"Sunderland will be in the top division, scoring goals in every game they play" I can almost hear the faint sounds of Bobby Knoxall ringing in my ears now......the chants of we shall not be moved......... and the ghost of one little fella, dressed in a beige mack and trilby, scampering across the hallowed turf of the English HQ to hug a Cup final hero. Everton have won league championships and Cups in that time and Liverpool won just about everything else. The Reds even have a trophy this season and 2 would be just greedy. Wouldn't it? Spurs and Chelsea have more glitter between them in their trophy room from the last 40 years, than we have in our entire history. Fate determined that we would eventually attract our man Marty this season and he has resurrected our club. We play like a team and we fight for each other. The fans are once again united in their support and our players seem to have grasped the occasion. Its got to be our turn again sometime.....hasn't it? I mean, I just want to see them lift a trophy once in my lifetime. Not greedy you understand, we can let Man Utd, Arsenal, Liverpool and the rest have it all back again next year, I'm just desperately hungry for that little piece of history for myself. Something to tell my grand-kids about. To say I was there. Something from today not form a bygone era. Come on SAFC players and Martin O'Neill. Deliver us from this 40 year famine and write a page of history. Glory awaits you all Tuesday and momentum could just take us all the way. Marty's Red and White Army. "Ooh....oh...oh oh oh .......... Neill"
I can't wait for Tuesday night where hopefully the roar of the crowd will drive us on to victory...I will be near the front of the North Stand for this game, having been moved from the SE Corner to accommodate the Everton fans, and will be doing my bit to get the North Stand in full voice...
Nice post Cest by the way.. But i'm gonna hoy the cat amongst the pigeons here..... If, and it's a big IF SAFC were to lift the cup, what knock on effect could it have for the club? I have read many posts saying it will allow us to attract top players.....Higher Prem placing, higher transfers fee's and certainly higher wages would determie that... Try to think outside the SAFC box of thoughts......
I think its just the place it would put us Comm would change the club. We have been described as a sleeping giant for the past 40 years or more. We need to start to deliver to prove that and a cup would be a good place. All the talk of players being homesick or not settling or not fancying the NE would dissapear in a heartbeat if we can lift silverware. We are not crap payers of wages but we are unfashionable. We dont win anything or ever look like it and that puts better players off. Do you think Sessegnon will wnat away if he has a cup winners medal in his locker and the prospect of playing with better players? Mon has lit the blue touch paper. It hasnt gone off yet but I sense the players have bought into it now as well. They believe it can happen now as well as us. Thats the difference I mean.
I don't know if Sunderland are ready for Europe tbh. I would love to see us playing in Europe, but with our squad stretched thin as it is playing in the league and the FA cup, imagine throwing European games in there aswell...? Or would people be happy to see us compete in Europe and the league, and throw away matches in the cup to minimize games? Or use Europe as a stepping stone to getting better players, but not concentrate on that but focus on the league and the FA cup? We need to build a good squad, one with depth and class. And I know what some people will say - we need Europe to attract that better class of player. But if we get Europe and dont do to well, wont people start calling for Marty's head as he 'wont be able to take us to a European cup?' Just the fickle fans will be out in force then. Maybe im mistaken, but there is 2 sides to every coin.
Nice piece Cest. As a 31 year old, I've seen us win nothing. 3 trips to Wembley, 3 defeats, a golden chance blown with the Millwall semi defeat, the highlights the 105 point season, sadly not in the top flight, and the first 7th under Reid. To answer Comm, the FA Cup final is watched by hundreds of millions worldwide. If we are there, our new kit with the new sponsor will be on show, if we win, as underdogs (whoever we meet in a theoretical final will be favourites) the club instantly becomes marketable to these millions. This would also mean European football, and that means taking our travelling army of well behaved and passionate fans to cities where people will see what we're all about. It's the start. We all accept that the Toon are higher profile due to European football, well, this is where we need to start. I have a feeling, that if we secures Euro football, and therefore and increased turnover, Ellis hand would go a lot deeper into his pocket. Let's not forget the billions he received from the company sale a few months back.
