Cal Mills says…
I feel just how I felt about the play-off final… calm, confident, and assured.
As we’ve seen already this season, the quality of football we play with the caliber of players we possess has given the league’s top teams the runaround already.
Everyone related to Sunderland AFC knows how much this game means to the club, they don’t need reminding of it, and come kick-off, I’m sure RLB will not doubt a rousing team talk supported by her rock-solid leader on the pitch, Granit Xhaka – with his experience
in high intensity games, he’s sure to be a calming influence on the pitch.
I said at the start I’m ’confident’. Why? Because of our current home record, the fact that we’ve evolved as a club and team, and the manager at the helm.
Would I say I’m nervous? Probably not. More anxious as I just can’t wait for kick off!
HAWAY THE LADS!
Lee Morrison says…
I’m suitably calm. Firstly, I know that this team has proven itself in so many different scenarios, whether that be the opening game of the Premier League season or more challenging away days, like Stamford Bridge.
However, it’s more than that. I know that this team is built differently. It’s not the same walkover that we saw under the dreaded Michael Beale. The gap between the two teams isn’t as pronounced as it once was, thanks to superb recruitment and scouting from Speakman and others.
I’m calm, though, because of the mentality of this team, and that’s led by one man: Granit Xhaka. We’ve already seen how he’s responded to performances that have fallen below expectations. He understands the significance of this game. As a result, the rest of the team is under no illusions either.
Marry that with our home form and atmosphere that we’ve been able to generate, and you have a brilliant melting pot. We all know how important this game is. Obviously, when kick-off nears on the day, I’ll be a bit jittery, but this is Sunderland AFC, and I have full faith in this manager and in this group of players.
Tom Albrighton says…
For me, this is a really hard one to place; I’m confident, but I’m also feverish with nerves, although I’m not entirely sure why.
My confidence is born not from any comparison I have made with Newcastle since the season began, but is entirely predicated on the back of our own ability. This is a team of warriors, of great experience and also of great ability. So far this season, we have comfortably held our own in all but one game and have regularly upset the apple cart when it comes to aspersions cast upon promoted teams.
The recent history of this side is another confidence booster, with Regis Le Bris preparing the lads perfectly for play-off success and success in the Premier League, with eye-catching performances aplenty despite not being even halfway through the season.
I have total faith in the lads, the leadership, and the management in judging this game to perfection, which no doubt required, which is why my nervousness — although it cannot be helped — seems rather misplaced and in contradiction to the above statements.
Perhaps the nervousness is born from the lack of control over the situation and the step into the unknown that brings on such nervousness, or perhaps it is just the desire to win, which adds another, more complicated element to this game.
Whatever happens will happen, and whilst not winning feels unthinkable, if it is to be the case, it will not define our season nor what has come before it, and one would hope the only effect after the fact should be a positive one.
Overall, my emotions lurch fromone extreme to the other, but the only consistency is the knowledge that every player entrusted to take to the pitch on Sunday will give their absolute all – and ultimately, so long as we give the best version of ourselves, that is enough for me.
Jon Guy says…
I think any fan who says they aren’t nervous is lying!
It is important on so many levels. We need to bounce back from last weekend. We were beaten by a very good City team, who beat Real Madrid in Spain this week to prove that.
I thought we were well in the game until the two quick goals, and had a couple of decent chances at 2-0.
With several of the squad heading to Africa next week, we would need to pick up the momentum again, whoever we were playing. The unbeaten home record will serve us so well this season, and by God, we need to keep it going on Sunday. Three points and we can head into Christmas on good heart.
Newcastle have been hit and miss, and the atmosphere will be electric. If we get on the front foot early, it could be a great afternoon to be in red and white.
Forget the bragging rights — we have every reason to approach the game with a view that we can win it.
It won’t stop me stressing right up to 2pm Sunday, though!
