Match Day Thread Sunderland AFC v Sheffield United – Championship Play-off Final - Saturday 24th May 2025 - KO 15:00

If we’d finished the season as we started it we’d all be very confident …

… now we have most of our best players again there's no reason we can’t win.

 

Brilliant.
Brings back memories of that first game at Cardiff, driving down on the Friday wondering how we were going to react after the disappointing end to last season and a brand new manager in place. If someone had told me that we would be in the play off final at Wembley cone May I would have snapped their hand off.
Come what may on Saturday I am really proud of the team and club to get us where we are.

 

Match day programmes are available to be sent to your door rather than get one at the ground

https://www.ignitionsportsmedia.com...zg644cpWkN6sRt-Fww_aem_LAS3AojE1d0pldnV9Hb-tw

 

"The Wearsiders are no strangers to the play-offs, with this campaign the fifth time in the last seven seasons that they have reached May's knockout stage. The previous occasion was arguably one of the greatest-ever play-off finals, in May 2019, after an epic 4-4 draw with Charlton Athletic."

I mean do your looking up

 

Could be wrong and not trying to speak for others, but I would say that the following is the 11 a lot of us were desperate to see since January
Patto
Hume Ballard Meptham Cirkin
Neil Jobe
Roberts Le Fee Mundle
Isidor

Unbelievably, this is the first time we can actually line up like that. Obviously a few names not included there that have been brilliant (Onien, Mayenda) that will likely and deservedly start, but its mad how in game 49, we finally have the option to play our "strongest 11"

 

Love it

 

Mental that ELF and Mundle first time sharing a pitch was extra time on Tuesday

 

Yeah really unfortunate, but if there was a game for them to start together......

Still think there is a direct correlation with our attacking play declining since Mundle got injured effectively from November.

 

I feared Coventry more.

I think we will win a tight game, and I’m hoping ELF is running the show in the middle of the park.

Really hope Mundle starts, even if he can only do 1 hour. One or Two goals up when he has to go off, then we hang on.

2-1 HAWAY.

Bart

 

Agree. Think it was encapsulated on Tuesday as well as you could see the difference before and after Mundle came on

 

Ive a funny feeling it will end a draw in 90 mins, given our previous 2-1's either way.

Ive also got a feeling we will see redemption for Roberts and/or Isidor saturday. Since Burnley, Isidor has found it hard, hes still been a threat but I think the real kicker other than Mayenda showing himself to be fantastic, is our poor form in the last 10 games of the normal season. He couldn't get a sniff and hes the type who has to play on the shoulder.

Roberts has obviously been lucky to keep his place this end of the season, Poveda really has been a dud. But he has the beating of Sheff United's defence for me, he owes them a goal.

Id line up with Mayenda ahead of Isidor, simply because we want to be able to take hold of the ball in the final third, I also like the thought of him with Le Fee in behind him.

If Hamer plays wider, we could really dominate the midfield with a three of Neil, Jobe and Enzo. Mundle is obviously key, I think if hes ready to go, they will get a shock playing him given they haven't this season, which will give Roberts more free reign too. He and Le Fee could really set up a nice little partnership.

I think we will win in extra time, 2-1. I really hope it's normal time though.

 

Thanks for one last brilliant effort RTB. I doubt there are any better anywhere in forum world.

I feel really confident. I think we have players who have match winning performances in them, and I think we have a team ethic second to none. We have a unity with squad and fans. Whether it is our core of local lads donning the red and white, or lads that have bought into everything we are about. There is a real sense of togetherness about this group that can carry us a very long way.

I am going to say how I would go about it, for fun. I think Regis will have a different view and I trust his call. I think Sheff Utd are what some would call a flat track bully. I think they are good when they are all facing forward and can be on the front foot. Turn them round and they can look disjointed. Much of their strength lies in wide areas imo. Their full backs are key with talented midfielders to overlap. I would there seek to push them backwards from the off. If you can scare their full backs their midfield will also have to turn back. So I go for pace to be the key to hurting them. My team would be

Patto, Hume, Ballard, ONien, Cirkin
Neil, Jobe
Watson, Le Fee, Mundle
Mayenda

I will probably be the only one giving Watson a shout. For me his pace and directness would really complement Mundle. A threat down both sides would be huge imo.

I reckon we do it 3-1. 2 for Mayenda, one for Jobe.

 

1 day down three more to go until we go up to the big smoke !

 

Hence the logic of fielding weakened teams over the last 5 games or so. Even though the results didn't go how we liked to me it was all worth it to go into this game with the option of picking our strongest 11 especially when we couldn't finish any higher or lower than 4th. Well done RLB!

 

442 not again for me. Le fee inside Mayenda and Mundle wide get the pace at them

 

Saturday I would go with:

Patto
Hume Ballard O'Nien Cirkin
Neil Le Fee Jobe Mundle
Isidor Mayenda

Take the game to them...high press.

If we tire got a great bench for options....Rigg, Roberts, Mepham, Brown to name a few.

Hume to get the winner in Extra time....HTL!!!!

 

There's not much smoke these days.
If you drive an older diesel there is a ULEZ charge of £12.50 per day if you enter inside the M25 and a 20mph speed limit on most roads

 

After about 6 to 8 weeks of glorious weather down here, the current forecast for Saturday is cloudly with possible showers

 

Great match day thread as usual @RTB!
Absolutely cannot wait for this - a cracking weekend! Just to set the scene - just read this poem on Facebook from a woman called Judith Welsh:


RÉGIS’ MASTER PLAN

Sometimes you throw a battle on the way to win a war
You focus on the end game and the goal you’re fighting for

Our trojan horse depicted this in true deceitful style
He changed the team, then threw some games, delivered with sheer wile

Those Sky Blues were outmuscled, on the pitch and in the stands
Because they underestimated Régis’ cunning plans

He clearly had a strategy on how to win the race
He never overplayed his hand or lost his poker face

He loaded up his quiver and he knew just when to draw
Mayenda finished off the job begun by Isidor

Defending resolutely, our boys kept us in the fight
To shore us up for victory at The Stadium of Light

It could be said, perhaps, a little too close ‘Til the End’
When Big Dan brought the house down with that acrobatic bend

Now, as for all those doubters with their negativity
You don’t deserve to breathe the same air as Monsieur le Bris

You critics be constructive, naysayers hold your tongue
Our boys are battle-ready and they’re valiant, but they’re young

Let’s build them up, don’t tear them down as they go on their way
The Mags have got that covered, you don’t need to have your say

Fairweather fans and glory boys, remember on the day
Our boys deserve the type of fans who’ll back them come what may

Let’s all stalwart supporters get behind our bright young team
And follow them to Wembley as we follow our shared dream

So wear that shirt with pride lads, face The Blades with great aplomb
Don’t throw away your shot, it’s but a fantasy for some

As long as you give everything, that’s all we’re asking for
We promise to be loud and proud, and bring the Roker Roar

Then, at the final battle cry, it’s time to raise the bar
Together ‘Til the End’, Ha’way the Lads, Allez les Gars!!