They were crap because we dragged them down to our level .

I had a look on there forum. Some absolutely belmtard said that Xhaka played like a paraplegic. Those were his words. Disgusting.

Longsider wrote: ↑

Sun Aug 24, 2025 12:25 am

I had a look on there forum. Some absolutely belmtard said that Xhaka played like a paraplegic. Those were his words. Disgusting.

A few are saying his legs are going and that he was rubbish. Sky thought he had a really good game and kept the ball moving for Sunderland.

Good job Mayenda missed that sitter on 3 minutes

Some proper deluded bellends on their forum.

They’ll be right down there at the end of the season, make no mistake.

Usual story. The proper fans are realistic and good to talk to today. The gobby newcomers online were arrogantly caught out and learned a few realities about Premier League football.

Met a couple of young Sunderland fans in the R Dyche today and they were brilliant to talk to. No arrogance at all, just real sensible chat, only 21 years of age and so mature in their approach. One of them even offered me his seat (blimey I must be looking older ) but just great to have a good chat with. Way it should be too.

Plenty of Sunderland fans in the pubs before the game, all sound, just having a few beers and a laugh.

They've certainly strengthed their team, as they obviously needed to, will it be enough? I'm not sure.

Have we? I think we just might have.

UTC

Surprised how many deluded goons they have online, every time I've been up there their fans are really sound and they know their football.

Sunderland have strengthened and Tbf there midfield looks relatively decent. But there forwards and defence look pretty rank at this level.

If we were slightly better in the final third we really could have put them to the sword and won 3 or 4 nil. Seelt in particular was just all over the place when he came on.

Out of the three teams that have come up I certainly think we have the most balanced starting eleven and I would argue the strongest defence which should set us apart over a long season.

I’ve watched Leeds play twice now and I think they look really poor. Wouldn’t be surprised if they finish dead last.

Newcastleclaret93 wrote: ↑

Sun Aug 24, 2025 8:09 am

Sunderland have strengthened and Tbf there midfield looks relatively decent. But there forwards and defence look pretty rank at this level.

If we were slightly better in the final third we really could have put them to the sword and won 3 or 4 nil. Seelt in particular was just all over the place when he came on.

Out of the three teams that have come up I certainly think we have the most balanced starting eleven and I would argue the strongest defence which should set us apart over a long season.

I’ve watched Leeds play twice now and I think they look really poor. Wouldn’t be surprised if they finish dead last.

To be fair Sunderland just signed Mukiele from PSG who was playing for Leverkusen last season, and are bidding £27m for Lucemi from Bologna. Both should be significant improvements in defence. They’ll probably spend another £20-30m on their attack in the next week. Obv it needs to work together and they’ve got an AFCON issue where I think 5/6 players will be away, but they’ve given themselves a good chance. Like last season they don’t like having most of the ball, so I felt Parker got it spot on yesterday.

RVclaret wrote: ↑

Sun Aug 24, 2025 8:14 am

To be fair Sunderland just signed Mukiele from PSG who was playing for Leverkusen last season, and are bidding £27m for Lucemi from Bologna. Both should be significant improvements in defence. They’ll probably spend another £20-30m on their attack in the next week. Obv it needs to work together and they’ve got an AFCON issue where I think 5/6 players will be away, but they’ve given themselves a good chance. Like last season they don’t like having most of the ball, so I felt Parker got it spot on yesterday.

Should help them, but I do struggle to see where goals are coming from in that side. They looked absolutely toothless yesterday.

(Tbf I think we will have similar issues but at least we have players with prem experience).

Newcastleclaret93 wrote: ↑

Sun Aug 24, 2025 8:09 am

Sunderland have strengthened and Tbf there midfield looks relatively decent. But there forwards and defence look pretty rank at this level.

If we were slightly better in the final third we really could have put them to the sword and won 3 or 4 nil. Seelt in particular was just all over the place when he came on.

Out of the three teams that have come up I certainly think we have the most balanced starting eleven and I would argue the strongest defence which should set us apart over a long season.

I’ve watched Leeds play twice now and I think they look really poor. Wouldn’t be surprised if they finish dead last.

They did miss two guile edged chances which would’ve put them 2-0 up though.

Longsider wrote: ↑

Sun Aug 24, 2025 12:25 am

I had a look on there forum. Some absolutely belmtard said that Xhaka played like a paraplegic. Those were his words. Disgusting.

Calling someone a belmtard is fine though

If we’re judging fans by a minority of message board muppets, Burnley are screwed.

Procrastinate B wrote: ↑

Sun Aug 24, 2025 8:30 am

If we’re judging fans by a minority of message board muppets, Burnley are screwed.

Similarity to the way Ipswich strengthened 12 months ago, though they did it largely with UK (Championship in particular) players. THey spent well in excess of £100m

Lots seem to be laying the blame on the loss on Ballard going off injured.

Imagine my surprise when looking up his career to find out that he’s not some World Cup winning superstar that they’d signed in the summer from Real Madrid but is instead just a journeyman centre half.

BurnleyFC wrote: ↑

Sun Aug 24, 2025 3:56 pm

Lots seem to be laying the blame on the loss on Ballard going off injured.

Imagine my surprise when looking up his career to find out that he’s not some World Cup winning superstar that they’d signed in the summer from Real Madrid but is instead just a journeyman centre half.

That's as maybe but our attempts to mark him on that first free kick were ridiculous - he would have caused us big problems

We do inspire delusion in fans it has to be said . They look at us almost like the very early SD yrs as an “ easy 3 points “ They were at best below average at worse relegation fodder . We’re still a good few games off our best XI and we ( though bang average ourselves ) held them comfortably.

Longsider wrote: ↑

Sun Aug 24, 2025 12:25 am

I had a look on there forum. Some absolutely belmtard said that Xhaka played like a paraplegic. Those were his words. Disgusting.

I wrote at HT on the MDT he was giving a masterclass and Cullen was having an off day. Well HT worked a treat, Cullen came out a superman and I’m not sure Xhaka came out.
The insults that this ignorant generation throw out are a disgrace.

I have a couple of very good friends who are Mackems - I doubt they are much different than us and in any case I went out for a meal at some posh place on Friday night and one of them paid.

On the subject of us and Sunderland, I recall one of our players receiving dog's abuse after a game against them - a certain Ashley Barnes after we'd won up there 4-2.

ClaretTony wrote: ↑

Sun Aug 24, 2025 10:26 pm

I have a couple of very good friends who are Mackems - I doubt they are much different than us and in any case I went out for a meal at some posh place on Friday night and one of them paid.

On the subject of us and Sunderland, I recall one of our players receiving dog's abuse after a game against them - a certain Ashley Barnes after we'd won up there 4-2.

To be fair, Barnes himself said that he was so poor that day he considered retiring! Said it in his speech on the Town Hall balcony.

bfcmik wrote: ↑

Sun Aug 24, 2025 10:33 pm

To be fair, Barnes himself said that he was so poor that day he considered retiring! Said it in his speech on the Town Hall balcony.

Not bothered whether he played poorly that day or not, and he did before being taken off at half time, I was commenting on the dreadful abuse he received.

The Mackems were on good form on my train back to York, some good honest fans. Strangely the Ipswich fans didn't seem to enjoy the banter after their defeat to Preston

Most Mackems can remember the good old days when they were five minutes off going bust.The Johnny come lately fans are an unfortunate bunch with no knowledge of the clubs past or culture. I was pleased they went up but feel it's a hugh job for Le Bris to blend these strangers into s team and if Ballard is out for a while a major blow.

I stay up not a million miles from Sunderland quite a lot. Probably the best fans in the country to get along with, proper sound people really down to earth.As mentioned at HT I could see our board saying wish we had Xhaka. Then Cullen pulls out a masterclass.To be fair to Cullen he has so much premier league quality just needs to be in a balanced team great showing Saturday.

BurnleyFC wrote: ↑

Sun Aug 24, 2025 3:56 pm

Lots seem to be laying the blame on the loss on Ballard going off injured.

Imagine my surprise when looking up his career to find out that he’s not some World Cup winning superstar that they’d signed in the summer from Real Madrid but is instead just a journeyman centre half.

Think he was one of the first we were linked with when kompany came in.

Met a couple of older gentleman after the game who had clearly had a few beers and were trying to find Manchester Road Train Station, I was walking in that direction so walked with them up Centenary Way to show them where to go, had a really good chat with them about the game and the upcoming season, really sound pair of blokes who were honest and upfront about the game, especially how we dominated them in the 2nd half.

Had a few encounters with away fans after games walking in that direction towards the train station and have to say Sunderland and Newcastle fans have been the best to have a chat with whilst at the other end of the scale I would send Brighton, Palace and Forest fans in the opposite direction just to avoid hearing their nonsense.

A good friend is a Sunderland fan and he text me yesterday with congratulations. He's always level-headed and admits they'll struggle this season.

Worth pointing out that they achieved over 30000 average gates for their four seasons in Tier 3 and over 39000 for their last three seasons in the Championship. Very committed and loyal supporters albeit with a very large catchment area.

Let's not overlook the respectful and sporting applause the Sunderland contingent gave Willie before kickoff.

I was surprised by how relatively quiet they were

alwaysaclaret wrote: ↑

Mon Aug 25, 2025 8:33 am

Think he was one of the first we were linked with when kompany came in.

We even had him in for medical, after which the transfer broke down. Take from that what you want.

Vegas Claret wrote: ↑

Sun Aug 24, 2025 12:52 am

Good job Mayenda missed that sitter on 3 minutes

Could have been Ourenda!

Sarum wrote: ↑

Mon Aug 25, 2025 11:09 am

Let's not overlook the respectful and sporting applause the Sunderland contingent gave Willie before kickoff.

Sort of the bare minimum you’d expect, really.

I was also surprised by how quiet they were considering their numbers.