FACKEM MACKEMS

There's a line in Shaving Ryan's Privates that an officer shares with his scared troops as they prepare to face enemy fire. "The only way to get through this is to accept that you're already dead."

This is exactly the approach Sunderland have taken this season ... they have accepted that they're already relegated, so they play with no fear ... they are expected to lose every game, which means there's absolutely no pressure on them ... their owners and fans aren't expecting another season in the Prem, this makes it an adventure to be enjoyed, and they certainly are enjoying themselves

A team that goes into every match with no weight on their shoulders is a dangerous team, regardless of their stature ... this is why the FA Cup has shock results every year

Sunderland don't necessarily have lots of quality, but they do have fight, and they properly outfought Chelsea ... they are organised and tenacious, they run and run, they work hard for each other ... they have to do this to make up for their lack of quality ... there's no expectation or fear in their game, so losing 6-0 won't matter to them

At Leeds it's demanded that the team survive, there's huge pressure every game and the players are expected to deliver results ... this pressure will bear down on the players, and it will affect players differently ... some will step up, others may panic

Sunderland don't have this problem because they're already relegated ... they play with freedom, they play like they're having fun ... good on them, they've shown the rest how to do it

Fk reputations, go and run them off the park ... if teams don't match Sunderland's work rate, they will get turned over ... I've heard it said that Sunderland won't be able to sustain this level of physicality all season, and by end of January they will be struggling to keep going ... thing is, it won't matter, because the Mackems will be safe by then at this rate

 

Hope so

 

Must confess the only football Ive seen them play this season was the winning goal against Chelsea so can't give an opinion. I suppose spending 140m has helped too

 

They'll finish bottom half.

 

So will we, just hopefully not to bloody low.

 

There's some truth in that. Teams already relegated acan be tough because they play the same way. Nothing to lose.