorised him, but much as we hate to say it about a Mag that lad has terrorised RB throughout the PL when on his game, including Portugal international Dalot, Dutch international Timber and England international TAA.

Hume for me can do the full journey with us and be our PL RB for sure. He will adapt and adjust like he has throughout our recovery and rise.

Good post, add to this he’s now adding what seems like a goal involvement every other week and it feels like he’s another that will attract attention if we don’t go up this year. New contract and promise of the captaincy if Dan leaves. Give him a go on pens n arl.

 

[Smug in Boots]

Cos Millwall are ****e! Sure there was something put on the screen against Leeds going into the last 15 mins saying they’ve scored more late goals than anyone last 15 and we’ve dropped more points in last 15 than anyone else and I’d wager we’ve not made 3+ subs in most of them. Millwall away being one of them. One sub made when we have a 1 goal lead away from home, ridiculous. You’d think we have the Sunderland Paraplegics on the bench, not professional footballers. If a 19 year old £3m international footballer can’t be “trusted” to see out the last 15 minutes of a championship game then god knows why we’ve bought him.

It’s one of these where if we win, it’s fine. If we concede, it’s 2 points dropped and we move on... But the longer term affects of flogging young lads for 90 minutes 40+ games a season will start to show going into the play offs if we aren’t careful imo. It’s not even really a dig at the manager he’s doing a brilliant job but just frigging throw a few subs on to waste some time and manage the game out.

Doubt that’ll be the same now with Coventry scoring 3 or 4 injury time winners last month mind

They made 5 subs yesterday and lost two points, in the 96th minute, that may cost them promotion ...

They made a sub at 1-0 up, after an hour, and conceded an equaliser 5 minutes later.

Swansea were beating us 2-1, made subs, and were losing 3-2 ten minutes later.

Means nothing in the long run.

As for Millwall being shyte, they've just won at Watford and beaten Stoke which we failed to manage. beaten at both grounds.

 

[Nads]

Good post, add to this he’s now adding what seems like a goal involvement every other week and it feels like he’s another that will attract attention if we don’t go up this year. New contract and promise of the captaincy if Dan leaves. Give him a go on pens n arl.

Aye I’d fancy him on pens loves a dig and hits them clean.

Probably leaning towards Mundle for them shame he didn’t get yesterdays.

 

[LD19SAFC]

We are all just discussing the use of subs. That's it really. If we just trust the manager 100% and don't discuss our thoughts, the the forum is pointless.

Just seen that Mepo block at the end there. Great block. I just left a minute before that, poor jacket choice for the weather!

Aye, it was absolutely freezing T-shirt and thin overshirt for me, big mistake

 

[MadMackem77]

There are a lot of people on here who champion player development at all times who are now not too fussed that we have a 3m player who doesn't get a minute every week.

It is really strange. It's not setting him up at all either. When the time comes, and he might have to start games, surely some sub appearances would be beneficial?

We know RLB hates subs. We literally have made the least , compared to every single club in the league. There is a connection to why we had so many injuries IMO.

Definitely nice to get back to winning ways, had a great day around the pubs of sunderland yday.

Please, for the love of God, sort this penalty situation out!

He is developing, by learning the language culture and playstyle, he then has pre season to get used to playing whilst also still playing for his country by the way

It’s not the first time we’ve done this and won’t be the last.

 

[WorkyTicketFTM]

Aye, it was absolutely freezing T-shirt and thin overshirt for me, big mistake

Done the exact same. Sat in the town before the match and it started drizzling, debated sacking it off and just getting pissed in the boozer

 

[marcusblackcat]

I love the positive vibes mate. Its nearly April now though, do or die next month. Can we really feel confident? I dont.

I do. And if we don’t go up I’m not bothered. We’ve far exceeded my expectations this season.

 

[LD19SAFC]

Just noticed Jobe got booked. What was that for? I must’ve been at the pisser