What makes Sunderland different ...

No problem with that ...

... although I expect you'll be delighted to be proved wrong.

 

EEEXXXTTAATTTICCC!

 

A lot of us know that if our squad of players apply themselves properly, we will have enough to beat any one of the other three.

However, we also know that a lot of this squad has a history of freezing when on the verge of reaching our targets. The two Wembley finals against Pompey and Charlton and on numerous occasions when we've had the chance to go into the top 2 places, we've come up short. The last time being less than 2 months ago.

I'm confident of beating Lincoln over 2 legs, but at Wembley I hope that the players turn up and finish the job.

If they don't, we have the saving grace that KLD is unlikely to be leaving anything to chance again.

 

Great thread Smug.

We're in the semi-final of a Cup, who goes into a semi-final thinking already that they'll lose? Up to LJ to psyche the players up and it's brilliant there'll be 10,000 back at home to roar the players on for the second leg.

As you know I live in Italy, and my daft 21-year-old son has got all his mates round for the game on Wednesday (although I have to work in another part of the house with students during the first half, more's the pity). Students have been told that son has been instructed to shout loudly when we score!

Ha'waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay!

 

Sounds great Dave and better that you will be watching the second half rather than having to leave the match halfway through.

People say Sunderland have a fragile mentality but Lincoln are worse imo. They blew the Cup semi-final against us, were clear at the top in February and fell apart then, in March, lost at home to Rochdale, Fleetwood & Gillingham. In their three games, this month, they've managed a goalless home point against Wimbledon and conceded 3 goals in each of the other two games.

They were 3-0 up at Peterborough, with less than half an hour to go, and totally went to pieces.

I honestly don't understand how some believe we have no chance of beating them.

As you say, Ha'waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay!

 

You’re back I see

 

Unfortunately it seems we are our own biggest obstacle in all of this.

There's clearly a team in there that can piss promotion through the playoffs, at an absolute canter.

But we have to contend with our own dire form to contend with.

I'm not particularly confident, but given we wasted much of the season I won't see it as an opportunity dropped.

Looking forward to a first full season with the new boys in control, regardless of what league we are in.

 

And you

 

They also conceded 3 second half goals against Charlton a couple of weeks ago, and 3 first half goals against us earlier in the season. Put the pressure on them and they crack.

 

Lincoln have lost 4 more games than us, scored less and conceded more, they've lost two of the last five games to our one ....

... yet they're put forward as a team we have no chance of beating by some people.

The bookies think we're favourites to go up as it happens

 

The bookies had us favourites against Wigan

 

That's irrelevant to the Lincoln game, I'd expect Chelsea were favourites yesterday.

Besides, the reference to the bookies is just a footnote, not my main argument.

 

Oh righto!

 

I wondered when you'd show up

Hope you're well mate, looks like you have the Geordie there for another season.

 

Aye, looks that way. No better or worse than Benitez tbh. Both quite drab in my eyes. We look half decent with a full side, but struggle badly when the big guns aren’t playing.
Another year of relegation fear likely.
Makes a change from us winning everything I suppose. 49 years of regular attendance and I’ve seen us win......
Would be nice, but that’s not what it’s all about.

You back in England?

 

We set off next week, on our way to the estate in the Cotswolds to meet the staff, stay the night then off to Mansfield to see the play off game with my son.

After that it's a week seeing family and starting work in the first week of June ...

... pop in any time mate.