The Sunderland thread

Now you've watched yer soaps you can watch the play off

stopped watching Corras, gone to ****.

May 10, 2025 -- 2:19PM, grayhawk wrote:

sick of it, same old dirge, nee characters. need new writers.

Time for a strongly worded letter

May 10, 2025 -- 3:07PM, grayhawk wrote:

Time for a strongly worded letter

gone beyond that completely jumped the shark.

I expect you to be there at 6pm M2...cheering the lads in and setting off flares .....i'll personally be owwer the town lubricating the tonsils

May 12, 2025 -- 3:22PM, grayhawk wrote:

I expect you to be there at 6pm M2...cheering the lads in and setting off flares .....i'll personally be owwer the town lubricating the tonsils

will be there early , can envisage problem at turnstiles, drinking days are over, 32 days now without a quaff

Good on yer....I'll be there for about 7:30 - probably be easier than usual to get in about then.

Drinking days over for good?

May 12, 2025 -- 7:13PM, grayhawk wrote:

Good on yer....I'll be there for about 7:30 - probably be easier than usual to get in about then.Drinking days over for good?

not sure, see how it goes for the moment, phasing different foods in at moment, had me fust bit of cheese today.

Hope everything turn out right..

May 12, 2025 -- 7:41PM, grayhawk wrote:

Hope everything turn out right..

cheers, just got to be careful at moment, think be alcohol free holiday in a few weeks.

I'll be thinking of yer M2 as i'm sinking me first cold one in the sun

May 13, 2025 -- 1:32PM, grayhawk wrote:

I'll be thinking of yer M2 as i'm sinking me first cold one in the sun

puffs

im rooting for sunderland tonight cmon ucan win this one

not done easy way, dear me. paid out on DB too , no doubt will be getting it debited at some point

debited

Fantastic evening (although had to admit Coventry were the better team in all 4 halves) 

Hope your Wembley ticket purchases are stress-free

May 14, 2025 -- 2:00PM, Poppydog. wrote:

Fantastic evening (although had to admit Coventry were the better team in all 4 halves)

was stressful but all sorted, looks as though problems now as non st holders been able to purchase.

https://x.com/secondtierpod/status/1922433539775004777 

Trawling through countles clips today online, this (1min 30) video is the best so far.

thought  we were better team in second half of e/t  ,Cov were tiring badly. Rigg out wide and Le Fee in middle made a difference.

Yeah, agree.

Did say the 4 proper 45min halves though

I had the page up for Wembley tickets and couldn't understand, how I could freely put tickets into the basket
Most of the top tier was still available, plus several in lower tiers.

Guilty conscience got the better of me and didn't purchase (non-ST holder living on the South Coast),
so will hope for the best in the weeks to come.

Managed to get tickets for '90, '92, '98 and others including the last two Play Off finals, so fingers crossed

looks like suspending tickets bought by non st holders now.

Really.

That's a logistical nightmare and going to cause a lot of anger
(correct decision thought)

think its fairest way.

Still no ticket here..mate trying to buy four in our network....brother no ticket yet trying to buy three in his network and another lad the same with three in his network .

All season ticket holders....fook you Ticketmaster

Glad it's not me trying to buy them cos the stress would do me in

Mate thinks h might have broke his phone cos says he lost his blob and has launched his phone three times

neetmare, tm not fit for purpose.

Where's the helpline to sort problems ...obviously there isn't one

If hundreds of people are having the exact same problem then the issue must be with Ticketmaster.

Sorry there does seem to be a helpline....which isn't helping though

aye, defo a tm problem.

Finally got them half an hour ago....lad who got them has just been blue-lighted to Dryburn suffering from an episode of sever stress overload

Glad i was just on sorting the trains this morning...that was bad enough for me after not rising from the cot till gone eight after a late night and seeing sold out on all the mid morning trains.

Got 4 spares,.. Much less than a grand

May 14, 2025 -- 5:11PM, grayhawk wrote:

Finally got them half an hour ago....lad who got them has just been blue-lighted to Dryburn suffering from an episode of sever stress overload Glad i was just on sorting the trains this morning...that was bad enough for me after not rising from the cot till gone eight after a late night and seeing sold out on all the mid morning trains.

mrs mm was on train duty last night once result known, going on Thursday pm back on Monday pm

Apparently Police have warned Sunlun fans not to take flares in to Wembley Stadium even though thats what they wore the last time they won there.

Stopping at family down there again?

Friday morning- Sunday afternoon here

Can't be a grand stopping with family...

May 14, 2025 -- 10:30PM, grayhawk wrote:

Stopping at family down there again? Friday morning- Sunday afternoon here

aye got me double penthouse suite booked

Trackman
Trackman14 May 25 19:49Joined: 10 Jan 02 | Topic/replies: 45,089 | Blogger: Trackman's blog
Apparently Police have warned Sunlun fans not to take flares in to Wembley Stadium even though thats what they wore the last time they won there.

boom boom

In reality with all these Micky Mouse cup competitions and lower league play offs i doubt that anyone outside the top clubs have played at Wembley more times in the last seven or eight years.

aye, bet London econonmy receives a boost with all these games.

.....aye keeping some of these pubs in business M2

exactly, anyhoo 3pm ko

Aye finally

plod wanted early ko  sky wanted 5.30 apparently.

Glad it's not early ko ...absolutely hate them - spoils the whole day

May 15, 2025 -- 3:51PM, grayhawk wrote:

Glad it's not early ko ...absolutely hate them - spoils the whole day

been hell on with people on  trains on Sarrada morning.

Aye four of our group are just stopping the one night and getting the train down Saturday morning..

hopefully on an earlyish train ?

Aye think they get there for around 9am.

overcast morning here in Teddington

fantastic ---welcome back to the prem

well Done lads

so good to see a 6 time top flight winners back to where they belong ,,well done enjoy your celebrations

Come on Betfair..get next seasons relegation market up

May 25, 2025 -- 9:54PM, grayhawk wrote:

Come on Betfair..get next seasons relegation market up

   How do you know which way i'm playing ....could be a backer or a layer

Still paggered here and it's not like i overindulged Saturday night neither ....

We've never been so popular. Well, since 73

So many people underrated Sunderland actual ability going into playoffs

Pity some players could leave just as you get to promised land.

Spending crucial now

So many people underrated Sunderland actual ability going into playoffs

Pity some players could leave just as you get to promised land.

Spending crucial now

spending /recruitment going to have to be spot on.

Callum Fowler on youtube gives a very perceptive video on whether the 3 sides could stay up. The only bit i maybe disagreed with on the Safc section was that Mundle couldn't step up.  But i guess he's basing that more on Saturday than early season

Don't worry about staying up (not happening) -- just enjoy the days out

We will just keep building for the future, as we have done for 5 years since kld arrived

For those who watched on as we lost the most popular manager of a generation to the England job, only for him to get sacked after just one game. For those who watched us replace him with a manager who never wanted to be here, never respected the football club, and told us we were in a relegation battle after just two games. For those who had to watch Jack Rodwell (or, not watch Jack Rodwell as he sat on the sidelines earning seventy grand a week), Papy Djilobodji, Joleon Lescott, Donald Love, Didier Ndong, Darron Gibson, Adnan Januzaj, and co. plunge us to relegation. That Victor Anichebe tweet. All the **** with Ricky Alvarez. For those who watched us turn down £24m for Lamine Koné from Everton, only to lose him for nowt a few years later. For those who paid good money to travel and watch us destroyed by Everton, Arsenal, Stoke, Swansea, Burnley, and Southampton. For those who, after a genuinely horrific season, then stood in the stands at Stamford Bridge and watched our club take part in a celebration of John Terry’s career, going on to lose 5-1, which just capped off an embarrassing and soul-destroying relegation. That was for us.

For those who watched the most embarrassing season of our lives documented in living colour on Netflix as we dropped into the third tier of English football. The Celtic pre-season game. “Why am I looking at Ibrahimović at the bottom of this list?” For those who had to stand by and watch as the people trusted to look after our football club just gave up. For those who suffered Martin Bain - “At the moment, the whole outside world thinks Sunderland has nothing to offer”, the end of the Ellis Short reign, and Margaret Byrne. Simon Grayson’s flipchart… and then him getting sacked in the tunnel after a midweek draw with Bolton. For those who suffered the embarrassment of Darron Gibson making national news, not only for gatecrashing a wedding pissed and slagging off the club whilst someone recorded him, but for getting the sack after smashing his and several other cars to pieces as he drove drunk through Fulwell. Brendan Galloway. Lee Camp, Jason Steele. Jason Steele getting sent off for punching the ball ten yards outside his box. That Millwall game where Robbin Ruiter hoyed two into his own net. Marc Wilson. Being so **** that Lewis Grabban was desperate to cut his loan short in January. Jake Clarke-Salter getting sent off practically every time he was on the pitch. James Vaughan cupping his ears to the Sunderland fans after scoring his first goal in about thirty games away at Burton Albion, having done the square root of **** all in every game prior. Signing Ashley Fletcher out of pure desperation. That ****g **** pinstripe kit. “PAY THE REF!” “Bristanbul” being the highlight of the Coleman era. Getting relegated by Darren Bent and Burton Albion. Finishing bottom of the table and then beating the champions 3-0 in our final match of the season. Chris Coleman getting offered out by a fan outside the ground after the game. Pink seats. The stadium and academy dropping to bits, and nobody in a position of power giving a **** about it. That was for us.

For those who stood by as an AFC Wimbledon striker turned us down to go to Charlton instead because Richard Hill wouldn’t agree to pay for him to stay in a hotel, and saw every decent academy prospect sold to help pay the bills. Employing Paul Reid to manage the academy. Paying the likes of Oviedo and Cattermole Premier League wages while we were in League One. Donald and Methven. Changing the music that was synonymous with the club to some EDM ****. Jerome Sinclair and Kazaiah Sterling. Mags turning up at every away game. Drawing our way out of the automatic promotion race in 2018/19, losing to Burton Albion, Walsall, Fleetwood, and Southend. Selling our top scorer to pay off our mortgage debt and then floundering to replace him with Will Grigg, who never actually wanted to be here and used to commute every day from the North West. Tom Flanagan having his trolley tipped up in Tesco by a Sunderland fan. Rochdale creating commemorative mugs when they played us. Scoring four goals against Coventry and still losing. 26,000 turning up for a playoff semi-final. That ugly Pompey fan trying to punch Luke O’Nien. Losing on penalties at Wembley. Losing in the last minute of the playoff final, again at Wembley, after being gifted a 1-0 lead. Having to sign our sixth-choice left-back target, Laurens De Bock, because we couldn’t get anyone else in. Jake Vokins, Declan John, Callum McFadzean. Tommy Smith. Joel Lynch. Glenn Loovens. Jack Baldwin. Re-signing Danny Graham. Jim Rodwell. For those who still bought the new kits despite the club having to stick a charity sponsor logo over the **** one, and it looking a complete ****g mess. Scraping a draw against a skint Bolton side that was full of players from their Under-18s side. Charlie Methven calling our fans uneducated. William Storey, Mark Campbell, MSD Holdings. Phil Parkinson. Maguire and McGeady’s “McDonaldsGate”. Parkinson banishing the only decent player we had to the Under-23s because he was too opinionated. **** away days like Accrington, where we got absolutely pissed on. Darius Charles, “This is our house.” Every Mag-supporting clogger in the league managing to score against us and celebrating like Alan Shearer. Embarrassing **** like the club’s Twitter account tweeting about Kyle Lafferty playing the flute when we signed him. Losing away at Lincoln, Shrewsbury, Burton (again), and Gillingham. Getting beat by Leicester’s Under-21s in the EFL Trophy. Having to play Newcastle’s Under-21s in the same competition. Sitting in 15th place in the League One table on Boxing Day. One of our former academy players scoring twice against us for Gillingham, then losing to Bristol Rovers, which cost us promotion when the season was ended during the pandemic. Having to rely on the EFL cameraman. Playing a full season of third-tier football behind closed doors and not being able to properly support our team, watching from home as we lost to Mansfield Town, Fleetwood Town, and MK Dons. Losing twice to Mansfield in the first round of the FA Cup. Being robbed of watching our team finally win a game at Wembley. Going out in the playoffs against Lincoln City, consigning us to a fourth season of League One football. Max Power’s 40-yard shot over the bar. Going again the next season, but losing once more to Burton Albion. Some kid pissing himself in his seat in the Roker End with his pants down and the post going viral. Getting absolutely battered at Fratton Park (4-0) when it hammered it down with rain. Similar beatings away at Rotherham (5-1), Sheffield Wednesday (3-0), and Bolton (6-0). Chris Maguire scoring a hat-trick against us for Lincoln and laughing in our manager’s face. Forced rivalries. Every single team coming to the Stadium of Light and putting eleven men behind the ball and treating it like they’re in the final of the FA Cup. Losing against Doncaster in front of 40,000 fans for Jermain Defoe’s big return, and then losing to relegation-threatened Cheltenham. Four years in League One. QPR’s goalkeeper scoring a header in the last minute against us. Alex Neil ****g us off to watch Stoke play whilst he was still employed by the club, then coming back with his side and beating us 5-1 at the Stadium of Light. Michael Beale and his burner account. Plastering black and white **** all over the Black Cats Bar, rolling out the red carpet for the mags and having to live with the embarrassment. That was for us.

For those who kept on buying their season tickets and travelling up and down the country to watch us play at some proper ****s, sometimes getting beat and having to trudge all the way back. For those who had to suffer relentless piss-taking from fans of other clubs because we had no comeback - as we all knew they were right, and we were ****g ****. For those who, despite Sunderland being a League One club, filled the Stadium of Light for a game against Bradford on Boxing Day and turned London red and white on four separate occasions. For those who still bought their season tickets during the Covid season out of pure loyalty to the football club. For those who hounded **** owners out and backed the good ones. For those who have supported Kyril Louis-Dreyfus, Kristjaan Speakman, and their staff because they believe in the project. For those who didn’t lose sight of the bigger picture when we were trying to completely revamp the image and culture of the football club. For those who lined the streets of Sunderland and truly got behind ’Til the End. For those who have spent thousands and thousands and thousands and thousands and thousands of pounds to devote themselves to this football club. For those who kept the faith.

For those who couldn’t be there with us in person but were definitely there in spirit.

For those who are young enough to have had a choice but, for whatever reason, fell in love with Sunderland AFC. The future generation of this football club, carrying our message along with them over the coming decades. For those who care. For those who cried happy tears as Sunderland finally put to bed the misery of the last eight years. For those who will be there next season in the Premier League and won’t falter at the first sign of struggle.

That was for you. That was for all of us. ****g enjoy it. You deserve it. We deserve it.

Long twitter thread from Roker Report today

Can we agree that we shouldn't touch Hendo with a barge pole?

May 28, 2025 -- 10:58PM, GeorgeBrush wrote:

Can we agree that we shouldn't touch Hendo with a barge pole?

not sure, depends on wages,will bring a lot of experience,  its the Saudi connection that makes me uncomfortable. Still can't believe he could be so naive.

Someone on the smb... If he's **** in his normal role try him at centre half.

Sounds sensible.

I think we are more blessed in the brains department and won't be going anywhere near him

If only you could bottle the feeling of euphoria you experience for the first 20-30 seconds when scoring a late winner in a big game ....sell it and you'd sharp be a millionaire.

Feeling it in back to back games is plain greedy

Can't beat a late winner

Well a late winner to wrap up a come from behind victory just about beats it.

And being there, and seeing joy around you... Enjoy it!

Jun 1, 2025 -- 8:30PM, grayhawk wrote:

If only you could bottle the feeling of euphoria you experience for the first 20-30 seconds when scoring a late winner in a big game  ....sell it and you'd sharp be a millionaire.Feeling it in back to back games is plain greedy

never get 3 consecutive games like that ( for  us )

Keane had a run of last minutes winners, nothing on that scale of course

[img]https://images.onesite.com/community.betfair.com/user/poppydog./fd3e636...

Looks like we've been given a chance of an Okay start.

I can see only 2 nailed-on defeats in the first 13 games all the way up until December (Chelsea, Arsenal)

(Mind you if we get off to a bad start, it's going to be a long, long season)

Worked this time

december looks a nightmare

Seemingly linked to a different standard of player to what i was expecting this off season...let's hope they're as good as they sound cos i personally don't know who they are

Jun 28, 2025 -- 11:03PM, grayhawk wrote:

Seemingly linked to a different standard of player to what i was expecting this off season...let's hope they're as good as they sound cos i personally don't know who they are

kyrils fund his ma's purse.

Aye .....bish bosh whop out yer wad #loadsamoney

Jun 28, 2025 -- 11:37PM, grayhawk wrote:

Aye  .....bish bosh whop out yer wad #loadsamoney

wow, Sadiki looks a bit warm.

Pleasing that we're trying to get plenty of business done early on..... to have ANY chance of stopping up we can't have a terrible start like we invariably got off too the last time we were in Prem...the way the fixtures have landed have afforded us an opportunity to avoid that and we have to do everything we can to help by getting a team in place as early as poss

Don't know them mesell but these two young midfield lads we're signing look to have plenty of legs about them which for me we badly needed.....experience is overrated

How many more needed??

Striker
Wide left
Wide right
Another central midfielder
Two centre halves
Right back and a goalie

cb, keeper, central mf,  forward would be me priorities.

Buying a team of little whippets aren't we ...some pace and energy

A coupla centre halves next please ( goalscoring ones says M2 )

still a cb and a cf required plus a keeper.

Fund the Pickford money at last.

Jul 10, 2025 -- 8:42AM, Trackman wrote:

Fund the Pickford money at last.

and the rest

Two centre halves along with others for me M2...and another central midfielder, preferably with some height

cant start with Ballard and ONien as cbs.

Have to dig oot them old parashoot
payments set aside for a rainy day.