I'm really sad after that one. Not giving up on automatics but need one of those 'really good runs' now, like the Mowbray one that got us into the playoffs. Not out of the question, but need to find something that clicks and go with it. Looks like it is not Samed AM. The problem is no more points to drop while players learn the positions and Regis learns how they look there. Need to figure out who to drop to get Watson in. May be Le Fey inside with Rigg being the closer sub (which he did great in his first season). Tricky one for Le Bris (oh and btw - anyone saying regis needs to go is crackers. Really.)
Ahhh that Lauder lad used to work at SAFC with Chris Waters and was let go. then joined S037, club binned them off, no wonder he hates the club. Wish he’d piss off to Rangers full time
If RLB was perfect he wouldn't be at a Championship club, just like all of our players. I have some concerns, a lot of them to do with substitutions and game management which I think a lot of people share, however the positives massively outweigh the negatives. The player development has been insane, I know i'm someone who thinks Jobe was actually pretty good last season but even then the difference between last season and this season is night and day. I'm convinced we win the playoffs.
Yeah, they are mate. Can't say I've been impressed by Hjelde and Poveda simply hasn't been fit. Huggins though, in his brief appearances, has shown that he is every bit as good as Cirkin, but has been really unlucky with 2 unconnected long-term injuries. Best of luck in the Premier next season. I for one, haven't given up on us joining you there. You smashing Sheff Utd next week would be a big help.
Interested in hearing all sorts of opinions but wanting RLB out (and being serious about it) is one of the most ridiculous opinions I have ever read. Do people not remember Jan-May 2024? We've lost 5 league games and none of those by more than one goal. We're double digits ahead of 5th place in February, we finished 16th last season and were projecting towards a relegation battle if the season hadnt ended. Is he perfect? Of course not, its his 3rd season as a senior manager and first in England in any role. Unless we somehow dont make the play offs then he deserves next season no matter what happens. People will highlight his subs when it goes wrong (fair enough) but there's no where near as much mention when the team see's games out well. Patto - Hume - Meptham - Onien* - Cirkin - Neil* - Jobe* - Roberts* - Rigg* - Mundle* - Isidor is his most used 11 imo. Only two additions from last seasons horror show. Think of the improvement in the players I've starred compared to last season. Would Farke/Wilder/Parker being doing as good of a job with these lads? Maybe, but I'm not convinced.
In there’s been a few of these and it’s pissing me off to be honest. Here’s another crap take although that Tony Gardner seems to know what he’s talking about and he’s probably very handsome as well. please log in to view this image
I was saying this yesterday and saw it on twitter as well but assuming we win on Saturday and Leeds win next Monday then we are only 5 points out of 2nd. Its a gutting loss and makes it much harder but its hardly like there's nothing to play for now. Burnley are still far too prone to draws so I wouldn't consider them an insurmountable challenge to that position either.
I’m not saying this happened but the day those photos were leaked for the cup derby was the day SO37 were putting flags up as well. I’m putting 2 and 2 together and this is exactly why they were binned off.
Last night we were beaten by a better side than ourselves. Their points tally and league position prove that. We have 13 games left, all against sides that we are better than. Our points tally and league position prove that. We need 30 points to average 2 points per game at season end. Total 92. We have 7 home games. Only one of those teams (Blackburn) are in the top half of the table. For the others, you have to go down the table as low as 13th to find QPR, then Millwall (14th), Preston (15th), Swansea (17th), Cardiff (20th) and Hull (21st). For me, that is 21 points with a full side back. Our away games are trickier, but 3 wins (or 2 wins and 3 draws) from Sheff Wed, West Brom, Norwich, Coventry, Oxford and Bristol City are also achievable. Of course, this is assuming an average of 2 points per game will be enough. Leeds and Sheffield Utd are currently averaging around 2.1. If, as I expect, Leeds beat Sheff Utd next week and Burnley do the same in April, then Sheff Utd would need to average more than 2 points a game from their other 11 games to reach 92 points. Of our next 4 games, 3 of them are at home (Hull, Cardiff, Preston) along with a trip to Sheffield Wednesday. To me, we can win all four. We've beaten 3 of them and drawn with the other already this season. That would put us on 74 points from 37 games - average of 2 points a game. This is far from over. We just need to believe in ourselves and take the game to our opponents.
That’s all logical, possible and realistic. Our squad is now in the best shape we've had all season so there’s no reason we can’t improve … … Coventry have shown that a winning run can come from nowhere while Boro have proved the reverse. Optimists can also be realists and there’s nothing delusional in your post. I believe we can make second place because it’s possible, costs nowt and makes the games more interesting … so why not.
Leeds should win the division. Their goal difference shows the gap in quality above the rest of the top 4, even if their points tally isn’t quite as definitive. We ‘feel’ like a playoff team. We can match anyone on our day, but the youth just doesn’t have the ruthless cutting edge to sneak into the top two. That said, this has still been the most enjoyable season as a Sunderland supporter in years. The team is a joy to watch. You really feel they are with the fans, and you know they can do something special.
Over 1200 posts and 25.000 views on this thread alone....is there another forum with this sort of input anywhere else in English football....Sunderland fans eh.
Exactly mate. If those 7 home games were one off games throughout the season, would we expect to win them. The answer is 'Yes'.
Some people seem convinced this season is our one and only chance to progress and, if we don’t go up, the squad will disintegrate, the league become tougher and we’ll be stuck here … … to me this just feels like the start of something big, the changes in the club are incredible.
