After 50 years of following Sunderland you would have thought I would be used to it, but no, still takes me by surprise. Sunderland is the home of the cliche, sleeping giant, false dawn, magic carpet, you name it and here at Sunderland we will make it fit. The last year typifies life up here, the highs, the lows, the hopes, the dreams, the exhilaration, the desperation all in one 12 month period. 12 months ago we had one of the EPLâs top goal scorers and were about to add a 13 million pound striker to the front line, everything was set up for an exciting and successful season, for us fans that success would be a mediocre mid table finish, top ten would be fantastic. We started the season and before we knew it we had become a top 6 side, murmurings of Europe could be heard, bring on the derby game, the Halloween show down against that newly promoted team from Newcastle, a humiliation was on the cards. Well, we got that right, humiliation indeed but somehow the script did not quite go to plan. We headed towards Christmas with the derby game still hurting but we had the Chelsea game to give us comfort, a January transfer window ahead and revenge against Newcastle to enjoy. Rumours were rife, Sessegon and Muntari to join, Gyan starting to look sharp and Bents dip in form was surely about to change, yes, yes and yes. Sessegnon and Muntari did join, one to come good and one to be sent back home. Gyan did get better before getting injured and Bents form did improve, just not with us. The return derby game came but the performance was forgotten with the news that our hero was sitting in a Birmingham hotel room, our hero no more. It seemed that every game followed the same format with 2 substitutions in the first 20 minutes as 2 more players joined the que at the treatment room, we suddenly had no strikers left, but hey, it is Sunderland we are talking about. Suddenly we started scoring goals and we actually won a couple of games, Bruceâs head was still wanted and we even heard the first rumblings of dissatisfaction with Quinn who was becoming obbssessed with fans in pubs. Despite all of this we finished 10th, not sure how but grateful we did and all was well in wonderland, well for the weekend it was. A typical Sunderland season, top 6 superstars for one half of the season and relegation candidates for the other but we ended up, somehow, where we wanted to be. Zenden left and our loan players returned home, who would we buy? In true Sunderland style we started our summer rebuild by selling our prize asset, Jordan Henderson who joined Liverpool, well thatâs a good start we all said in an unconvincing way, still we did have David Nâgog to look forward to. A mad two week period saw 9 new players arrive and Nâgog was not one of them, we still expect more. The friendlies are about to start, our new team is ready to excite, or not, who knows and for the 52ând time I head into a season hoping for the best, sort of expecting the worst but with no idea of what lies ahead. Did I say that dull is not a word we understand at Sunderland?
Good read Syd. I cant remember the last time I was so excited about the start of the season. Oh how I'm craving for revenge on the dark side. I can feel the force.
We need a good chant for the derby. Can I suggest we all learn this by heart, got to get the voice and accent just right though. [video=youtube;UqY3OpXsh-k]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UqY3OpXsh-k[/video]
Class article, sums it up nicely, nearly that time of year when normality returns and Saturday's don't seem hollow and dull!!
Syd, may be a stupid question as I thought i was quite savvy but how do you get the youtube clip window in your message?
I Know mate the atmosphere was unbelievable even the warm up drinks/atmosphere in the Victory club was something to behold as well.
When writing your message just click on the film strip icon on the message box tool bar then copy and paste the URL from the address bar at the top of IE into the pop up box.
[video=youtube;gqi-HwNp5H0]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gqi-HwNp5H0[/video] Ok, to link the vids direct to the forum. Find the video, I've used the youtube one above. Below the video on youtube click 'Share' option. Next to the link that appears, click the 'Show options' button. Put a tick in the 'Long link' box which gives you the full address path to the video instead of the shortened version. Copy and paste this link and attach it to this forum with the 'Insert Video' option... Et voila!!!
