Page 17 is where it gets hilarious

We have character, they have money. Unfortunately, money talks in football but we usually buck that trend. Think thats why we arent a 'fashionable' club in the Sly Sports generation.

 

They have debt more like.

 

The Red Magpies seem to have a real bee in their bonnet about us. I don't see the same level of contempt aimed at Portsmouth or Luton.

 

I think because deep down they know us screwing up is their only chance of automatic promotion.

 

I think actual match-going Sunderland fans are very decent.

I've seen us win there and seen us lose there. In both cases, my fear of getting a good kicking was the same: none.

I always think I might be on the verge of a hospital visit when I visit some clubs who think they're big: Wolves, Cardiff, Brum, Forest, but never Sunderland. Sunderland have got at least 20000 more fans than any of the aforementioned but home or away against us it's always been fine.

Yet those same match-going fans turn into proper whining fannies on RTG. I desperately want automatic anyway but the meltdown on there would be hilarious if it happens. They expected to just smash this division. Everyone roll over and die for the famous Sunderland, please. They have an arrogance about them which isn't justified by league position or their quality of football.

We were rubbish yesterday but we keep finding ways to win. If we beat Cov-un-troy next week then the pressure is right on you, marras.

 

And I thought I was an optimistic person

 

He makes you look like me.

 

One of my worst experiences at football was away at Roker Park - not friendliest of folk!!

 

Them getting 30k every week and being in league two must be embarrassing for them. Their main rivals are two leagues higher up the pyramid and will doubtlessly be giving them stick on a regular basis.

Not having this title already sewn up, after going out and spending comparatively big money on a proven striker, won't be sitting well with them either.

They don't like the fact that we get the plaudits for our passing style, or that teams with smaller away followings can be doing so well. Some of them even take it personally that the bookies have them at longer odds than us.

I think some Sunderland fans thought it was all going to be about them this season, and to be fair, so did I, but Luton have been the surprise package and fair play to them.

Their forum and lack of a swear filter really does them no favours when it comes to my perception of them as a fanbase.

Thankfully, I know not all of them are a load of Mongs.

 

Sadly not. All written off when they were taken over in the summer, I believe they’re completely debt free.

 

No more parachute payments though and still some expensive salaries to pay.

 

Not quite.

The Ellis short debt has been written off.

The club have since the sale mortgaged the stadia and surrounding land and secured finance against future parachute payments...

 

Still getting parachutes for two more seasons after this one.

 

Howe long do the payments last then?

 

Four seasons. Yes, it's an absolute joke.

 

I wish they were in League 2.

 

I thought it was for 2.

They can be 8n league 1 for another 2 seasons then!

 

Any Sunderland fans I,ve ever met are spot on,I bet these muppets have never been to a Sunderland game.

 

They're not the only league One club to have their promotion campaign paid for by parachute payments. Wolves and Wigan received them - and they're competing with some clubs who get sub 3,000 gates. What a great system.

 

It just goes to show what you can achieve if you don't spend your parachute money on a new away stand and mouldy fruit n' veg.