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

I can’t blame Bob for being taken in by those two, lots of us did to one degree or another …

… as you say decent people gave up their time to change seats at the SOL.

Lots of small local businesses were conned as well. At the same time Mehven was pretending to ‘unite the area’ he was finding ways to avoid paying debts to the same people.

I admire Bob’s loyalty but it’s a shame he was one of those who was conned …

… sadly Methven is an expert confidence trickster and we were his prey until he was sussed and moved on to his next victim.

That’s the life of every conman, always on the move and leaving a mess behind.

 

Yet only three weeks ago, otr
Post number 10

https://www.readytogo.net/smb/threads/i’m-not-fully-rlb-out-yet-but.1654130/

 

Incredibly moving…

https://www.facebook.com/share/v/19AvwqWm4z/?mibextid=wwXIfr

 

I've never been to see what these forums are like and it took me 5minutes to realise I'm not missing anything at all.....they're supposed to be fans ffs.

 

They don’t have opinions, they have campaigns and become angry with anyone who doesn’t sign up …

… just like all the ‘I’m not renewing, none of my mates are renewing and anyone who does is a dope’ realists.

If you don’t want to go just don’t go, no need to get on your soapbox.

 

Just sat wondering, a fair few of our fans were pessimistic going into the playoffs on the back of the defeats (me included I was hopeful it could be turned around and my heart said we could but my head said no teams have gone into the playoffs in that kind of form never mind turned it around!).

Not only were we pessimistic but sky and the media talked like it was a foregone conclusion that we would be beat by Coventry, even after we beat them at there place all talk was about how Lampard had turned it around from a losing position before with Derby! Then the same at Wembley with Sheff Utd.

We even had their fans being confident to the point there was them photos of Coventry going to Wembley announcements at their train station before the match and the promotion celebration breakfast before the final!

Has our club and fans ever been fawned over and expected to win by the media or even our own fans to that level of arrogance? My experience is our fans having the "it's the Sunderland way" pessimistic attitude (100% can be guilty myself) the old "returning players always score against us" that @Smug in Boots has pointed out numerous times is bollocks!

Will we ever get over the past ****e?

In fact ignore me, I'm rambling

 

Sky can shove their opinions where the sun don't shine for me. Yes, those 5 defeats were a bit concerning and it wasn't cos of the so called "momentum" people kept banging on about, I was more worried about the confidence of the players. I shouldn't have worried. The face plan went to perfection at Coventry and although they had more possession at our place, they didn't really do much with it and Ballard made sure we didn't need penalties.

At Wembley, Sheffield United set off like a train and we were under the cosh a bit, nerves I think played a big factor but the longer the game went on the more we took control.

All we as fans can do it's support the team on the pitch like we did in those 3 games and leave all the other stuff to the coaches and behind the scenes lads - they seemed to have done a pretty decent job up to now

 

It was never in doubt.

 

https://fb.watch/zWEBAtZ55z/

 

What I don't get is how Sky quickly dismissed the loss of 09 to us as they were enthralled by how Sheffield were solidly in our half.

Luke has that ability to send 60 yards cross field balls to switch play and we lost all of that, yes Metham is a good player but he's a defender and not as good as Luke in getting us up the pitch.

I really think it didn't suit Sky's agenda to dwell on our misfortunes, however they were quick to see our opponents second half issues which in the main were due to their team not being fit enough to last 90 minutes never mind extra time which was looking likely until Watson intervened.

Do we ever get media credit before the event....I can't recall very much lately.
Can't see it changing much next season either.

 

https://www.linkedin.com/posts/leo-...d&rcm=ACoAAAzgFigBOWRfxlHUZlRlSCBD5O95Qm_xHJY

Leo Pearlman has posted on linkedin

It's hard to believe that one week ago, that game, that goal, was yet to happen. I wake up each morning & smile at the memories, watch highlights just to confirm it wasn't all a dream. After all, we’re Sunderland fans & the scars of the past run deep, cup finals & play offs, Wembley holds ghosts for us, forever now exorcised by May 24th 2025.

The first tears came early, 30 minutes before kick-off, when Wise Men Say echoed from 35k Sunderland voices. Club legends: Bobby Kerr, Marco, Super Kev, Niall, joined us in song, reminders of what Sunderland fans truly value, heart, commitment, spirit. Traits embodied like no other by club captain, Luke O'Nein & so many of this young team.

The first half was tough, evoking PTSD of past Wembley appearances, a moment too big for some, a game too far. Sheff United scored early, a second would not have been undeserved & the heartbreaking loss of our club captain to an early injury seemed to make our task unassailable.

In the 70th minute, Regis Le Bris, criticised for not affecting games, brought off local lads Neil & Rigg, gave Enzo & Paddy more freedom & everything changed. Patto made yet another heroic save, keeping us in it once again, Paddy Roberts slid a perfect ball to Mayenda, who smashed it into the roof of the net. 1-1, Wembley erupted, momentum had shifted, haway away away.

Trai Hume, player of the season, made THAT tackle on Brereton Diaz. A thunderous, old-school, Sunderland-style hit, invoking memories of Kay, Makin, Ball, Bennett et al. The roar from the crowd was as loud as a goal.

Then, in the 95th minute, came the fairytale. Tommy Watson, with what would be his final touch as a Sunderland player, did what every young fan dreams of doing, scoring the winner at Wembley for his boyhood club. From that second until the final whistle, it’s all a blur. I cried, an outpouring of emotion many years in the making. I cried with my boys, my cousins, my dad, with strangers. But we weren’t strangers, because we're family, we're Sunderland.

O'Nein lifting the trophy, arm in a sling, is my enduring memory, first on the pitch to celebrate with his teammates, last to leave after thanking the fans. This team had done it for him, for each other & for all of us.

But make no mistake, this isn’t just about a football team, it’s about our city, the city by the sea.

A blue-collar place built on shipyards & coal, where grit runs deeper than glamour & pride matters more than praise. We've been overlooked, underestimated, forgotten by many, but never by our own.

Sunderland is more than a dot on the map. It’s community, it’s family, it’s our life & the football club is our heartbeat. Last Saturday, it beat louder than ever, announcing to the world that we’re a city on the rise again. We didn’t just earn promotion, we told the world who we are: together, relentless, proud. A city that always believes.

We are Sunderland, we are back & the memories will last a lifetime.

Together. Forever. Til the end. Til we Die.

 

Full match replay with the Sky commentary for those interested.

 

Just watched it back and realised jack clarke is on the stairs greeting them om the way up. Terrible shirt mind

 

I've seen it written a few times that Watson's goal was his last touch in a Sunderland shirt.
Did he really not touch the ball again, they played about another 4 minutes after the goal.

I'll have to watch the full game again tonight to double check.

 

I must've watched it 100's of times now but it's only really just hit me now how good Watsons finish is. I keep expecting him to just smash it towards goal but the way he just passes it into the corner is special. Maybe Brighton do know what they are doing

 

I’ve a few pals ‘coming back’ next season.

I have to say their decisions were made long before promotion like but I’d be shocked if we under 36k season tickets as a bare minimum.

 

One sad point, we have to say goodbye to the home and away kits this year. Absolute Beauts.

 

Infiltration of Saudi supporting scum
- time to sack them off

 

They will live forever brother. We all said Hummel had broken the world with how good they were BEFORE the season.

They are instant and eternal classics.

 

Aw yeah 100% got both of mine to last forever. Was meaning more the lads on the pitch haha, but I’m sure Hummel will do us proud again