St1pe

Didn't Villa reject Rafa based on fan opinion? Was that not McClaren?

They'll definitely get the points tonight. Anyone harbouring an hope is setting themselves up for more disappointment. The worst part about it all is that they fully deserve to stay up over us, we've been an absolutely shambles throughout the majority of the season.

I wonder if there's a realistic chance of Rafa staying? I guess it'll depend on a whole host of things. I don't really trust our board to give him the assurances that he would probably need to persuade him to stay.

I wonder if we'll actually have money to spend because we need 2-3 players now and that's before any of the first team players leave.

WE got promoted from the championship last time because the other teams didn't have finishers and we did. If he's our striker next season, we might well be the other team. We don't exactly play to his strengths though do we? If Andy Carroll had this lot for service he'd be absolutely knackered.

I think he'll be off but it wont be to Everton. He doesn't seem the sort that would manage a rival of a club he has a massive affiliation to.

It has probably been mentioned but there's a picture doing the rounds on twitter of the Villa fans taunting the away end waving a Sunderland shirt. Disgusting little club.

Created more for himself with his movement than Cisse has done in weeks. If he had started today we probably wouldn't have sat and watched wave after wave of shit Villa possession as we didn't have anyone to hold the ball up.

Fair play to them after being Chelsea at home after being 2-1 down. We had a solid attempt in recent weeks but the damage has already long been done. Some of our players are shocking and we're positionally imbalanced all over the pitch. I'm not as gutted as I thought I would of been and after watching that it's pretty clear we deserve it.

I won't be sad to see the back of a number of those players who'll leave next season.

Villa absolutely loving taking us down. Don't think I've ever hated a club as much in my life.

Anita being a mild plus point in this game.

Wow in 10 minutes we've gone from being in a good position to effectively being down.

Should have scored.

I think Wijnaldum for Perez would be a logical sub as well. Can't see what he's once again supposed to be offering the team.

Hope that spells the end of him ever starting for us again.

What was the point in fouling him there?

Just when you think them two couldn't be any worse.

Wow Colback.

Christ I don't mind sitting back if we break with purpose but it's so lethargic from the usual suspects.

Took our foot off the gas here and Villa are starting to look comfortable with the ball. I agree with a few comments on here Perez and Mitrovic could really make a difference.

It seems weird seeing us have so much of the ball. Probably the type of game Shelvey would do well in.

What the hell has happened to Depay.

Rooney looking well off the pace. I really doesn't hope he walks straight into the first 11 for the euros.

I'm similar to you really. After Norwich I was absolutely gutted, I fully believed we'd got ourselves relegated. My head says Sunderland and Norwich have better opportunities to stay up and that we'll surrender it at some point, but deep down I still believe Rafa will keep us up. It's the hope that kills you and it'll really hurt if/when we do go down.