Oooh look at me in the Italian lake District Enjoy marra. HA'WAY THE LADS MACKEMS ATTACKEM I think we'll win.
I can’t believe he’s ours. Still remember exactly where I was when I got a phone call saying Xhaka has came out and said he wants to join Sunderland. Unbelievable. That’s when I started to believe we could avoid relegation.
I think as we keep moving on this journey it is probably a good time to remind people that our results (positive or negative) at this time all form part of a wider vision. This was no more evident than in the last few league games last season where fans were apoplectic at results but the club remained confident in the plan. A negative result can still be a step forward (maybe not a stride) and form part of this journey we seem to be on.
https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/s...bris-intends-keep-sunderlands-squad-together/ How Regis Le Bris intends to keep squad together REGIS LE BRIS insists he can handle the challenge of maintaining the standards and morale of the players not currently featuring in Sunderland’s first team… “I think it starts with conversation. It’s always like that. I think they are aware of the situation, we have to step up in this Premier League. The gap is huge. We want to bridge this gap, but we need time to do it, and we need support from new players. “We need competition. We can speak about Enzo [Le Fee] for example. Enzo didn’t start, Wilson didn’t start [in the opening two games of the season], but they trust the process and they trust the challenge, through the squad and the way we organise the competition in the team. They know they will have the opportunity, they will have the challenge and the support. Everyone is involved in the project. So, at the minute, it is not difficult to manage this side of things.” Sunderland spent more than £150m on new signings this summer, with their net expenditure exceeded by that of just five other Premier League teams. Le Bris spoke of the need to significantly strengthen the existing squad in the immediate aftermath of May’s play-off final success at Wembley, and was delighted with the level of support he received from those above him throughout the summer transfer window. “We worked hard as a club,” said the Black Cats boss. “Everyone involved in the process were really important and did everything they could to get a positive outcome. Many players signed, and it was important to reinforce the squad for the new challenge. After that, the competition and the journey will show how well we did. “It will be very interesting to see what the outcome is, but at the minute, we are really positive about everything that happened.” Regardless of how things turn out, Le Bris is delighted that the Sunderland hierarchy displayed the kind of ambition they always maintained they would demonstrate if the club found itself back in the top-flight. Promises were made and kept, with Le Bris’ level of comfort on Wearside being demonstrated by his willingness to sign a new contract committing him to Sunderland until 2028 at the start of last month. “It is really important for a manager and a club to feel that the words are connected with the facts,” he said. “That has really been the case this summer. “It wasn’t an easy transfer window, but I think the outcome has been really positive. The amount of work done during this period was really impressive, so I’m really proud.”
Both getting carried away and extremely nervous of me getting carried away. Keep imagining us beating Palace, they're missing a couple, touch wood we aren't missing anyone. A draw would be class. Another away defeat and its back down to reality. Thats the way my mind works anyway, post West Ham I was so convinced we would eventually walk over Burnley. Then you remember after the Burnley game "theyre only human" and to be fair to Scott Parker, hes done a good job with their lot.
I think we are all realistic. We are excited about the potential of the summer signings, but we know we do t yet quite have the ability to sign top end players in their prime, so the club setup of signing potential and mixing it with players at that higher level, but further on in their career like Xhaka (yes he’s our captain…), Reineldo etc is perfect. The ones that will define it are the middle ground pick ups. 3 incredible pickups really in this area in Mukiele, Geertruida and Brobbey. Any one of them clicks and we’ve stolen a CL player, 2 of them clicks we probably well clear of 17th, all 3 click who knows. We stay up this season we can then think about that out of reach group, I guess that group is the though one. Proven PL, upper mid range. Lower Top end rated established foreign lads. I guess Elliott a good example of what was just out of reach, maybe Scott at Bournemouth, players like Singo, Trincao. I know the CL will be interesting for us this season we be watching the mid range teams for young talent. It’s fascinating, exciting time. Today is a game against a team we aiming for next season level wise and it will be really interesting to see how we measure up this early in season. I can’t wait for it. Whatever the outcome this game is another marker, then a proper PL home game next week. We’ve shown we are competitive with ‘fellow relegation sides’ what about a Palace side who are anywhere from 8-12 with no relegation worries?
I'd agree with all of that with just one small caveat ... ... this is all reality whether we win lose or draw. I'm resigned to losing games because of where we've come from and will do my best to accept defeats. However, Sunderland have already beaten two PL teams so no reason we can't win some more. I think we're more likely to beat teams like Palace than the likes of Leeds at home which won't be 'nice' matches ... ... our support won't be going there short of confidence so I'm going for another 2-1 to the Lads and our first PL away win. Ha'way!!!
There’s a Sadiki song doing round to the tune of Whitney Houston ‘I wanna dance with somebody’ and I hope it picks up cos it’s a belta.
Great thread RTB as always mate, thank you. The mood around the club and on here is fantastic at the minute - feels incredible to be playing away to a team like Palace and people feel we are in with a shout of 3 points. With how we have strengthened in the summer we shouldn’t fear any/many teams this season. Anyway as a constant Sunderland optimist/fantasist I’m going for a 0-2 to the lads, with Palace not finding a way to break us down. Talbi first goal.
Footballs back -whooppee ! And with it the masterpieces that are RTB's thread. We can read this one and concentrate on names like Zhaka. LeFee, Isidor, instead of Rayner, Mandelson and Kirk. Think this is our hardest so far, but having mentioned Enzo, he will get a winner in a close one wether it;s 1-0 2-1 or 6-5. Thankyou RTB
Just about to jump on the train to Rotterdam, check in the hotel then watch the lads then into town for more drinks before feyenoord vs heerenveen hawaaaay
