We're used to some violent ups and downs here at the SOL and before it, Roker Park and nothing should surprise us. After a poor end to the 2010/11 season, speculation abounded during the close season as to whether SB should remain manager or not. Many of us on here fell out and had some big scraps, sadly for some those memories are still very sharp and posters have been lost and found again on not606. BiBing and BoBing became an Olympic event for some time and mastered by a few. However, even those fans that could read tea leaves and forecast lottery numbers couldn't have predicted the season we are all about to see out in just over 12 days time. We actually started with a bit of calm and enthusiasm as fans and even the BOBs settled down and agreed that he (SB) needed to be given time. Then it started again. 10 games? 15 games? Up to Christmas? The January transfer window? What was very quickly discovered was the players had lost faith quicker than we had in the manager and performances, whilst defensively very good, offensively were awful. We had 2 home wins to cheer going into the derby game back in August and hopes were high that if we beat them, things would turn around and Bruce could recover. We lost and Bruce was finished. So to December and the morning of November 30th, we woke to hear the news many of us wanted to hear. After a terrible start, derby defeat yet again and 11 points in 14 games, he was sacked and so to all the rumour, speculation and fairy-tales about his successor. Loads of names were mentioned but one, as usual, stood out AGAIN. Martin O'Neill. Dare we dream? Could we at last land a manager linked to us so many time in the past? He was the first choice for many clubs fans but on the morning of 3rd December 2011, 2 days before my birthday, I received the best present of all. He was ours. An amazing run of form took us from relegation candidates to top 6 challengers when in reality, this squad was neither one nor the other. Martin squeezed every last drop out of the team/squad and we have stayed up comfortably but with the inevitable wind down over the last 4 or 5 weeks. A poor end to what has been a remarkable season but nevertheless, I am entirely satisfied that we are back on track. Now for the summer. More speculation and sightings at Seaham Hall I fear but not as many sightings up at Ponteland Airport, as many of his early signings IMO will be British players. I'm happy with that if that's what Marty thinks we need because for the first time in my lifetime, we have a pedigree manager that knows everything there is to know about building good teams. in his short time here, he has proven what he is capable of achieving and I am genuinely very excited to see what changes he makes and what players we chase and win. Another Topsy Turvy, roller-coaster of a season yes but hey, I wouldn't have it any other way and i love being a Sunderland fan as much now as ever I did 37 years ago ............... no changes save for maybe a European place next season and a cup? No pressure then Marty. Lol
After the decline and fall of Bruce's reign, what MON has achieved is miraculous. Yes, our form has died away with mid-table comfort, but that's understandable, if slightly narking. Can't wait to see who we can bring in, though. MON has to be a bigger draw than any other manager we could have hoped for and if Ellis can spread the cash a bit, who knows......?
I disagree that the derby was the end of Bruce. We certainly didn't deserve to lose that one. However when we went to Brighton with no strikers, that was it for me!
My only concern, and it's not with MON, rather with the ambition of a certain Mr Ellis Short. MON is more than capable of building a good, very good team if given the resources, but will Ellis back him? I hope so, he needs to if we are to progress. It's been stated that he has ambition but this summer will see what the owner is about.
