AyeDubbleYoo

I'd reluctantly say Shola, although only in the Championship obviously. I just don't know why he can't score the odd decent goal... it does seem like every one is either scuffed or bundled in.

That chance wasn't that easy to be fair, headers like that are always liable to go wrong.

I like being in the ground quite a while before kick off. At least half an hour. My only ritual is getting a tea and kit kat and settling down, lovely stuff.

Dunno what Benitez's probelm with Benayoun is, get him started FFS.

Sunderland are buying the right type of players like Darren Bent who would have come here if we hadn't got relegated. You can't compete in the premier without pace and athleticism, and that's why we'll need to invest next season. I know Nolan has done well this season, but when Ashley signed this type of player we were basically buying players for the Championship. this is true, we have to hope players like Ranger, Carol benefit from a year in the Championship, then are able to at laest compete at the higher level. The likes of Butt, Harewood, are not gonna get us aywhere if we get promoted. Yeah, Carroll and Ranger look like they might have the power and pace to compete at a higher level, buying younger players who have the hunger for football rather than pies is the way to go. We used to laugh at Sunderland when Andy Reid waddled out in their kit and while these type of players were first team regulars they were never going anywhere. Andy Reid's having a class season by the way... starts every game.

I only followed the text commentary, so please feel free to ignore this, but was their improvement/threat in the second half not just the normal thing that happens when a team has the game wrapped up early doors?

Where did Nolan operate today, just in normal central midfield?

It might be £20 in the Leazes corner, that's what I paid for Derby tickets the other day.

I always thought number 4 was a central midfielder.

Thing is though, fans now don't even know that number 2 ever was a right back's. These small squad numbers are a thing of the past.

To be honest I doubt he ever had much chance either way. If he'd gone to, say Blackburn or Everton and got 15+ goals he might have gone to the WC... but that was never going to happen. Anyway, Jonas!

The way Fergie still won't speak to the BBC. What a dick.

I have to keep remembering to compare our situation with where we expected to be. As TRon says, a lot of people were saying we would go down again... in that respect I'm very happy. Bit disappointed with some of our performances, but we still have a number of players, particuarly in attacking areas and midfield, who's lack of ability will obviously lead to some stale games.

Just watched the highlights on BBC, seems like they had very very few clear cut chances. Neither did we, but still.

Going up at the first attempt is the only outcome that allows any room for hope for the future of our club. If we fail we can say goodbye to all our decent players and any chance of recovery in the forseeable future. So if we go up I'll be ecstatic.

FYP Yep, that as well.

I think this might be to do with the fact that he needs to play a lot deeper for us because of our general lack of attacking flair. If he played for a club with some other decent players, he might have the freedom to collect the ball further up the pitch.

I love Jonas, just felt the need to say that again.

Sunderland just show how quickly a club can be turned around if the right players are aquired at the right times.

I 'agree' with the article as well, I just think it's too obvious to bother writing about. Also, I will be celebrating if we go up, that's what we're trying to acheive isn't it? Next season being hard doesn't mean we should be aiming to stay in the Championship forever.

I seem to remember the majority of people being right behind JFK when he gave the scum in the tabloid press some long-overdue abuse.

Fair enough, but everyone realises that already, I'm waiting for Simon's insightful piece about how green grass is.

I'm with JFK on the Simon Bird issue TBH. Obviously we'll struggle if we get promoted... but the alternative is not getting promoted, which is even worse.

Seems odd to suddenly start applying the fit and proper person test now.