What makes Sunderland different ...

[Smug in Boots]

... to Oxford, Blackpool and Lincoln?

Despite failing to go up automatically, having serious dips in form, etc, their supporters seem optimistic and excited about their play off chances.

Oxford have lost 16 games this season, Lincoln were top and 4 points clear in February while Blackpool recently lost to Rochdale and Shrewsbury to blow their chances of a top two place.

We're now going into a mini-league when winning 2 games from 3 can take you into the Championship ...

... individual moments of brilliance or defensive blunders can count more than form.

Haway the Lads, nothing to fear here imo.

 

[Oliver's Army]

I'm confident we will do it. As you say, nowt to fear just get the job done however we can.

 

[Porterfield73]

This will be the final Sunderland game for a lot of our squad, I just hope they decide to go out in a blaze of glory and enhance their cv's . Win and/or bust.

 

[Smug in Boots]

This will be the final Sunderland game for a lot of our squad, I just hope they decide to go out in a blaze of glory and enhance their cv's . Win and/or bust.

Any player will want to get to Wembley and, once there, want to win ...

... their friends and family will be watching whatever they think of the supporters.

For some this could be their last opportunity as you say.

 

[Iain]

... to Oxford, Blackpool and Lincoln?

Despite failing to go up automatically, having serious dips in form, etc, their supporters seem optimistic and excited about their play off chances.

Oxford have lost 16 games this season, Lincoln were top and 4 points clear in February while Blackpool recently lost to Rochdale and Shrewsbury to blow their chances of a top two place.

We're now going into a mini-league when winning 2 games from 3 can take you into the Championship ...

... individual moments of brilliance or defensive blunders can count more than form.

Haway the Lads, nothing to fear here imo.

I'm not sure if I'm confident or terrified.
Anything can happen so let's just pray we get want we all want.
On our day I believe we are the best side of the 4, just all depends if its our day.
Like you said one blunder or one moment of brilliance could decide.

 

[Blyth_bucaneer]

We've fcuked it up so many times, yet, each new season is a fresh start looked forward to with anticipation and excitement, people turning out in numbers home and away each new dawn. Irrespective of how it pans out with the playoffs, I am absolutely certain that the fresh new dawn upon us will be spectacular unlike anything seen previously, brand new world approaching in August.

 

[rooch 3]

I’ve supported Sunderland so long I just know if there is a team to f uck it up it’s ours I have no confidence at all that this team will take us up but I am praying like f uck they do.

 

[flandersmackem]

Its the hope that kills us...but that why we are Sunderland fans. I just have an inner feeling that this time we will do it.

 

[Football Dinosaur]

A lot of it has to do with the last 5 years. Not contect with a 19 and 15 point top flight finish in iving memory we've then plumited to the worst finish in the last few years. Its not that we don't want to be confident, its just the years of abject failure and the knowledge that the current squad is not as good as it should be. I feel we have belief it'll improve but we daren't be too confident for play offs having seen it all before.

 

[Smug in Boots]

I’ve supported Sunderland so long I just know if there is a team to f uck it up it’s ours I have no confidence at all that this team will take us up but I am praying like f uck they do.

I'm sure Newcastle supporters would say exactly the same tbh.

They've been absolutely consistently dreadful at Wembley, threw a 12 point title winning lead away, were recently relegated twice, lost 6 games in a row to their bitter rivals, failed to win a current major trophy in over half of their entire existence, lost the chance of Wembley to Brentford reserves.

They've ended up with a manager they hate and an owner content to circle the drain year after year ...

... they don't even own the ground their cherished cathedral stands on.

 

[Smug in Boots]

A lot of it has to do with the last 5 years. Not contect with a 19 and 15 point top flight finish in iving memory we've then plumited to the worst finish in the last few years. Its not that we don't want to be confident, its just the years of abject failure and the knowledge that the current squad is not as good as it should be. I feel we have belief it'll improve but we daren't be too confident for play offs having seen it all before.

I've been present at some glorious promotions from Rotherham to Roker to Luton, etc ...

... we didn't fail then and there's no reason we should now.

 

[master-simpson]

I reckon we’ll do it, but it won’t be pretty.

HAWAY!!!!!!

Bart

 

[Football Dinosaur]

I've been present at some glorious promotions from Rotherham to Roker to Luton, etc ...

... we didn't fail then and there's no reason we should now.

You're correct we've had some cracking moments in the past. But not with this squad, unless we count beating Tranmere in the cup. I'm hopeful of promotion (I wouldn't have shelled out £20 for the playoff ticket if I didn't have hope) but I'm mentally prepared for another season in this ****e league. Difference is if we do stay down I'm more hopeful of the current set up bringing in the right sort of player to get us up at a canter. If we do win play offs I'll be surprised but extatic like everyone else.

 

[Nig]

I'm sure Newcastle supporters would say exactly the same tbh.

They've been absolutely consistently dreadful at Wembley, threw a 12 point title winning lead away, were recently relegated twice, lost 6 games in a row to their bitter rivals, failed to win a current major trophy in over half of their entire existence, lost the chance of Wembley to Brentford reserves.

They've ended up with a manager they hate and an owner content to circle the drain year after year ...

... they don't even own the ground their cherished cathedral stands on.

And they're a bunch of deluded sad knackers.

 

[rooch 3]

I'm sure Newcastle supporters would say exactly the same tbh.

They've been absolutely consistently dreadful at Wembley, threw a 12 point title winning lead away, were recently relegated twice, lost 6 games in a row to their bitter rivals, failed to win a current major trophy in over half of their entire existence, lost the chance of Wembley to Brentford reserves.

They've ended up with a manager they hate and an owner content to circle the drain year after year ...

... they don't even own the ground their cherished cathedral stands on.

That’s all true but it doesn’t help us I’m afraid they obviously f uck it up a lot less than us as they are in the premiership.

 

[Smug in Boots]

That’s all true but it doesn’t help us I’m afraid they obviously f uck it up a lot less than us as they are in the premiership.

It depends how you look at it.

They haven't won a current major trophy since 1955, it's 1973 for us ...

... merely existing at the bottom of the league isn't success.

Even when they have a better team they still can't beat us.

 

[rooch 3]

It depends how you look at it.

They haven't won a current major trophy since 1955, it's 1973 for us ...

... merely existing at the bottom of the league isn't success.

Even when they have a better team they still can't beat us.

Aye and after saying all that I still don’t have one iota of confidence that this team can win one of the games never mind all three.

 

[Bigmackem]

Let’s be honest it’s a bit of a lottery , four very similar teams that are hard to split , probably one thing in our favour is that we are the most experienced battle hardened side of the four and hopefully will stand us in good stead . The bookies have us as favourites so they seem to have more faith in us than the fans , let’s hope this faith isn’t misplaced . Let the battle commence . Welcome back Smug you are straight back in to the posting rhythm.

 

[DH4]

Just watched Leicester win the FA Cup on telly. It was only about 5 years ago they were our relegation "rivals". Just goes to show what can be done with competent owners with a plan.

 

[Smug in Boots]

Let’s be honest it’s a bit of a lottery , four very similar teams that are hard to split , probably one thing in our favour is that we are the most experienced battle hardened side of the four and hopefully will stand us in good stead . The bookies have us as favourites so they seem to have more faith in us than the fans , let’s hope this faith isn’t misplaced . Let the battle commence . Welcome back Smug you are straight back in to the posting rhythm.

I don't have blind faith mate, we're simply a team that can blow any of these teams away with the talent we have. We were supposed to lose to Lincoln in the Cup, lose at Portsmouth and lose at Peterborough ... but we didn't.

I agree it's a lottery but we have a ticket and a chance of winning. None of the other teams have Wyke, McGeady or Jones, let alone Gooch, Hume or Maguire. They're all game changers and game winners, we only need to win two more and we've already won plenty this season.