Gav says…
It’s a really difficult position that we’re in right now, because the outcome of Sunday’s game may well ultimately decide where we go from here.
As things stand, we are currently just three points behind Everton in 8th and four behind Brentford in seventh, which are probably the positions you want to be in come the end of the season if you’re going to qualify for European football. Unfortunately for us, there are eight teams all vying for the same spots, so whilst it’s certainly an achievable target,
we’re going to need to win a bunch of games to ensure that we’re still in the conversation right until the bitter end.
All the teams around us are taking points off one another – including Brighton beating us on Saturday, which has put them equal on points and now above us – and with the mags coming up this weekend, that’s our big chance to put things right and also take some points off another side around us in the table.
It’s a weird spot to be in though because had you told me last summer that with eight games remaining we’d be on forty points and vying for a place in Europe I’d have laughed my arse off, yet as we sit here right now there’s not a great feeling about the place and it certainly doesn’t reflect the unbelievable season that we’ve had. Yet, that can all change on the back of one really good performance and result, and beating Newcastle on Sunday would kick-start our campaign and surely have us pointing back in the right direction.
It seems that to be successful, Sunderland need a common goal to unite behind. On Sunday that should be going to their place and not losing… and, better still, beating them. After that, and after the international break, it should be fighting tooth and nail to be in one of those top eight spots by the time we get to May.
Ignore the lingering doubt – Sunderland are in a brilliant position, and we could well still go on to achieve greatness this season. We already have, but a strong end to the campaign would be the cherry on the top of the cake, and wouldn’t it be brilliant if the start of that run began at St James’ Park?
Jon Guy says…
Remaining in the Premier League was the sole target at the start of the season, given the fate of promoted clubs over the previous three seasons. We look to have achieved that aim, and with eight games to go, we need to begin planning for next season.
Part of that has to be a strong end to the season. We know the club has a mission, and it is one that has attracted some real talent this term.
If we want to build on the season, we need a strong finish. We will be looking to add more quality to the squad, and if we end the season with some decent results and performances, those targets will view the club as an attractive proposition. If we start to struggle, we run the risk of targets fearing that if they join the club, they’ll be in a fight at the wrong end of the table. A strong finish will support the club’s recruitment aims, so I’d be keen to see the team pick up some wins and finish in the top half of the table, starting this Sunday.
John Wilson says…
I think that whatever happens between now and the end of the season, the mantra from the national media will be that Sunderland AFC have had a very impressive return to the Premier League. Even if we slip down the table to 15th, 16th, or even 17th – the start we had, and our impressive home form early on, is what will stay in people’s minds, and is probably the summary of our season.
Before the Brighton game, I said that it would be an indicator as to what our run-in would be like. But in all honesty, it wasn’t – as we’ve played similarly many times this season and won. RLB often points out that football is a game of moments – and that is very true. If that, or but for this, we could have won that game, and everyone would have felt more positive, and perhaps not decided to leave early! If we can show a similar attitude in our remaining games, we could still get into the top 10, and then who knows what might be possible!?
The Visitors game is a different beast, as we’ll have to show a huge increase in passion and desire to match them and get anything from them.
That aside, I personally wouldn’t be happy with the season fizzling out. Although it may tell the hierarchy which players haven’t got the levels of consistency that we’re looking for, in readiness for next season. Of course, staying up is job done, but a poor finish would also throw up more questions than answers.
After the start we had, I was looking at a European place (which is still possible), but my baseline now for a ‘successful’ first season back would be a top-10 finish, taking into consideration our early form.
Anything less would be slightly disappointing.
Ciaran McKenna says…
Coming out of the SoL on Saturday, I heard a lot of people talking about the season, with many claiming that the season was over – we have established our position in the league next season, but we can’t get Europe. I don’t necessarily agree.
Our dismal exit from the FA Cup a few weeks back was a major sucker punch for our seasonal aspirations. It totally took the wind out of our sails following the Leeds win and was a huge opportunity missed. However, I don’t think the season has to be a damp squib.
The middle of the table is densely populated, with multiple teams thinking about the possibility of getting a European spot. This difficult factor is actually something of our own doing. Normally, the three promoted teams are rooted to the bottom of the table, and their opponents almost always take 3 points from them, creating a chasm in the table. It is only because we have done so well and won so many points that the table is so tight. Only 4 points are separating us from Brentford in 7th, and the teams around us can’t all win every game. So, however unlikely it is, I don’t think Europe is totally off the cards.
With that in mind, I don’t think anyone could be totally bitter if we don’t get Europe. Realistically, the target was survival, so anything better won’t receive any complaints from me. This has been the best season I have had supporting Sunderland (although the bar is rather low due to me missing the majority of previous Premier League seasons), and one that I will never forget.
Here’s hoping it will be an even better season come the 24th of May.
