Match Day Thread Sunderland AFC v Chelsea FC – Sunday 24th May 2026 - KO 16:00

  • Please bear with us on the new site integration and fixing any known bugs over the coming days. If you can not log in please try resetting your password and check your spam box. If you have tried these steps and are still struggling email [email protected] with your username/registered email address
  • Log in now to remove adverts - no adverts at all to registered members!

Your Prediction:


  • Total voters
    81
  • Poll closed .
Finally got 2 minutes to give my thanks to RTB for these threads, to those I met at the Fans Museum for a couple of nervous beers early doors (sorry I had to depart but my tradition of a pint of Double Maxim for my Dad needs to be at The Colliery), to RLB, KLD and anyone else connected to the club with 3 initials ending in an "ee" sound, to the players and coaches but most of all to the other 47,000 in red and white on the day - the level of support was incredible - if we could bottle that and bring it for each game we`d go even further.

HTL
 
I doubt its millions mate but its your choice ...at one time there was only the bbc as in the state gave a license to the bbc to broadcast in our country ..it was a monopoly and the people wishing to watch had to pay the government to watch.The monopoly was broken in the 1950's with ITV but we the people didn't have to pay extra as it was funded by advertising but in truth your licence covered all the subsequent channels.

If you break it down we are paying for the licence to watch several channels and im happy with that!Your not and that is your right !I firmly believe that despite its nefarious inception as a way to control the message to the masses it has been a force for good in this country and throughout the world and i for one would miss it if it goes......The BBC is a huge organisation and its being tarnished by the behaviour of some odious people ,but thats what they do they inveigle themselves throughout society in positions of trust to carry out the vile acts,police,nurses,doctors dentist teachers priests ,counsellors ,MP's and on and on. The BBC is no different to the police the nhs and any other large organisation its just that for political reasons appears to be the easiest to bash!
It is millions, at least according to the BBC itself. And if it was "my right" to not pay it, I wouldn't have had to fight off stupid goons who are sent by the BBC to demand money with menaces.

You can see the deep and incurable flaws, but you cannot see the solution, which is a simple subscription model. Say £5 a month or more if they think they can attract it. But currently they force people to pay for a service which they do not use. They waste money on a fantastic scale, and they do this because they can.

It IS different to all other organisations. It belongs in a Stalinist state, where people are forced to buy what they are told to buy.
 
It does, but the BBC acts at times as though it's untouchable, particularly when it's covering up its own scandals. When you put the two together it creates something dangerous. Companies are held accountable by shareholders, investors and customers, politicians by the electorate, musicians and other performers by the audience. The BBC acts as if it's only accountable to itself. That's why it's nepotism and cronyism seems worse. You can get away with stuff if no one can call you out about it.

In Shearer's case, he might have been a great striker, but he's an awful pundit. Nothing interesting or insightful, a managerial failure and openly biased towards or against certain clubs, massively unprofessional. He's there purely on his name and because of his mates. But as the BBC can be massively self congratulatory they're probably oblivious to how people feel. They think it's a joke and funny, rather than see how people can get angry about it.
Nail on Head! It's so obvious,week after week. Those who can't see it need to give their heads a shake.
 
One thing you can be sure of and that is Luke will get to hear about this and I fully expect something like the young lad getting a personal visit and another signed shirt.
That’s what our Luke is like.
Sadly though it wont be the one worn by luke 09 on the greatest day in his and our recent history! that said SAFC fans have long memories so in the future lets all keep an eye out in the market for a worn 09 shirt alluding to be from the 24th may that comes on the market and meet out a justice that only safc fans can deem appropriate!I hope someone on here knows who stole that shirt and gets the clown to do the right thing and return it.
 
But the mags keep saying we broke psr or whatever the **** its called, spent more than Real Madrid and are in the **** for it!

Well they have to clutch at summit. We spent absolute fortunes, for this club compared to what had been spent in the previous decade but **** all in terms.of premier league spends. Most clubs spend what we spent on 14 players on one or two players.
It was documented elsewhere on here.....they spent more than we did on only 3 players....none of whom pulled up any trees.
As you say,they are devoid of any class and arrogance is their trademark. RLB keeps saying we need to remain humble....most of the thickhead visitors can't even spell the word.
 
they are trying to start rumours that we are going to enter Administration this summer
that we are going to have sell EVERYONE to stay afloat
We are absolute toast mind, on the brink of a financial catastrophe. What they have done to the club is horrific.

The Times did a comparison yesterday. It measured player costs, (wages, increments, agent's fees and amortisation figures) and set it against a calculus of where such spending could or should get you.

Pound for pound we were top. Arsenal second top by the way, with I think the fifth highest cash figure and winning the league, so well done to them too. You can guess at the other clubs who did well by this metric; those whose path we are following.

There was a small element of guesswork in some of the figures for the three promoted clubs, but this was not thought to be significant in their view. We had the lowest total spend of the 20 teams. A small element of this of course reflects the fact that we had no players on old PL contracts, but it is nonetheless a really remarkable achievement.

If any of the unbalanced and desperate characters who are seemingly enjoying their summer inventing comfort blanket theories want a bit of help, they might want to read that little precis above of the Times piece. Then get their uncle to explain it.
 
Last edited:
It is millions, at least according to the BBC itself. And if it was "my right" to not pay it, I wouldn't have had to fight off stupid goons who are sent by the BBC to demand money with menaces.

You can see the deep and incurable flaws, but you cannot see the solution, which is a simple subscription model. Say £5 a month or more if they think they can attract it. But currently they force people to pay for a service which they do not use. They waste money on a fantastic scale, and they do this because they can.

It IS different to all other organisations. It belongs in a Stalinist state, where people are forced to buy what they are told to buy.
Your use of language betrays you rowley. State media in Stalinist Russia was free!The licence fee is not just for the BBC its a licence to watch tv/radio in this country and not the BBC alone .I can see the simple logic of a subscription model but the bbc is a huge bricks and mortar entity with huge costs maintaining it and in truth they built the system we all benefit from today.The subscription model would destroy the bbc as it cannot compete with the new boys who came late to the market and benefited from the bbc trail blazing and you think that is a good thing but i don't ,so lets just agree to differ and move on?
 
Finally got 2 minutes to give my thanks to RTB for these threads, to those I met at the Fans Museum for a couple of nervous beers early doors (sorry I had to depart but my tradition of a pint of Double Maxim for my Dad needs to be at The Colliery), to RLB, KLD and anyone else connected to the club with 3 initials ending in an "ee" sound, to the players and coaches but most of all to the other 47,000 in red and white on the day - the level of support was incredible - if we could bottle that and bring it for each game we`d go even further.

HTL
What a great day to be SAFC supporter Sunday was !I second the thanks to RTB for a season of great threads.I met him and a couple of the other not 606 massive on Sunday for a few minutes but i didn't thank him for his efforts .To be honest i had one or two to many jamesons on Sunday and i don't remember much (which is rare for me )and i dont do well in large groups i dont know ( i avoid them)so im surprised i chose to say hello so you have the jamesons to blame for that .Anyway what a great day and good luck and good health to all of you for the future European journeys and beyond.
 
What a great day to be SAFC supporter Sunday was !I second the thanks to RTB for a season of great threads.I met him and a couple of the other not 606 massive on Sunday for a few minutes but i didn't thank him for his efforts .To be honest i had one or two to many jamesons on Sunday and i don't remember much (which is rare for me )and i dont do well in large groups i dont know ( i avoid them)so im surprised i chose to say hello so you have the jamesons to blame for that .Anyway what a great day and good luck and good health to all of you for the future European journeys and beyond.
You did mate <cheers>
 
There may well be some recency bias in what I'm about to say, but I think Sunday was the best day of my Sunderland supporting life. I thought Wycombe would never be topped, then I thought last season at Wembley could never be beaten, but that performance and that atmosphere was unbelievable. People still in the stadium an hour after the final whistle, so many smiles on people's faces. This club man. Haven't stopped smiling since...

Mukiele and Le Fee by the way. Outstanding
 
I didn’t pick a MOTM on Sunday, too emotional and too many to choose from …

… so I watched the match back, had a good think and avoided my usual biases.

It’s Trai Hume!

He’s a career full back from the lower leagues and has been asked to play a role, in the PL that few players ever do well. He’s playing against international/world class players and never fails to put in a shift, win or lose. Now he’s creating chances and scoring goals. wow!

Not only that he’s reigned in his crunching tackles so he’s more effective but less likely to be booked …

… I’m seriously considering whether his presence is what’s making Geertruida wonder if he’ll be first choice.

Time will tell.
 
Last edited:
https://www.sunderlandecho.com/spor.../tom-burwell-sunderland-europa-league-8640045

You must log in or register to see images


Sunderland’s interim CEO has reacted after the Black Cats secured a remarkable return to Europe

Tom Burwell has sent a rallying message to Sunderland supporters after the Black Cats secured European football for the first time in 53 years.

Sunderland rounded off a remarkable Premier League campaign by qualifying for the Europa League, completing a stunning rise from League One to Europe in just four years. Régis Le Bris’ side finished seventh in the Premier League after a historic final day win over Chelsea at the Stadium of Light, with results elsewhere also going in their favour.

The achievement came exactly 12 months after Sunderland won promotion at Wembley, and Burwell was quick to pay tribute to the supporters after another unforgettable occasion on Wearside. Burwell wrote: “What a day. What a week. What a season.

“It started at Wembley 12 months ago. It finished at the Stadium of Light in front of 49,000 people who refused to let this club be anything other than extraordinary. The 12th man this week was something else. They roared the Black Cats to a second win over Chelsea this season, and into European football next year. There are too many heroes to name. On the pitch, in the stands, and watching from around the world. Sunderland AFC is marching on Europe.”

...The final whistle against Chelsea sparked emotional scenes around the Stadium of Light, with players, staff, supporters and members of the ownership group all celebrating a landmark moment in Sunderland’s history.

Le Bris says Sunderland’s Europa League qualification proves “anything is possible” in football after the Black Cats completed one of the most remarkable seasons in the club’s modern history. Exactly one year on from their dramatic play-off final win over Sheffield United at Wembley, Sunderland secured a seventh-placed Premier League finish with a 2-1 victory over Club World Cup champions Chelsea at the Stadium of Light.

The result sealed European football for the first time since 1973-74 and capped an extraordinary first season back in the top flight. Le Bris was keen to stress that Sunderland must remain humble as they prepare for the demands of a much busier fixture schedule next season, but said the club’s structure gives them a platform to keep progressing. As was the case after promotion, the Sunderland head coach said he would not place firm limits or targets on what could come next.

“It's an important step, and it shows that anything is possible in football, especially when you are working hard, representing the community and humble,” Le Bris said. “We struggled at times this season, had a really painful defeat here at home [against Nottingham Forest] and bounced back, worked hard and finally here's the result. We feel the dynamic of the club. We are growing fast, but the structure underneath is strong. We can't say it's perfect, but we feel we are improving a lot. I repeat, we have to stay humble."