Brilliant thread, just catching up. Been a lucky lad this week. I was at a work event in Liverpool from Monday and just got back. Was doing somework with a Liverpool lad on Tuesday and we talked footy. He said come to my box tomorrow, so I did I have had a few rough old times watching Sunderland in Liverpool. Not this time. Class. Was treated like a gent, by gents. Few beers, nice meal, great craic. None of them looking down on little Sunderland. All massively respectful. I thought we were magnificent to be honest. Proud as punch I was. The lads all did too and most said we deserved more. One said we look like a Euro ready side. Another we are in top 2 sides to play them this year. Best comment though was that our fans are what fans should be. Made my little face light up. I had to explain why I was so excited to see ONien come on. They loved that story. Like I say, I am a lucky lad. Luckier still to support this brilliant side.
Mate, I'll take another draw against City as long as we beat those entitled black and white bastads If someone had of said to me before the league one play offs in 2022 "yous will beat Chelsea and draw with Liverpool and Arsenal in three years and be scrapping for a place in Europe come Christmas" I'd of probably asked for a bit of whatever they were smoking
I'm probably out on a limb, but I'm not even particularly bothered about the game against that lot. To me now it is just a game. You can't govern your emotions, and since they were subsumed by Saudi Arabia they mean no more to me than would a team from Vanautu. Last time out, the plucky little Saudis fielded a match day squad that cost roughly £600m, and it can be more. We, among others, have shown them how an actual football club is meant to be run. Whatever happens now, with us and them, now and in time to come, the slavering and craven welcome given to a psychopathic murderer as their "saviour" by most up there, has ruined them and their reputation in perpetuity. It was and remains a humiliating spectacle, they know it, and it is killing them.
Thought it was fine, didn't notice much wrong. Played it around at the back well with no cock ups. Alisson was the one who looked nervy to me, quite a few misplaced easy passes.
Speaking to BBC Radio Newcastle, Le Fee reflected on the team's mentality, their ability to rise to big occasions and the belief that is quietly building inside the camp. Asked how close Sunderland were to winning at Anfield, Le Fee said: "It could be another night, but this is football, you have to be proud of us because we did well. We defend really good against a strong opponent. We know Liverpool at home is different, so I think we have to be proud. "When you play against strong teams, you don't have to give 100%. You have to be at 150% and I think everyone in the dressing room understands this and that's why we have got some good results away against strong teams. We are ready to fight until the end. I think we built a family and that's why we win some points at the end of games. "If we want to stay in this league, we have to (give 100%). I think we work really well to prepare for the game, to prepare for every game. But everyone understands that we have to work again and improve again and not be passive. We improve every day." https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/teams/sunderland
i think its scary when the vast majority of us believe we will get better as the season goes on. I so bloody hope so.
100% we will if we can keep these lads fit and firing, get everyone back unscathed from AFCON, Diarra and maybe Alese back, a couple of Guendouzi level lads in January and there will be some very wary teams facing us.
Honestly if everything clicks, and with a bit (okay a lot) of luck, I honestly think we could potentally end up in the top 4. It reminds me a bit of when Leicester won the league, timing is everything. We're fortunate that a lot of the top teams are either going through transitional periods or just having a bad year. Man U, Liverpool, Spurs all faltering badly. Even City and Chelsea are nowhere near as good as they have been in recent years. Honestly, the only team that looks "at their peak" is Arsenal. It's as good an opportunity as we'll have for many years, imo.
