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

That save in the first couple of minutes down to his left was outstanding. At Wembley,up there with Monty imo,both of which kept us in the match.

 

Yeah me too mate. Interesting to see the posts about extra sessions.

I posted on here a few weeks back I’d seen him before one of the home games and he was looking lean as ****. Will always be a big lad but I’d seen him maybe 4 weeks prior and his conditions was noticeably better.

He has always been a great shot stopper, his handling and mobility is what will benefit from losing some clem and keeping one of our own in goal in all for.

That said, I’d still like us to look at Hermansen

(they can battle for the shirt)

 

Monty is a great comparison, but it’s more Gordon Banks isn’t it?

We comparing it to the supposed ‘2 best saves in history’ here. Says it all.

I didn’t realise live how ridiculous a save it was, ball was past him he said ‘**** that’.

Phenomenal save.

 

Simple, it's because they believe having their opinions seen is more important than watching a game they're actually at.

 

I really don't believe it's had the media praise it should've tbh.

 

Actually mental how good it was, a few folk at work came straight up to me today to comment on his save

They did then annoy me by saying we were lucky to win!!!!

 

Said banks straight away.....peles not as good as Kieffer Moore in the air so it's technically better

 

Luke O'Nien on Sunderland love, Wembley joy & pain and Premier League



https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/s...derland-love-wembley-joy-pain-premier-league/

By Scott Wilson

IT’S funny how things sometimes sink in. Deep in the bowels of Wembley Stadium, soaked to the skin by a combination of sweat and champagne, and with his arm still in a sling after dislocating his shoulder in the first two minutes of a play-off final he will never forget, Luke O’Nien was asked if he had thought about life in the Premier League.

Which strikers was he most looking forward to playing against? Which grounds was he desperate to grace? What would life in the top-flight feel like? “I haven’t really thought about all of that yet,” he said. “Oh wait, I’m going to be in Fantasy Footy! I won’t be picking myself, that’s for sure.”

That’s O’Nien to a tee. Funny, grounded, self-effacing. But there’s also another O’Nien that was evident at Wembley. Passionate, inspiring, the ultimate team player. Let’s be honest, two minutes into the biggest game of his career, and it would have been easy for the 30-year-old to have wallowed in a pit of despair. He had touched the ball once when he collided with Kieffer Moore and Dennis Cirkin in his own penalty area, crumpling to the floor in agony as his shoulder bone was jolted out of its socket. O’Nien being O’Nien, he was desperate to continue. But while the stretcher that came onto the field amid an eerie Wembley silence was not needed, it quickly became apparent that the centre-half’s race had been run. Wincing in pain as he walked around the touchline, he was taken straight to the dressing room, where he was strapped up and plied with morphine.

He could have remained in the tunnel area, tortured by his thoughts. It was recommended that he remained comfortable, so he could have taken himself upstairs to the stands. Instead, he dashed back to the dugouts, perching himself on the bench. When Eliezer Mayenda scored Sunderland’s second-half equaliser, he was the first player tearing down the touchline, arm hanging limply by his side. When Tommy Watson curled home his winner, he freely admits he went berserk.

“The end was special,” said O’Nien. “Although, sadly, I covered more distance celebrating Eli’s goal than in my appearance on the pitch!



“I was morphined up to the highest, and I'm still not sure if that moment happened. I'm lost for words. My wife came into the dressing room. I was in agony and couldn't really see or walk straight, but I was desperate to get back out there, be a fan, be there for the boys and do everything I could to help. From the minute I've joined, I've given everything to this club. I’ll give my arms, my knees, my head, we’ll do it. It's what the North-East is all about, and it’s what the fans would do in our shoes. I wouldn't swap my shoulder coming out for the world.”

O’Nien has spent the vast majority of his career overcoming adversity, so he was especially delighted that it was Watson coming up with the match-winning moment. Unlike the teenager, whose decision to leave Wearside for Brighton unleashed a maelstrom of supporter discontent, O’Nien has never been booed by his own fans. He knows plenty about having to show character and resilience though, and was hugely impressed with the way Watson handled what must have been an extremely difficult month.

“He’s dealt with it all unbelievably well,” said O’Nien. “I couldn't be any more proud or happier for Tommy. And his family. I know his dad. He’s a perfect example for if I want my kids to ever experience something. The fact he faced adversity and his reaction to that, not just here, but right through. Tommy scored that winning goal weeks ago when he got booed by our own fans. He came in every single day, carried on working for the club, carried on being a really good team-mate, carried on learning. He scored that winning goal weeks ago. He’s the perfect example for any human being to live, to learn by and to be inspired by. I’m a massive fan of Tommy - and I can’t wait to smash him next season!”

Next season. Thoughts now turn to the future and what might lie in store for Sunderland back in the Premier League. For O’Nien, though, the last few days have also been a period of reflection....

“The club has changed massively,” he said. “To be involved in a little bit of it is special. But you don’t get to the Premier League and the work just stops. The processes that got us this far are the ones we’ve got to double down on and add more to them. We’re building strong foundations for the club. We built foundations in League One that have served us well and given us the platform. Foundations sometimes take a long time to build. This is another step. We’ll enjoy it all, but in the summer, more foundations will be put in.”

Will those foundations be strong enough to enable Sunderland to survive in the Premier League? Time will tell. But for now, things are looking good.

“We’re joint top of the Prem, aren’t we,” said O’Nien. It’s not a bad place to start.

 

There's a weird conundrum with football supporters.

Sheff Utd are saying they're aggrieved because it was a great header and would've put them ahead ...

... while ignoring the fact that a keeper is as much a part of the team as a striker and that's his job.

If Moore's header had gone in the commentator would've said it was unstoppable.

If their keeper was better, and hadn't had such a poor starting position, he might've saved Watson's shot ...

... I think Patterson would in all honesty.

 

Pele not as good as Kiefer Moore absolutely tickled me. Although your context is 100% factually correct

 

I’m not sure Patto saves it Watson’s shot was unbelievable he’s used the defenders body to mask the curl I don’t think any keeper in the world saves it

he came up with the perfect shot when it mattered

 

I was a fabulous shot, I just don't see it as unstoppable.

When Watson cut in the entire Sunderland end knew what was happening, so should a good keeper.

It came from distance, not at high speed and I think he was much too far back.

In my opinion, four steps further forward and he's saving it.

Fair play to Watson for recognising that but I bet the keeper has rerun that goal a hundred times and winced.

 

A thing of absolute beauty.

There’s a video doing rounds of Tommy in training stepping past a marker bollard and passing ball in corner just like that. I’ll post of it pops up again.

Almost identical. It’s something Tommy knew he had to give, and he gave it.

 

I thought Pattersons other save was just as good, he made himself big and got his toe on it - not as eye catching as the 1st save but brilliant positioning

So pleased for him, he had a poor patch in the season but a sign of a good player is bouncing back and he def did that

 

Aye we are overlooking the magnitude of the second save. That’s a game winning moment we are in big trouble at 2-0. It’s maybe more routine but actually is a combination of several skills of a top save. Read game, move quickly, react.

 

That's an understatement mind! He was called a ****** by one poster, mind the same lad said Mayenda is a donkey and Bellingham considerably worse than that so he may not be the best judge of player or character.

 

My viewpoint on all this, for what its worth.

First off, I enjoy @RTB's matchday threads, really enjoy them...and sincerely hope he carries on doing them.

I can see both sides here, and both have valid points. Sometimes we're just not playing well, and posters are quite right to say what they see. No problem with that at all, that's what the thread is for.

My main gripe is predictability of it all. If I didn't know the score during a game, I could tell when we've conceded when certain posters pop up. Its the same every game, and its becoming tedious tbh.
I can see with my own eyes if we're not playing well, and have no issues anyone saying it on here. Say it, but it doesn't need repeating "ad nauseum", and got to say this, sometimes with an air of arrogance that "I'm right, everyone else is wrong".

@Scout73, I'm not including you in this, i find your posts very informative and reasoned, and value your input.

I just hope @RTB carries on with the MDT, it would be a shame if we lost what he does on here.

 

Anyone know when we get moved to premier league section?

 

These are class.

 

Oh wait, I’m going to be in Fantasy Footy! I won’t be picking myself, that’s for sure

I’m a massive fan of Tommy - and I can’t wait to smash him next season!

We’re joint top of the Prem, aren’t we,” said O’Nien. It’s not a bad place to start