Stray Mackem

I've got to say as a Sunderland fan for the fat end of 40 years, I don't consider myself, or the club I support "lucky". It's been fucking turgid for the vast majority of the time I've supported them

Great post. If you read some of my previous posts I agree with you regarding Newcastle being a better city, in many ways. But we have one crucial thing in common, football daft fans who have been repeatedly sold down the river. The way we have been treated by the owners/chairmen of our clubs is shameful. Even the ones who profess to be "one of us" have pocketed millions from our support (they know who they are). We need trophies in the North East, and is an absolute travesty that our clubs have been potless for as many years as they have. I honestly believe that no other area of this country would attract the support our clubs get, with fuck all to show for it in almost 90 years combined. The reason I joined this forum was to try and get at least some fans to enter into some reasonable dialogue, to find common ground, and take it from there. Yes, I've taken part in the puerile name calling (I've never used the letters FTM) on other forums, but even if just a few of us move away from that, we could actually find some issues that actually bring us a little closer together, instead of fueling the faux hatred against people we actually get on really well with when we meet face to face at work etc.

I actually think they'll either beat us by 4 or more, or we'll sneak it by one goal, or on penalties.

I might get slightly irrational after Sunday, either way

Bit harsh I get the feeling that you don't like Mackems, which when you think about it makes absolutely no sense. I wouldn't dream of saying I don't like Geordies, because I've not met a single one I've not got on great with. In fact one of my best mates is a Mag. As for the empty seats, yes it's disappointing, but most rational Sunderland fans don't get too hung up on attendances. I long ago conceded that Newcastle have always, and will probably always have, better attendances than Sunderland. I'm happy with that. And as for getting excited about Sunday ? Oh yes, I certainly am. Small club mentality ? It depends how you define 'small club', because if you look at the amount of trophies Newcastle and Sunderland have won since 1974, then sadly we're both small time Rather than constantly sniping at each other, both Newcastle and Sunderland fans should be asking their respective clubs, who regularly attract 90,000 fans each week between them, why they haven't collected one single pot in almost 90 years combined. That's the most shameful statistic, not empty seats at the stadiums.

Aye, this is the worry of many Sunderland fans, myself included. The last two games that have been postponed were probably un-winnable anyway (Liverpool & Man City) but the West Brom at home game which has been postponed for the final will probably be a must win game, and if it's rescheduled at a shitty time it could cost us dearly. I think you'll find that most Sunderland fans, even the majority on SMB, by no means think we're safe.

Who is that in the Why Aye Man outfit ?

The quarter final isn't going to be easy no matter who we get. Hull seem to have the Indian sign over us this season, and Brighton away is no way an easy fixture. I'd probably prefer Hull because we are due a result against them. As for Pardew's (Ashley's) attitude towards the cup competitions, well that is truly baffling. The only realistic chance of any silverware, and he treats it with contempt.

Right, it's time to put this attendance debate to bed forever (wishful thinking). Newcastle have always had higher average attendances than Sunderland. I accept that and I wish other Sunderland fans would too. Here's the stats ;- NUFC av. att :- http://i60.tinypic.com/2vjpx7t.png SAFC av. att. :- http://i58.tinypic.com/23gyd1f.png As for our attendances for the cup games this season, I really have no idea why they are so low, but I agree it looks terrible when we're on TV.

Those first two are awful reasons. Sure it's the earliest game, but how does a 12.45 KO prevent people from coming? Not like it affects league games at that time. I'm not there, and I won't be at Wembley. Purely financial reasons

Aye, we'll still be in the bottom 3 after that, but I don't think we'll be cut adrift as there is a lot of shit at the bottom of the league this season. It's simple really. If we can win our home games then we'll stay up regardless of what the other teams around us do. If we don't win those games, as has happened all season, then it's bye bye, and we'll deserve to go down. We can't even blame the fact that we're in a cup final, because we've picked up some very good results even with that distraction.

You missed West Brom at home, to be rearranged due to the Cup Final. But I agree that we need to start winning our home games starting March 15th. If we don't we're fooked. Going down doesn't really bother me, we've done it so many times in my almost 40 years of supporting Sunderland I've become desensitised to it. I'd obviously rather stay up, but it's not the end of the world if we don't make it. Not too long ago we had one point from 8 games, and were playing the worst football I've seen since Howard Wilkinson was with us. We now have 24 points from 25 games, are out of the bottom 3 (just!), in a cup final, and are playing proper football. The future isn't as bad as it looked 6 months ago.

TBH I wouldn't be that bothered if he went. He's never been consistent, as has been highlighted perfectly in his last 4 or 5 games. He has the odd stand out game but he is far too often below par.

That was the most damaging result of the season so far. The results we are getting at home against the teams around us are pitiful. Will we stay up ? I honestly think it's to close to call, and I wouldn't even guess at the 3 to go down, although Fulham look very poor. We will be in the bottom three by the time our next home league game on 15th March and we'll need to kick on again after that.

I seem to remember Chopra getting loads of stick while he was with you. I was a season ticket holder at the time, and the only occasion I remember Chopra getting stick was when he missed a sitter in the derby (some say deliberately). It's what he's said about us on social media since he left which makes him hated by many fans. As for Lee Clark, he's still one of my all time favourite midfielders, and I, along with many others, was gutted when he was forced to leave. I still think an apology would have sufficed.

OK, it's back down to Earth this week, and the first visit of Steve Bruce since we peddled him. TBH I've got nothing against the bloke, and some of the stick he gets from some of our fans is not deserved. There are some threads on SMB discussing how we should welcome him back. I think it would be nice if we just treat him as another manager, and get behind our players. The 3 points tomorrow are a must, and we don't need the distraction of a Steve Bruce sideshow. Not even a draw is good enough when you look at our up coming fixtures. Oh, and I'm loving the protracted debate regarding the 03 name

Obviously a very happy Mackem here, but I've not come on to gloat (have you seen our fixture list!). What was Pardew thinking of yesterday with the long ball game ? I watched you against Norwich and you played some great football and should have won. Then, come derby day, he changes it completely and starts knocking it long to Shola. Baffling. I've defended Pardew in the past, because I thought some of the stick he gets on Mags forums is undeserved, but yesterday he was hopeless. I'd say that defeat was almost entirely his doing. Well done to the Sunderland players though. Last seasons 0-3 was a lot closer than the scoreline suggests, what with Newcastle having a perfectly good goal chalked off, and we scored three of our best goals of the season. This year it was fully deserved. Anyway, we've got Hull at home next, which is a must win because our next Premier League home game is March 15th !

Lets be honest, it's not really going to make any difference. Regardless of whether he plays or not, we will have to play our best football for years, and they need to have a massive off day. I know it happened last year with Wigan, but City look pretty much invincible under Pelligrini. I'd rate our chances at 20/1.

I'll be amazed if he doesn't play considering how poor our forwards have been this season.

No. I was referring to the first leg and also how well we defended.

Phew, that was close ! Probably one of our worst performances under Poyet and yet a rare 3 points at home. After controlling the first 25 mins, and getting a goal up we lost all of our shape (how the fuck does that happen in football ?) and Stoke didn't deserve to lose. We've played much better in games and came away with nothing, I suppose that's how football works eh ? That's also the worst I've seen Ki play, and I hate to say it but we missed Cattermole. Anyway, we're out of the bottom 3, which is something I thought wasn't possible after Di Canio, and our recent form is very encouraging :- http://i60.tinypic.com/or13xk.png Now, to the derby on Saturday. I honestly can't call it, and as ever I'd happily take a draw, but I also think that Pardew bottles it and we have a slim chance. If we play like we did today, then the bragging rights will be yours, but if we play as we did against Manure and Chelsea then we could sneak a win. I'd be chuffed with a point.

Naughty

Don't worry, I'll probably kick off at about 2:30pm on Saturday

I don't know why, we need to start scoring goals and quickly. Anyway I'm keeping my powder dry for now regarding Saturday, as tonight's game is more important when it comes to where we'll finish in the league. If we beat Stoke, and that's a massive IF when you consider our home form, we have a realistic chance of finishing above them come the end of the season. We really need to start beating the teams around us, otherwise the results against the top clubs (and sadly I include Newcastle in that statement ) will be meaningless come May. Tonight is a massive game, and I don't think a draw will be good enough, but I fear Stoke may come and shut up shop and we've been very poor against teams who've done that this season.

Sorry, I wasn't clear. He was poor in the games we won, especially the 0-3 at your place when he was captain. I'm not saying he's not a class player, I've seen him have some outstanding games for you, and his stats back it up, but I've never been overly impressed with him in derby matches. As for us signing Scocco ? We've got to find at least one half decent forward played eventually