they absolutely have to be the favourites. And Sheff Utd are probably the only side truly ready. Which is always going to be the case considering parachute payments. If we had our form and style of play from earlier in the season I do also genuinely think we’d be “ready”, but I don’t any more. any of the four teams can win though and we definitely have the ability to turn it on suddenly. We have to hope and trust and back the lads.
I didn't want Coventry is the semis but it might be a blessing, I do believe we would have to beat them either now or the final. If we beat them over 2 legs I think our confidence will be sky high for the final. You never know it could even be Bristol City we face
Nothing to worry about Coventry, as I said the other day when talking to a fan they are not happy with lampard and says they're not playing that well. I think we'll get past them easy, I also think bristol city will do sheff utd. So it's a lads v Bc final. Bring it on
Sky praying for a Coventry V Sheff United final. Don't think I could take a Lampard ****athon if they go up and we don't. Also the thought of the Wrexham ****athon next season if we don't go up also fills me with "Meh".
Yes the fairytale that's Coventry. A team of players brought to the club by a manager they couldn't be bothered to play for ... ... and scraped the playoffs despite losing more games than Preston and conceding more goals than anyone in the top ten. Unlike Sunderland who came from L1, appointed a manager new to England and played a bunch off teenagers from the academy
Knowing our Wembley opponents will give us a boost before our home leg I reckon. If it's Bristol City beating Coventry would make it a great night in my opinion. And I believe we'd go to the final thinking we could win ... ... which, of course, would mean some people would say 'typical Sunderland, we'll lose because we think we'll win'. It's staggering how so many non-religious people can believe in jinxes, bogey teams, vibes and lucky ends at Wembley
My biggest hope is that Le Bris has played the long game in terms of protecting the players. He spoke after the Leeds game about the players being fatigued and I think most would agree that was the time when our performance levels noticibly dropped - we stopped pressing teams, became very passive and defensive and slowed our build-up play. I think that was a deliberate change in approach by Le Bris to prevent burn-out and avoid injuries as much as possible while still playing our best available 11 and staying competitive to cement the play-offs. Of course it's been difficult to watch at times and the last five have been awful but I genuinely believe that the change over the last 2 to 3 months has been about trying to find a way to confirm our play-off spot while protecting the players, then using the last five games to re-energise them and to get them as fit and strong as possible for Friday so that they can approach the game with the same energy and intensity that they had in the first half of the season. Fingers crossed it pays off and I'm convinced we'll see a completely different performance on Friday to what we've seen over the last couple of months.
Look at Inter milan at barca and Man U at Atletico we can do it, and i say the lads were saving themselves for the play offs i do believe it will be 2 cup tie type games and we will get at them in the 2nd leg 1-1 away and 2-1 at home, trust B city to slip up though.
Jealous mate. Me and some family in Sunderland share STs. I get most away tickets via them. My cousin is desperate to go and missed our last Play Off run so he is taking it. He is a good luck charm as well at aways.
My nephew is an SC holder and goes to a lot of aways, I saw him at Oxford last week just a few seats away from me. Luckily for us he's on holiday this week so he offered them to us. I'm sure there will be a few spares knocking around.
After yesterday’s depression I have injected myself with some more of that deluded optimism and I’ve decided that it’ll be the most Sunderland thing ever to break these records when it matters most in the playoffs! on a real note, watching AltEndings video really opened my eyes to the HUGE drop off in our quality of performances and style of play. I will wait for the outcome of the playoffs to judge fully. But… I still have some belief that maybe this has all been a mindset thing and the lads will show much more urgency and quality in their play in the actual playoff games. It’s the manner of how we go about them for me. if we go in with fight, determination and we see the urgency and intensity we had earlier on in the season whether we lose or win I’ll be happy. however if we go into these games and see the same brutal to watch performances then I think it’ll be time for serious decisions. but I have faith (or deluded optimism) that the lads can pull this round and that RLB can get us that fire and intensity back when it matters most. It’s the hope that kills you…
Who knows what will happen. I just hope the lads give it their best which I'm sure they will. That's all I ask. I really do fancy us to get to the final. Will need strong referees for these games hopefully experienced and understands what's at stake, not one who wants to make the game about him. Draw away win at home. Hold ya nerves lads play ya football and we will be victorious. Haway the lads & keep the faith lads and lasses. Oh and having just read the above stats records are there to be broken. Bring it on.
This will determine whether or not I want RLB to stay, which I can’t believe I’m saying after how we started the season. I predicted a 4th place finish and we’ve finished 4th but for some reason I feel disappointed. If we go out and leave everything out there then we’ll go through because we’re a better team than Coventry imo. Yes, they’re a bogey team but we’ve got enough quality to beat them. But if he goes with the same Xl as Saturday and we go out with a whimper that’ll be it for me.
This for me. If the lads give everything and go balls out and lose then so be it. All I have ever asked of the players is to give everything for the shirt. If giving everything isn't enough then so be it.
Absolutely correct. It's all we can ask for. A bit of luck hear bad luck there it can turn a game. Give it everything and see what happens.
If they walk off the pitch Friday and Tuesday having given everything then what more can we do but back them. They aren't perfect, they have flaws but if they didn't they wouldn't be here. I still believe they will turn up Friday and it might not be pretty but they will be flying into tackles and the pace will be picked up. The season starts now
