More from Sunderland forum

Most are wary of us. Luton fan fanning the flames by saying we are the best they have played this season.

A couple of Sunderland fans saying they beat us comfortably, but I read that it was their best performance in a long time, plus they didn't look very comfortable at 3-2.

Maja now linked with Cardiff, Huddersfield and even Middlesborough, according to another thread.

https://www.readytogo.net/smb/threads/any-2-from-5.1459106/

 

Maja gone, would be good news for us. Sunderland seem to be struggling on the striker front bar him and their current form isn't brilliant.

 

Agreed.

 

Of the top 5, i'm least impressed with Sunderland. We collapsed for 10 minutes against them, they got a shocking penalty from a dive that started that collapse and then we battered them. If they lose Maja (and with the teams mentioned, and with numerous contract refusals, I can't see anything but him going) and don't spend heavily on a goalscorer to replace him... if a contender emerged from the pack below 6th, I wouldn't be surprised if they missed out on the playoffs.

A long way to go, but a number of the top 6, apart from us, are having a wobble before the final straight comes into sight.

 

They are a formidable side having lost only twice all season, but they caught us on a bad night and scored with a nonsense penalty, two potshots which on other nights would've sailed into the stand and caught us on the break when we were pushing for 3-3. They seem to draw a lot and it might be that lack of ruthlessness that lets them down in the end.

I still think they'll go up automatically and it'll be one of us, Luton or Pompey with them. We're more than capable of beating them at Oakwell and we probably would on another night at their ground too.

 

It’ll go down to the wire so I’m not sure who’ll go up automatically with us. I have no preference any which way it turns out.

 

Agree with you in the main, they’ve been average all season and Maja has been on fire to save them. If he goes they’ll struggle, they should at least make the play offs but you never know

 

On the night I thought Sunderland were very quick to get the ball into the box, and could have actually had more goals. Have they played as well since? I dunno.

I'm happy for them to make assumptions based on only seeing us once, it's not them we'll be playing every week, and I hope they come to Oakwell with the attitude that they've only to turn up.

 

I can remember Sunderland having 3 headed chances at least where it seemed easier to score than miss.

Then they seemed to be able to step on the gas when we scored our second.

We played well for a lot of the game, but we could have shipped more than we did.

 

Correct, although we had almost 60% possession and more shots than them on the night.

They just had the better delivery on the night.

For a while this season I've thought we've played too much football, and thought their performance in the final third is where we should be at, but ironically I think we've played more quickly with less overpassing since the time Potts left.

 

I can't see us having a wobble now, it feels like the Stendel machine has moved up a gear over the past few weeks.

I thought we might have missed Dougall... we didn't. I thought we might have missed Potts... we haven't.

If we can keep the squad together past the end of this transfer window, I can only see us getting stronger. Top two finish, I reckon.

(I've probably jinxed it now, but that's how I feel about it.)

 

I can't see Sunderland not going up automatic, never mind dropping out of the playoffs.. Would love to stand corrected though.

 

I'm sure we'll lose a game or two before seasons end, but the last half dozen games or so, we've been impressive. The press has been more cohesive, our control of the ball and one time passing has been much sharper and confident (we seemed a bit scared when we went through the bad run around Dougalls injury) and perhaps most important of all, we're making better decisions. We're scoring from crosses and there are some very good passes to open teams up more. Thiam is finally starting to show something more consistent rather than just a bullet of a shot and his first time control from play being switched is highly impressive. Overall we're hitting our straps at just the right time.

I think we've a very good chance being top two as long as we turn up, focus and play like we can, though best to keep our feet on the ground.

Technically, it's been obvious our players have that ability. The issue has been when coming under pressure and when battle has been required.

 

Don’t be surprised if they sell Maja if they don’t come calling for Kieffer Moore. Would be a win win for them would strengthen them and weaken us. That would really test our resolve I think and see what our new owners are all about.

 

Sunderland have a knack of not playing great but not losing. Maybe all the draws they've racked up will come back to haunt them in May...

 

If they cannot get Will Grigg through the door no way can they afford Kieffer Moore.

 

Don't get the obsession that we seem to have with them.

 

Biggest rival in this division and came down together so that could be it.