Match Day Thread Sunderland AFC v Bournemouth FC - Saturday 29th November 2025 - KO 15:00

Absolutely immense performance, feared the worst after the second Bournemouth goal went in, after a couple of draws thought it may have been a sign we were being sussed out by the opposition but that performance showed even if they are getting wise to our tactics it doesn’t matter because we will never give up and never roll over.
Loving the squad mentality and never say die attitude, long may it continue.

 

Quite a few good performances but Traore gets it for me.

 

I thought he was awful until it was played to him.

Looked like he couldn't be arsed half of the time.

 

Traore was really good but Enzo was all over the place in midfield. But that's what footballs all about - everyone sees things slightly different at times

 

Just about got my breathe back, money can’t buy the fight and heart in this team, enjoy your weekends gents

 

Xhaka is an absolute born leader. He's a cracking player as well, but what a captain to have of our team. Definitely going to be a head coach/manager when he retires.

Massive thank you to KLD for bringing him in.

 

Who would want to play us?

That side is like the undead. Whatever happens, they just keep coming at you, bandages flailing and falling off until they prevail.

So, so impressive that. So together, so savvy, so able, so amazingly well coached.

And this side has played the massive total of thirteen competitive games together! And still there will be Rigg, Mayenda and Adringa to really make their mark, all of whom I have no doubt about whatsoever. It is all just staggering, however this season turns out. Three and a half years ago we squeezed past Sheff Wed in a tight semi. Really, this has come from nowhere.

"Nobody told me there'd be days like these" John Lennon.

 

From the Bournemouth forum

“Then came a game changing foul. Scott slide in a cleaned out Xhaka for as yellow card an offence as you’ll ever see. The ref obliged but the crowd were absolutely baying for a straight red that was never going to come. Despite getting the call right, the abuse from the sidelines seemed to flick a switch in the official for the rest of the match. Having been pretty even-handed up until that point, the rest of the match was as one-sided a ref performance as you’ll see.

Maybe still unsettled after misjudging that tackle, Scott compounded the error a few minutes later. He put in an unnecessary and needless challenge in the area that the attacker was begging for and, as soon as he felt Scott near him, collapsed to the ground. Penalty given.”

 

Fantastic, Granit was canny!

 

Xhaka is everything I hoped and believed he would be. The absolute bargain of the season. No wonder Leverkusen were so desperate to keep him, and your'e right about KLD. He seems to know just when to step in and help, and when to back off and let the people he has employed get on with it. Gold dust.

 

Great post. Nervous before the game because of the things you highlighted but what a performance to come back

 

He was. We might be starting to take him for granted! Traore really was terrific mind, he is some grafter that lad.

 

Wonder who he gets the private jet out for in January

I can't wait for the window to open

 

If I'm honest I think the biggest call of the game was the penalty which from behind the goal at the time I thought was not a pen and was sure VAR would overturn it. Not seen it back but my first thought was if that was given against us I'd be livid. After that I thought he favoured them and only seemed to give us the obvious ones while giving them some softer ones. I guess that's the nature of a fan though we are all looking at things from a biased viewpoint.

 

Whatever tha lads had at half time break, I want some.

 

I thought that too. But I've seen it since, and it was a stupid challenge really, especially on a smart player.

 

Ive got a stiffy on, it will only go down if someone says Bob I've got you a ticket for the mags game.
Class today, worst ref for years.

 

To be fair to the ref, those conditions were horrible to ref in. I think he tried to allow for it a bit, but probably lost the thread later on. Don't think he got any big calls wrong from my viewpoint really.