Match Day Thread Sunderland AFC v Sheffield United – Championship Play-off Final - Saturday 24th May 2025 - KO 15:00

No shut it!

 

You know what... you raise an excellent point.

what should WE fight about?

 

the nerves have hit

over 70 odd hours till KO,

Friday night willl be like a kid on Xmas eve,

 

Apologies - he's gone on ignore now so I won't be responding any more.

In all seriousness though, people were getting banned from match threads for being "overly negative". We have somebody in here who actively wants us to lose our biggest match in a decade, and accuses people of being "blinded by ££££" if they want us to win. So I make no apology for calling it out.

We need fans together and behind the club. The club want promotion. I want promotion. And I won't be made to feel that I'm blinded by ££££ just because somebody else would rather club failed.

 

I absolutely detest VAR, it's sucking the enjoyment out of the sport but that is mainly down to the incompetence of the people behind the technology.

Does that mean I don't want to see Sunderland play in the best league in the world? Absolutely not. It ensures financial stability and attracts bigger investment.

I do think it will improve over time simply because it has to keep fans and clubs on board. There are so many simple things that can be done to make it quicker. Proposed changes to the offside rule will make a massive difference.

 

Aye, I'm just trying to ignore people who keep mithering on about the same stuff in every thread.

For a more productive conversation:
Sheffield United fans seem to be of the opinion Moore will just stick to O'Nien like glue and stay away from Ballard, is this something people are a bit worried about or can Luke handle his own against the big stiff idiot.

 

I think Ballard will handle him

 

Crosses into the box yeah, but if he matches up against our LCB is there much we can do?

 

I've given up doubting Luke. I'd back him to deal with Moore in open play.

On set pieces we can get Ballard on him.

 

Always rises to the occasion!
Just quite a long way to rise to meet that big freak.

 

Doesn't see much of the ball without crosses into the box usually I think?

 

Go long to him a fair bit, bypassing our midfield could become dangerous and I think all Luke can do is try and risk it and get in front of him or stay tight so he has to go back.

 

If VAR is the reason you don't want to go up, i'm sorry but you're an idiot. We are literally playing in a CHAMPIONSHIP game on Saturday with VAR. Plus, if you don't think VAR will be in the Championship within the next 3/4 years you're going to be very disappointed.

 

I hope we try and take the game to them at Wembley, I think we bossed them at Bramall Lane and looked better at the SOL too

 

I'm terrible with tactical knowledge, but if I was Luke I'd not challenge Moore in the air, let the big oaf win the first ball, then take it off him.

 

Yeah its the flick ons to Campbell that might cause problems but we handled him fine last time, if he had any sort of pace he'd be a nightmare.

 

Watched the pre-match stuff with Gab Sutton, felt like he made an interesting point about who we start on the right.

Roberts - More comfortable there, offers defensive support with Burrows and Hamer on that side but less dangerous going forward

Mayenda - Less of a natural winger, would stay high and hopefully pin Burrows to stay further back and restrict the support that Hamer gets.

 

have you got a link for that?

 

Gab Sutton is the one thing I miss about twitter. Incredible knowledge, thoughtful, considered. No dramatics or over-the-topism. I wish he had a youtube or website I could access his thoughts on.

 

Robinson is the key man to target. Burrows can't really defend either but is quality going forward so our right side is going to be crucial. Really don't want to see Roberts starting but if he is, Mayenda has to start. Mayenda gave Robinson nightmares at the SoL from the right of a front 2.