Went to bed around 10pm and i've pinged awake now, i'm the driver, aaaaaaaaaaaaaaargh! No chance i'm nodding off here, far too excited, what can i do? Hot chocolate?
good luck lads, my last chance to say it, i'll be hammered tomorrow for our home game against newcastle, so i'll wake up hungover to watch the game! if it's anything like our play off game for the chance to win promotion to the top flight for the first time in our history, with 89k there... walking down wembley way.. seeing the phenomenal stadium on the horizon, the arch.... walking along with thousands and thousands of fans... it can't be beaten, it's excitement it's anxiety it's breathtaking, it's enjoyment.. it's incredible, walking from the concourse into the stands.. it literally breath taking enjoy the day to the max, i really really really hope you win! come on sunderland! just enjoy the day, i'm jealous! enjoy the day
Just joined sky bet and put on £20 for a man city win (just to cover all areas) and with the free £20 matched bet, I have put AJ to score and Sunderland to win 1-0. Odds of 200-1. Haaaaawwwwaaaayyyyyy..
Hi Black Cats! Just wanted to pop over and wish you the very best of luck tomorrow. As much as the odds may seem stacked against you, look at what Wigan achieved last season! Just believe, even if it only for one day, have a great time and I truly hoe to see Sunderland lift the Cup before we kick off at Villa Park tomorrow In case you are wondering why I am so pro Sunderland.................I was at the 85 Final, and the semi a few years later, and never have I met a better bunch of fans - you deserve something for all your efforts over the years
Have a great time friend, I'm beginning to regret (just a little) that I'm not down there with you however I keep getting texts off my ex-neighbour thanking me for giving him my ticket and it lessens the pain. I shall possibly go into the Standing Order to watch the match or perhaps stay local and go in The Merlin.....or if I'mnot too chipper it will be the lounge...
Cheers fella. Much apreciated. We won't be drawing comfort or inspiration from Wigan fella. Nether the player or the fans. We've got our own tales of battling through adversity etched into our history in the 73 FA Cup final, As for City, They've failed to take any points from us away from the Etihad in the last 5 games and we've managed to take an impressive 17 points off city in the last 9 games. We've dumped out Soton, Chelsea and Man U over two legs. The players only need to look to themselves and our club for inspiration. That's the best boost we could ever receive. So ****ing excited!
Mike Doyle City fans will pay tribute to Mike Doyle in Sunday’s Capital One Cup Final. Doyle, the last City captain to lift the League Cup and one of the Club's most decorated players, passed away in June 2011. He wore the No.4 shirt for the Blues during his 16 years with the Club and as a tribute, City fans plan to sing his name and applaud during the fourth minute of the match against Sunderland. In 2011, Blues fans made a similar tribute for Doyle's former teammate Neil Young, who died during the run to the FA Cup final that year. Following a Twitter campaign started by Mossley-based City fan Daniel Timperley, the idea was backed by the fellow supporters (including the 1894 Group) and former players. Daniel, originally from Audenshaw, said: "I was thinking back to the 2011 FA Cup final, and the spirit of Neil Young. "When we got to this final, the first image that came into my head was the iconic picture of Mike wearing the League Cup on his head in 1976. "So I thought that if 2011 was about the spirit of Neil Young, why shouldn't this one be about the spirit of Mike Doyle?" An image of Doyle will appear on the Wembley video screens at the appropriate moment during the game. An absolute legend to us
Hard bugger, Mick Doyle. In a team of pretty things he was underestimated (I think). Did he ever get a cap? x
TEAM NEWS Sergio Aguero is fit to return to Manchester City's matchday squad for Sunday's League Cup final after a five-match absence with a hamstring problem. Stevan Jovetic will miss out with a hamstring injury, while Matija Nastasic is also unavailable. Sunderland's only significant absentee will be midfielder Liam Bridcutt, who is cup-tied having played for Brighton in the competition earlier this season. Goalkeeper Keiren Westwood remains sidelined by a shoulder injury. MATCH PREVIEW If you are not a Manchester City or Sunderland supporter then you'd probably better stop reading, because what I'm about to say might upset some of you. The main reason I'm looking forward to the first big final of the season is because of the fans that will be there. If ever two sets of supporters deserved the chance to try to outsing one another at Wembley it's these two. I know what some will be thinking: "City's ground is a library", "they're at Wembley every year", "gloryseekers" etc - but I'm talking about the seasoned Manchester City followers who endured underachievement bordering on comedy for years and years before the stargazing boom times they're enjoying now. It might be City's sixth visit to HQ in a little under three years, but that debt owed from the dark times is a long way from being paid yet. Of course they'll start as huge favourites, but those long accrued memories AND what happened against Wigan in last year's FA Cup final will guard against overconfidence in most. There's also the fact that Sunderland know how to beat City. The Black Cats have won the last two meetings, three of the last five, and four of the last seven. Yes, all those wins were at the Stadium of Light (and all 1-0 with City wasting numerous chances) but they'll certainly play a part in fuelling Gus Poyet's players' belief that they can win. They should have won at the Etihad two seasons ago too - throwing away a 3-1 lead late on. Still, that game was the only one that City dropped points at home in during their title-winning season. It's Sunderland's first visit to the 'new' Wembley, and their first at all since the dramatic 1998 play-off final defeat by Charlton - which brings me to the hordes of fans who'll be following them down from Wearside again this time. The night before that momentous match in 1998, the centre of London was practically taken over by partying Sunderland supporters. In Trafalgar Square I remember explaining to an American tourist what it was all about and why they were all there. "They must have played a hell of a game today," was the response. "Game's tomorrow," I replied to laughter and bemusement. Sixteen years on they deserve another party - win or lose MATCH FACTS Head-to-head Manchester City were beaten 1-0 at the Stadium of Light earlier in the season, with Sunderland's Phil Bardsley scoring the only goal. Sunderland have not beaten Manchester City outside of the north-east in nine attempts since a 1-0 away victory in January 1998. Manchester City have not beaten Sunderland outside of Manchester in six attempts since a 3-0 away victory in August 2008. Their most recent cup meeting came in the now-defunct Full Members Cup in November 1985. City won the northern semi-final tie 4-3 on penalties after a goalless draw at Maine Road in front of only 6,642 fans. The only previous League Cup tie between these clubs came in the third round in 1979-80. Sunderland progressed in a replay, beating City 1-0 at Maine Road. Manchester City Manchester City have won all five of their League Cup matches this season, scoring 19 goals and conceding only once. Should City win the final and keep a clean sheet, they would be the first team to lift the trophy by only conceding once throughout the tournament. They have twice won the League Cup, beating West Bromwich Albion in 1970 and Newcastle United in 1976. They were losing finalists against Wolves in 1974. City have failed to score in three of their last five games, having scored 21 times in their previous five fixtures. Edin Dzeko has scored in all four rounds that City have played in this season's League Cup. Dzeko and strike partner Alvaro Negredo are the joint leading scorers in the competition with six goals each. Sunderland Sunderland's only previous League Cup final appearance came in 1985, when they were beaten 1-0 by Norwich City. Guy Poyet's side have won four of their last six matches in all competitions, and seven of their last 11. They have twice come from behind to win in League Cup ties this season. Ten different players have scored for the Black Cats during their run to the final. Sunderland have been shown 19 yellow cards in the competition, 11 more than any other team.
Off to wembley Win or lose,will be a special day Be in THe Globe opposite Baker st tube for 11 hopefully
