So the 9 point gap between us and the chasing pack has narrowed and Liverpool have clawed back their chances of Champions League qualification in the last 3 or 4 weeks. So what? It was always going to be the case. As I predicted perfectly a few weeks ago, Liverpool have indeed got their act together under King Kenny and are a different proposition but the chasing pack, despite our recent flops, have still not overtaken us. Despite a recent drop in form and some very poor results, we are still lying 7th and still on the shirt tails of the top 5/6. We do need to stop this mini rot of 3 defeats on the trot but itââ¬â¢s certainly not something I am concerned about. Our results have been disappointing but some of our football has been excellent. We do need Welbeck back and if Frazier is fit in the next 3 or 4 weeks all the better again. Catts, Meyler and Turner also could be in line for comebacks before March is out and just in time for our final run in. Those last 7 games are ones we should be targeting for a potential points bonanza and maybe a top 6 or 7 finish. Itââ¬â¢s a roller coaster season for 7 or 8 teams and no one club is dominating the situation. Clubs at the bottom are still fighting for dear life and teams below Arsenal and Man Utd are not hitting top form. Maybe only Spurs to be fair have hit some good form in the EPL of late although Man Utd just keep grinding out results - they will be title winners this season for sure IMO. How nice is it that we are still hunting down a place in Europe with 12 games to go and not struggling to get out of the bottom 3 or stay away from it. The debate about our financial status is a bogus one as well. We are still playing catch up with the likes of Villa, Spurs, Everton, who have all had many, many seasons in the top flight ahead of us and it was obvious that in order to get to the heights we are currently at, we would need investment and Short was fully aware of this when he took on the job. Crowds reflect the mood of the fans and we are still fighting the humiliation of the 15 points season which is very fresh in the hearts and minds of many supporters. Top 7 finishes will tempt more back to the SOL but the club has to still show the ambition to get there first. I think we will have some of the former supporters back very soon to watch a Sunderland that is taking the top flight seriously for once and when they come back they will be watching a very different animal to the McCarthy era one. I will be at the Rainton Arena talk in offering my support to Quinny and will be urging as many former supporters as possible to return to the fold. The time is right for SAFC as a club to step forward and become serious players. Short and Quinn may make big noises but they are both committed to the long term plan in place. Haway the Lads
Well said cest and welcome back, I miss you. Its a sign of how far we have come that we get a little despondant over 3 defeats, despit the performance and the teams who beat us Chelsea were outstanding, Stoke are Stoke and we should have won, could have won but like many before lost. Spurs are a very good team and agin we should have won. We are still 7th and we do have a lot of very winable games ahead, even the tough ones are winable with how the team are playing and with the players due back. We started looking for top ten and we now would not be surprised at a top 7 finish, we look like a full house aginst Liverpool and cest, thanks for getting us back on footy.
Powerful stuff your smoking there mate you could be 11pts behind the top5 after the next lot of matches and 4/5 of them will have a game in hand, 11pts behind Chelsea 10pts maybe 7pts above Wigan is a better perspective
