Match Day Thread Sunderland v Middlesbrough 13:30 21st Aug 13:30

Still as stupid as ever, saying any ryply is a bit. You're not very intelligent are you?

Go on, get those fingers in your ears as per.

please log in to view this image

"No! I won! You bit! LALALALALALALALALA!"

 

Wee?

 

I'm guessing Papy. Don't know why people don't just call him that. Easiest way to remember his name, and it is his name.

 

Ah right, lol. Jimmy Bodgie.
I thought Marcus had been on the shrooms for a minute.

 

Everyone looks like they're on shrooms when trying to do Papy's surname.

 

I call him Jimmy Bodgie because that's how the commentators pronounce it, lol.

 

Jill-a-budgie is how it should be said. I'm not learning his second name though. I can't remember the spelling of basic words Papy will do me.

 

Aye, Papy's good enough - it'll dee.

 

I started with Bod. But now its Bodji. In honour of the dog eaters goal against City.

 

Keeps me right anyway. Enjoying the variation from people who have a bash at his second name though.

 

Read my signature - Meant to say "said on this and other!" but this way is better!! (typed that on a phone!)

 

Marcus, Easiest Match thread ever for tomorrow. Everyone's injured. Seriously bad.

This is everybody who's available for tomorrow and quite possibly the weekend.

please log in to view this image

 

The phone excuse.

Thats mine.

 

Cheers fella - I'll sort it out tonight when I get in - bit busy at work today so won't have chance until around 6 ish

 

That squad is scary isn't it?

 

"Expecting a relegation battle" is not relegating us and is certainly not defeatism. It's called setting expectations.

If he said "We'll be comfortable around 12th this season" everyone would've said he's a lunatic who has no idea. What should he have said when asked "Should the fans expect a relegation battle"? Personally I prefer honesty. If he said "comfortable mid table" and we are bottom at Christmas then the comments are all brought up in the media (for reference see "Jack Colback" and "Sunderland getting relegated means we won't have to play them for a while" comment).

What would you prefer he'd answered with - what is "Churchillian defiance" in your book? I prefer honesty

 

Doesn;t bear thinking about mate! Comes to something when you can;t put a side together of fit senior players!

 

In August!

 

He could have said, "yes, we're in for a season of struggle but we'll be working our hardest to make sure that we're in with a chance of staying in the division. We'll be looking to get the most out of the squad and to build on last season. There are no guarantees but our aim is to have the best season possible but reality is that it won't be an easy ride"

Instead he said, "well, they've been in a relagation scrap for the last four years. Why should that change?"

Does that inspire confidence in you? Would that inspire confidence in the players do you think? To me, that sounds like a man who's getting his excuses in early. When faced with adversity, as SAFC certainly are, you have to puff out your chest and battle for everything. Moyes isn't doing that with those comments. But you stick with your 'truth', go ahead.

 

So he should have buttered up the same answer with more hypothetical scenarios instead of being straight down the line? SOrry but I prefer the straight to the point version. Sets expectations of the fans and players and gives the players a kick that they will need. Villa's players have struggled to get new clubs - how many of them are in the Premier? Do you think our players will manage better if we go down? if what Moyes says doesn't spur them on to say "right, we need to make sure this struggle ends in our favour" then nothing will