100% agree re next season - was saying that to my Dad as we left the season. The play offs are gone, but lets win 4 or 5 of our last games and take some momentum into next season. It's not to be discounted
This might just be the first season in all my years supporting Sunderland where there is no drama at the end of the season. Struggling to think of a time (since 1984-5 when I first went to a game) where there hasn't been something to play for in the last 5 gamesGiving Hemir a run would show if he has what it takes, if not he's better off going home ...
... this situation puts us in a good selling/buying position if you get what I'm saying.
Players know which league we'll be in so those, like perhaps Embleton, may see their chances as too limited. Players who want PL football now can be auctioned to the highest bidder ASAP.
What's left will show us exactly what we need, we'll have cash and can get new players in quicker. That'll put us ahead of teams like Hull who may not know, which division, until the final whistle at Wembley.
It's rare for us to know where we stand so let's make it count.
This might just be the first season in all my years supporting Sunderland where there is no drama at the end of the season. Struggling to think of a time (since 1984-5 when I first went to a game) where there hasn't been something to play for in the last 5 games

100% I’d be doing this, you never know what we’ll unearth. Remember the kids that nearly kept us up in ‘77.There's a positive to all this imo, if we consider the season over.
We now have an opportunity to play the likes of Rigg, Aouchiche, Hemir, etc, experiment with different tactics and play without fear.
We can treat it as a big pre-season and prepare for next season. That would be even more relevant if we bring in a new manager but I'd rather the club was exploring every option and interviewing them carefully and thoroughly. I know people want the situation sorted quickly but it's so important we bring in someone prepared to work within our set up or who can show why we should adapt it to their needs.
Apart from the fact people are supporting the team, paying for home and away games, etc, we can't just let the season fizzle out. And, who knows, clubs who've had a recent spurt might run out of steam and we can finish higher than our current position ...
... narrowing the gap to 6th might even make the last few games more exciting than we may currently believe.
Of that team 6 had been apprentices with the club. Bolton ,Kerr, Ashurst, Elliott, Arnott and Rowell. 7 if you add in Brown who was also breaking through. They played reserves football against "men" not like the U23's or whatever it is now with just a sprinkling of over age players. Nothing was mentioned about "world class coaching" back then, just young (mostly local) lads with boundless energy giving their all to be successful footballers for Sunderland. Of course that was before football was invented in 1992100% I’d be doing this, you never what we’ll unearth. Remember the kids that nearly kept us up in ‘77.
This might just be the first season in all my years supporting Sunderland where there is no drama at the end of the season. Struggling to think of a time (since 1984-5 when I first went to a game) where there hasn't been something to play for in the last 5 games
We finished top half once, and even then we went on a run at the end of the season where we took 1 point from 9 games that left us 5 pts from 3rd bottomcomfortable top half finishes under Bruce?
We finished top half once, and even then we went on a run at the end of the season where we took 1 point from 9 games that left us 5 pts from 3rd bottom
It was only the Bolton away game (36th of the season) where we secured our status
Last day we jumped from 13th to 10th in injury time
I was thinking that same thing, I’ve had a few where a handful of games meant nowt at the end of the season, either because we’d already gone down, or very rarely we were safe with a few to go. At the other end there’s been the odd season where we just couldn’t get over the line to get promoted or v v rarely just missed out on Europe (I do remember them!!!), but this season already feels over. We’re not nearly bad enough to lose 10 more games in a row, no matter what the pissy knickers amongst us may say, and we’re not good enough to make up 10points in 10 games, so for me season over. Now had this been last year I would have said ok, it’s just we promised so much last year. Could it all be down to diallo and the free flowing football that Mowbray promoted, or is just a natural thing for such a young group.This might just be the first season in all my years supporting Sunderland where there is no drama at the end of the season. Struggling to think of a time (since 1984-5 when I first went to a game) where there hasn't been something to play for in the last 5 games
1988/89? Finished 11th after promotion from Third Division. Poor start, winning run from about Sept/Oct, fairly dismal finish to the season.comfortable top half finishes under Bruce?
11/12 season maybe? Think we were 8th in March but didn't win a game in April and May and finished 13th with 45 points 9 points ahead of relegation zoneThis might just be the first season in all my years supporting Sunderland where there is no drama at the end of the season. Struggling to think of a time (since 1984-5 when I first went to a game) where there hasn't been something to play for in the last 5 games
I’ll feel a lot safer if Huddersfield get beat today…