Match Day Thread Sunderland AFC v Chelsea FC – Sunday 24th May 2026 - KO 16:00

[Hannah1989]

After the L1 final I was crying, the first time I saw Sunderland win at Wembley, in person. What an incredible day out that was. The whole day was right, never once did I feel that we wer going to lose

After the Championship PO final I was in tears. the memories of L1 were now a distant memory, one that I hope WE NEVER REPEAT.

Sunday, that hit differently. for once everything went out way and we won too. Everything was on point. everything was pefect. the Final whistle was just a release of everything we had to suffer and endure during L1, every team we played against creating a rivalry with us
players doing the shearer when they scored
losing on your "big day out" ( our history is bigger than all of the clubs combined)
losing at wembley twice
Phil Parkinson
Lee Johnson
losing 4-0. 5-1 and 6-0 all within a 6 month period
Appointing Alex Neil, him being seen at Durham train station before announcing him
Him going to Stoke on the verge of our home game as they were more AMBITOUS ( yes spelling is wrong but I dont care)
MICHAEL BEALE
rolling out the red carpet for them in the FA CUp
MICHAEL BEALE
losing the last 5 games of the seaon before the POs
going 1 down early on in the PO final...


and now?

WE ARE IN THE FCKEN EUROPEA LEAGUE!

 

[Hannah1989]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/live/cvgzz84ex32t Granit winning the best signing poll

 

[vic9]

I didn’t pick a MOTM on Sunday, too emotional and too many to choose from …

… so I watch the match back, had a good think and avoided my usual biases.

It’s Trai Hume!

He’s a career full back from the lower leagues and has been asked to play a role, in the PL that few players ever do well. He’s playing against international/world class players and never fails to put in a shift, win or lose. Now he’s creating chances and scoring goals. wow!

Not only that he’s reigned in his crunching tackles so he’s more effective but less likely to be booked …

… I’m seriously considering whether his presence is what’s making Geertruida wonder if he’ll be first choice.

Time will tell.

Good shout marra, to be brutally honest I’ve still got my doubts about Trai playing in a more forward position but he was class on Sunday,Le Fee and Mukiele were outstanding but for me MOTM was Xhaka, i know it sounds a easy option to pick,but he bossed the midfield not just physically but verbally and mentally, it seemed the Chelsea team and referee were wary of his presence, but that’s a small part of one of the best days I’ve had supporting my team for over 60 years…. I’ll be feeling smug all summer now(pardon the pun)

 

[rowley]

I didn’t pick a MOTM on Sunday, too emotional and too many to choose from …

… so I watch the match back, had a good think and avoided my usual biases.

It’s Trai Hume!

He’s a career full back from the lower leagues and has been asked to play a role, in the PL that few players ever do well. He’s playing against international/world class players and never fails to put in a shift, win or lose. Now he’s creating chances and scoring goals. wow!

Not only that he’s reigned in his crunching tackles so he’s more effective but less likely to be booked …

… I’m seriously considering whether his presence is what’s making Geertruida wonder if he’ll be first choice.

Time will tell.

Trai is like Luke. Multiple times more valuable than the sum of his parts. Managers always happy to pick them. I'd agree with Trai being MOM in Sunday. They were both fantastic and along with all of the lads, embodied exactly what Chelsea now lack.

 

[Montysoptician]

Thought there was no drinking allowed in view of a football pitch. Sheesh one rule for some.......

That did make me giggle when it happened like

I'm more concerned that he was drinking on the night before a big game Becs....very unprofessional

 

[123Daveyboy]

Nepotism exists in all walks of life and all trades,its the way of the world and im not sure how you counter it!In shearers case he is a pundit and probably the best English striker of the past 50 years so putting my bias away i can see why his opinion is sought out for TV work.

Have you forgoten Kane.

 

[Rhinos Legend]

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[Smug in Boots]

From my seat in the SWC, I noticed towards the end of the game, Gerty went to collect the ball for the corner and he was pumped up and patting the badge. That didn't look like someone who knew he was playing his last 2 minutes for the club and wanted to leave.

Good spot and, yes, I thought he looked transfixed at the end of the game …

… having him and Hume, in interchangeable roles would be incredible.

 

[Geecee]

After the L1 final I was crying, the first time I saw Sunderland win at Wembley, in person. What an incredible day out that was. The whole day was right, never once did I feel that we wer going to lose

After the Championship PO final I was in tears. the memories of L1 were now a distant memory, one that I hope WE NEVER REPEAT.

Sunday, that hit differently. for once everything went out way and we won too. Everything was on point. everything was pefect. the Final whistle was just a release of everything we had to suffer and endure during L1, every team we played against creating a rivalry with us
players doing the shearer when they scored
losing on your "big day out" ( our history is bigger than all of the clubs combined)
losing at wembley twice
Phil Parkinson
Lee Johnson
losing 4-0. 5-1 and 6-0 all within a 6 month period
Appointing Alex Neil, him being seen at Durham train station before announcing him
Him going to Stoke on the verge of our home game as they were more AMBITOUS ( yes spelling is wrong but I dont care)
MICHAEL BEALE
rolling out the red carpet for them in the FA CUp
MICHAEL BEALE
losing the last 5 games of the seaon before the POs
going 1 down early on in the PO final...


and now?

WE ARE IN THE FCKEN EUROPEA LEAGUE!

Great summary . Some dark days there, but we are thankfully over them for now.

One person in the list above I would give a bit of credit to , who doesn't normally get any, would be Lee Johnson. Only for the fact that he got us to win at Wembley for the first time in ages. Got rid of the weight around out necks, which I'm sure players must have felt.
It's been a breeze there since

 

[RTB]

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[Hannah1989]

from https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/cx2136mx2m2o

7th: Sunderland​

Prediction: 19th

More humble pie here. What a magnificent achievement to go from relegation tips - including my own - to qualifying for Europe.

Sunderland defied all the odds and predictions with an outstanding season back in the Premier League under the calm, understated but very shrewd guidance of Regis le Bris. He should be in any manager-of-the-season conversation.

It is reward too for Sunderland's owners for a bold transfer strategy last summer, designed to stay in the Premier League.

Huge credit to all involved. Europe here they come.

What I said in August: "Integrating so many new signings may actually prove a problem."

 

[Essayyeffcee]

I didn’t pick a MOTM on Sunday, too emotional and too many to choose from …

… so I watch the match back, had a good think and avoided my usual biases.

It’s Trai Hume!

He’s a career full back from the lower leagues and has been asked to play a role, in the PL that few players ever do well. He’s playing against international/world class players and never fails to put in a shift, win or lose. Now he’s creating chances and scoring goals. wow!

Not only that he’s reigned in his crunching tackles so he’s more effective but less likely to be booked …

… I’m seriously considering whether his presence is what’s making Geertruida wonder if he’ll be first choice.

Time will tell.

It's a good shout but you know I still can't pick a MOTM - they all played brilliantly, maybe Angulo was a slight weak link but even he was trying to be positive and cause problems. I thought they came into the game more in midfield when Enzo moved to the left so that shows how much energy he used to nullify them, then there was Sadiki and Xhaka was unbelievable. Gerty, Hume, Reinildo all had their opposite numbers ticket, Nordi set the standard in defence and Luke followed his example. There was a time in the second half when Nordi bollocked Luke for giving them a chance so high was his standards. And Brobbey? He said what he does best - bully defenders! With Enzo behind him, were starting to see more of his all round game. There was a couple of times when ELF got into the ball, Brobbey got onto his bike and started to stretch Chelsea's defence. We played some great football on Sunday, the shackles from the start of the season were off and we should the premier league just what we can do as a team.

What was also good, when Chelsea scored, there was no moaning or mutterings from fans - just a roar to show the players we backed them

With Europe next season, surely we keep the squad in tact for another year and then add quality to it. If we can get Enzo to come in the championship, Xhaka, Nordi, Reinildo and others after we got promoted, who can we tempt this summer?

It's only been a couple of days but I'm missing the football already!

 

[RTB]

I didn’t pick a MOTM on Sunday, too emotional and too many to choose from …

… so I watch the match back, had a good think and avoided my usual biases.

It’s Trai Hume!

He’s a career full back from the lower leagues and has been asked to play a role, in the PL that few players ever do well. He’s playing against international/world class players and never fails to put in a shift, win or lose. Now he’s creating chances and scoring goals. wow!

Not only that he’s reigned in his crunching tackles so he’s more effective but less likely to be booked …

… I’m seriously considering whether his presence is what’s making Geertruida wonder if he’ll be first choice.

Time will tell.

Yeah great choice

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[Brainy Dose]

It's a good shout but you know I still can't pick a MOTM - they all played brilliantly, maybe Angulo was a slight weak link but even he was trying to be positive and cause problems. I thought they came into the game more in midfield when Enzo moved to the left so that does how much energy he used to nullify them, then there was Sadiki and Xhaka was unbelievable. Gerty, Hume, Reinildo all had their opposite numbers ticket, Nordi set the standard in defence and Luke followed his example. There was a time in the second half when Nordi bollocked Luke for giving them a chance so high was his standards. And Brobbey? He said what he does best - bully defenders! With Enzo behind him, were starting to see more of his all round game. There was a couple of times when ELF got into the ball, Brobbey got onto his bike and started to stretch Chelsea's defence. We played some great football on Sunday, the shackles from the start of the season were off and we should the premier league just what we can do as a team. With Europe next season, surely we keep the squad in tact for another year and then add quality to it. If we can get Enzo to come in the championship, Xhaka, Nordi, Reinildo and others after we got promoted, who can we tempt this summer?

It's only been a couple of days but I'm missing the football already!

Great post mate.

 

[Essayyeffcee]

Great post mate.

Cheers. Had a walk this morning to try and get 3 days drinking out of my system! Might've worked!

 

[RTB]

Matterface hasn't got a clue, at least Alex Crook & Scott Minto said a few good words...

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[Essayyeffcee]

Matterface hasn't got a clue, at least Scott Minto said a few good words...

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That's the video I nearly threw a bottle at the TV yesterday. Absolute knacker Matterface. I'm sure the one with the beard said we'll struggle next season so the "big clubs" Leeds and the mags can get into Europe

 

[RTB]

Fair play to the Chelsea fans

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[Montysoptician]

My turn to show my appreciation, @RTB . Thanks for all of your brilliant match‑day threads. I have a little superstition about them: I always like them but never comment on them until after the game. Stupid, I know, but it has worked this season. I’m looking forward to all of them next season, especially the extra Europa League ones. When you do the first one, we’ll know we’ve made it.

These are my thoughts on the past nine years as a Sunderland supporter.

I hated every minute we were in League One. My anxiety levels were completely through the roof because I felt we had to win games to get out of that ****hole and put the embarrassment of being there behind us.

I loved the Championship, mainly because we weren’t in League One, but also because I felt we could compete with anyone and had every chance of promotion, either automatic or through the play‑offs.

I have absolutely loved every minute of the Premier League. I was initially concerned about how we would perform until we started signing players, then I thought we had a fighting chance. After the first few minutes of the opening game against West Ham — how our new players gelled and the high‑tempo football we were trying to play — it became obvious to me that we would do more than just scrape through. By the end of the summer window, our squad looked more than capable, and I personally felt that we could compete with any team in the league. We might not always get the wins, but we would give them a game. Even when we went behind in games, I wasn’t that bothered because I knew we would score at least one.

Until this season, I had no real interest in the Premier League since we last graced it. I knew the teams and the players that were highlighted weekly on Match of the Day, and I looked forward to seeing them live and in the flesh. I have been disappointed with every one of them. We did a job on every “big player” I can think of, and in my opinion we made them look ordinary.

I have supported Sunderland since 1960 and have had a season card since I retired in 2013, and I can honestly say that Sunday’s win — and the rewards that came with it — made for the best feeling I have ever experienced supporting them. To be there with my wife, her family, and my mate from school days was an incredible, and I must say very emotional, experience.

 

[Geecee]

Matterface hasn't got a clue, at least Alex Crook & Scott Minto said a few good words...

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What a f**kwit Matterface sounded there.

He's just inadvertently made an argument for putting xG to bed. Have never thought it had any place in football conversations,

Did once work with someone who used to go to school with Matterface and didn't have many good words to say about him so this isn't surprising.

Fair play to Minto though for talking sense.