Obviously part of this malaise that many people on here are feeling is down to the position SAFC are in currently. However, many people I talk to, supporters of other clubs etc, are expressing a general disillusionment with football. I've been watching non-league for the last couple of seasons and to some extent that has been a breath of fresh air but even at that level things happen that are comparable to the worst things about football at the top level. As an antidote, I recommend watching the film Brothers in Football.
Phil Parkinson has highlighted the importance of issuing a strong performance against Burton Albion on Tuesday night. Sunderland continue their Sky Bet League One campaign when the Brewers visit the Stadium of Light tonight for a 7.45pm kick-off. Boosted by Benji Kimpioka’s dramatic stoppage-time leveller against Coventry City, Parkinson has called for his players to build on the momentum they got from that when they go again this evening on home turf. The Sunderland boss has also reiterated the need to produce a performance that gives his side the best chance of claiming three points with no game 'til December 7 after tonight. “We have got to build on the momentum of the last-minute equaliser at the weekend,” he said. “It is a 'must perform well' game, play to the best of our ability and look to win three points. “They will play 4-3-3 so we know their personnel. I have managed against Nigel several times and he is a very good manager who sets his teams up extremely well. “We are confident we know how they are going to play but as I said to the lads this morning, it's about how we play and how we can improve on Saturday to take us to the next level. “Any game you go into you go out to win,” he continued. “When people say it is 'must-win' that creates tension. It is a 'must perform to the best of our ability' game. “We want to concentrate on the factors we feel are important against Burton, take the positives from Saturday and improve on them and then hopefully we can go to another level which will result in three points.”
It's about money and nothing but money. I've seen many reasonable and logical comments about 'building slowly and sensibly'. Balls to that. Bring in money/manager/scouts/coaches/players etc and buy me a trophy ffs! Huddersfield tried plan A and got to the PL, now they're on the way to League One. I'll take plan B and do a Portsmouth tbh ... ... win summat and drop through the leagues. Can't be any worse than what we've done.
It is about money. And its about egos. Both of those erode any feeling of connection to a club in my opinion. I want to feel that the club winning really matters. And that's what I found through non-league to some extent, although in reality that's down to a direct personal connection. I want to see players who care about the club, who care about the fans, and for the winning, and the losing, to be a shared experience. Not a vicarious but hollow victory based on someone else's money. And that's why tonight I'll be going to watch Corinthian-Casuals. Unlike other teams in their league, the players are not paid and play for the love of the game.
Ha! Probably! All joking aside, there are some excellent players at that level, a lot of them have been let go by much bigger clubs. I saw Matthew Briggs last season who was at one point the youngest player to play in the Premier League. I've not seen Corinthian-Casuals before (it's been an ambition for a few years though) so I don't know what they'll be like but the two wingers who play for the club I usually watch are probably good enough for League 2 at least and Bradford City signed a defender from one of the teams in the same league at the beginning of this season. The standard is high and you do see some good games.
I don't have Sky Sport and I haven't watched Match of the Day for about five years as I find it tedious rather than a pleasure, pundits who talk ****e just for something to say, and now VAR seems to be making things ten times worse, fans can't celebrate a goal now in case the review cancel it out. Money is ruining football it's no longer a level playing field and teams are going out of business and nobody seems to care, and yes I know this isn't a new phenomenon but it feels like the haves don't care about the have nots. I enjoy watching my grandson play (hes12) and you get honest endeavour and none of the histrionics you see in the professional game, I also enjoy seeing young 16 year old Referees trying to make a go of it despite some over enthusiastic parents, grass roots football has a lot to offer imo. Your right it is our current situation that's brought about this feeling of malaise I'm currently experiencing and I'm sure if we win the next six games I'll get my mojo back. Football eh, it drives you crackers or makes you euphoric all within a few short weeks.
I was only joking maybe 20%, the championship and the prem are good leagues but anything below that is similar in terms of the quality of the football being played. Success in league one is more to do with physicality than anything else and it's not a great watch.
Yeah I know you are right....sometimes a mate asks if I am using my season ticket for night matches (I often have to babysit) this time he has said he is not bothered!
VAR is shocking. I was at West Ham against Spurs on Saturday when it was used and although the final decision was probably right it was just a farce and no one knew what was happening. Like I said, see if you can catch Brothers in Football on the ITV player. Plenty of people are saying that watching that has restored a little bit of their faith in football.
Your right, and we were not prepared for it, its cost us a whole season, losing the play off final was hard to take.
I have gone into every game we’ve ever played thinking we’ll win. Tonight we will score 3 goals to Burton Albion's 1, that will start an unbeaten run from here until January when we will reinforce and finish second. Easy.
It's definitely a test of fans loyalty at the moment. I've been going for 30+ years and I've decided I'm using no more holidays (from work) to go to games. My sons had a season ticket with me for the last 5yr and I can't get over that he still loves to go after seeing 2 relegations, the disappointment of last season and the crap that's on show this season
I rate my support, over the last 50 years, as highly as anyone's ... ... but I know I've faltered this season. I've an opportunity to take a 2 year contract, in the south of France, which I'd turn down if we were looking as if we were making progress. But I'm tempted and that's sad after having arranged endless holidays, jobs, family events, etc around watching the Lads. I don't have to decide until the end of January ... ... so I'm praying for a run of wins and a good transfer window
I’d like to think it would depend on how we played but unless we win we’ll be deemed sh*te by many - far too often the performance is determined by the result
