Right, we know anything might happen at any moment so our Gav and Martin have attempted a podcast recording regardless of that and the upcoming deadline day, looking ahead to Portsmouth away on Saturday and a potential injury blow for RLB. 

What's the crack? 

How are we feeling ahead of a busy weekend? 

It appears Aji Alese has suffered another injury following the Burnley victory that is rumoured may keep him out for an estimated eight* weeks; if this is the case can Dan Ballard pick up where he left off? 

*RLB confirmed injury on Thursday but estimation is currently 3-4 weeks

How do we think RLB will approach Pompey and will they prove more of a challenge than our recent opponents? 

What are Portsmouth up to anyway since we last met? Do they have pitch drainage yet? Is Luke O'Nien planning further vengeance against the locals? 

The lads try to work out when they'll next be recording…

All this and more! Ha'way the Lads!

#EFL #EFLChampionship #SAFC

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Three league games, three clean sheets, three wins and top of the EFL Championship table! Regis Le Bris becomes the first manager in our history to achieve this and it's delightful, fucking delightful.

What's le crack? 

• ROMAINE MUNDLE; Upon stepping into the still flaming shoes of the outgoing Jack Clarke he only went and won the game for us didn't he. Unbelievable Jeff. 

• TOP OF THE LEAGUE; Aye we're only three games in we know but that's a historic run for Sunderland AFC and everything is falling into place for RLB. 

• Rigged again; Can you drop Chris Rigg at this point? Another brilliant performance from our young midfield, but a bit of déjà vu for our Dan Neil as he was sent off after a second yellow with 5 minutes to go. 

• Anthony Patterson hasn't had anything to do for weeks so what is he doing to entertain himself whilst Hume, Alese, O'Nien and Cirkin form a practically impenetrable wall around him; as far as we can tell it is the first time in our history that we have won three without conceding so aye. Impressive work lads. 

• Alexandre Mendy has been spotted swimming up the east coast of England but may have run into trouble through the night around Lowestoft, drones have been sent to look for Sunlun’s number one fan; 

• Jack Clarke's departure announced by Sunderland and Ipswich as well as more talk of incomings at the club and a few of your questions.

• All this and more! Ha'way the Lads! 

#EFL #EFLChampionship #SAFC

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Our Gav Henderson welcomes Martin Wanless back to the pod as the lads look back on Sunderland's goalless draw against Bristol City at the Stadium of Light yesterday, ahead to Tuesday night against Leeds at Elland Road, and grab a few listener thoughts on all things SAFC! 

What's the crack? 

• It wasn't a win - we couldn't get the ball to go in - but was it better? 

• A far improved performance from Pierre Ekwah yesterday; Martin thinks he needs to get a bit of consistency going ahead of potential competition arriving for his place in that midfield. 

• The lads just don't rate Hjelde, so apologies to Hjelde fans out there; 

• The tangents continue as is now tradition, as Gav and Martin try and dance around a lot of the actual football by getting lost in thoughts about the summer and next season; 

• Are we looking to turn a quick profit on Jobe, hence his long run in the side this season? Should we be thinking more about any future deals with Rigg and prioritising his development in that area of the pitch? 

• Would we rather give Watson (or anyone else at all who we currently own) a chance over the likes of Burstow? What's occurring with Ba getting dropped from the bench? 

• Against all Dodds; Leeds coming up next as Mike attempts to take points from Daniel Farke again this season but Gav is a little nervous. Could we “do a Sunlun” though?

• We may be back tomorrow with our bumper International Fans Day special recording from the Fans Museum on Friday, or we will catch you all on the other side of the Leeds result however that goes.. 

• Cheers for listening and ha'way the lads! 

#SAFC #EFL #EFLChampionship

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Buenos días Sunderland!

The lads - Gav, Chris and Martin - got together Sunday morning to react to a great result on the road, as Sunderland came from behind twice to bring another Championship point back to Wearside before the international break!

What's the crack?

• THE JEWISON BENNETTE GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOL

• How are we all feeling after yesterday's result?

• AJI LAD - Alese gets his first professional goal with a bit of help from that fangled goal line technology!

• Not everyone had the best of days but Sunlun once again found a way!

• What did the lads make of the overall performance? What about those youngsters brought on from the bench eh? Some serious talent there…

• Matete, Diallo, Ba, Bennette - The future looks extremely bright!

• Team spirit and camaraderie - Class to see the Lads all fighting for one another and looking after the new arrivals;

• Tony f***in' Mowbray is the absolute boyo so the lads start that 'waxing lyrical' business as they go over all the reasons they believe Mogga is the perfect fit for SAFC!

• The Lads are buzzing, the fans are buzzing, the gaffer is buzzing - Watford aren't buzzing - so what do we do now for a couple weeks?

• HA'WAY THE (YOUNG) LADS!

#SAFC #EFLChampionship #EFL #COSTARICA

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What's the buzz down Vicarage Road? Are they feeling Pozzo-tive? I know, I'll stop.

Coming a bit later than usual due to some ridiculously busy schedules, our Chris Wynn had the pleasure of the company of a man many of us will identify with a particular era of Sky Sports coverage and many a deadline day drama - Adam Leventhal - who now covers Watford and more for The Athletic! Talking about his career, his love of his childhood club and the managerial merry-go-round that is Watford FC!  

What's the crack?  

• How has Adam been doing of late? Chris does his thing as he rummages around his guests head for information.  

• The magic of deadline day and SSN - Has it been lost in a world of social media and the rest?  

• How is he enjoying covering The Hornets currently? Bit like being covered in them?  

• Adam details the ups and downs of Watford under the ownership of the Pozzo family; 

• Give Edwards a chance - Is the constant churn of coaches and managers really a good thing? Adam doesn't think so…  

• What does he think the club needs to do since falling from the PL - are they looking close to being ready to bounce back up?  

• Paying tribute to the late and great Lance Hardy, who he worked with on the 'Tales From The Red & Whites' book series; 

• How does he feel after watching Sunderland morph into Barca against Reading the night before last?  

• All this and more! A fascinating chat with a lovely lad!

Listen in!

#SAFC #EFLChampionship #WatfordFC

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Gav and Phil return to action, sitting down after tonight's/last night's match as a sublime Sunderland rolled over a poor Reading side to bring all three points back to Wearside!  

What's the crack?  

• Jack f***ing Clarke - Class, and more class. Pure class.  

• Patrick f***ing Roberts - "Who needs strikers" said the absolute baller as he took matters into his own hands...

• Embo - Changed the game when everyone thought the game was over...

• Mowbray is the Man - In Tony we Trust!  

• Absolutely f***ing delightful. Sacko seal of approval.

HA'WAY THE LADS!  

#SAFC #EFL #EFLChampionship

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MATCH POSTPONED

-

The EFL have released the following statement following the death of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II:

Further to discussions on Friday morning it has been determined that all EFL fixtures from 9-10 September will be postponed as a mark of respect by the National Sport to the passing of HRH Queen Elizabeth II.

This is aligned with the approach that the Premier League and the FA will take with their competitions this weekend.

Further information, in respect of how football, Clubs and their supporters will commemorate Her Majesty’s reign will be confirmed at an appropriate point.

Details regarding rearranged games will be announced in due course.

-

Our Chris Wynn returns to preview Sunderland's next opponents with Omer Ronayne of That Millwall Podcast ahead of the Lions' visit to the Stadium of Light in the EFL Championship this Saturday!

What's the crack?

• That Millwall Podcast - so what got Omer (and mate Micky) into podcasting and how are they enjoying the whole fan media experience daan Landan Taan?

• Does everyone really hate them (The Lions - not Omer and Micky) and do they really care?

• Poor Omer reveals the terrible cost of having inconsiderate mates who let their lasses book engagement parties on away days;

• How have Millwall been doing since last our two sides met; they've been pretty steady in the Championship recently, so what are their expectations this season?

• Gary Rowett replaced a modern Millwall Legend - Neil Harris - as manager of the Lions in late 2019; how have they done since the switch and are they happy with how things are going?

• What sort of side should Sunlun expect to meet this weekend? What is the current Millwall style of play, and who are their players to watch?

• Our former Captain - George '7/10' Honeyman - returns home on Saturday; how have the Millwall faithful taken to him, and how's he been getting on?

• All this and more! Listen in!

ICYMI: Due to injuries in the Sunderland AFC camp, you may be tuning in unaware of our release earlier today covering all things Ross Stewart, Dennis Cirkin and the Boro aftermath - which you can find just prior to this on whatever podcatcher you're using right now!

Enjoy the show and Ha'way The Lads!

#SAFC #EFLChampionship #Millwall #EFL

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Aye there's been a bit of bad news about the Loch Ness Drogba, so Gav and Phil got together very quickly to add their thoughts on the extent of the injuries to both Rossco and Cirkin before Gav, Martin and Craig Johns - Boro reporter for the Gazette - get their teeth into Monday night's match in front of the Sky cameras!

What's the crack?

• Ross Stewart is out for at least 6 weeks after scan results were revealed yesterday, with Dennis Cirkin joining him on the side-lines for a slightly shorter period - how does Gav and Phil think we'll cope?

• Can Tony Mowbray find a way around the loss of our best player? Do we think a change in the system is coming off the back of this news?

• Boro and Sunlun battled it out Monday night - first up was that a fair result?

• The loss of Ross Stewart was significant - just how significant was it to this game specifically given the short period of time Mowbray had to change it up?

• What did Craig make of the Boro performance - did their fans expect the worst in the final half hour given the way their season has gone?

• What did the lads make of the performances on an individual and team level - despite not being able to find the target Sunderland didn't seem to be overwhelmed…

• Which players needed to do more on Monday night, and can we expect them to get back to normal against Millwall at the weekend?

• All this and a lot more! Listen in!

Our Chris Wynn will be returning with the preview later today - thanks for listening!

#SAFC #EFL #EFLChampionship #RossStewart

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As part two of our Saturday double bill, our Chris Wynn was joined by Stephen Jackson of Boro Podcast - Tw12th Man - to look ahead to Sunderland's first trip to the Riverside since February 2018, as Middlesbrough legend Tony Mowbray returns to his old stomping grounds with the Red & White army in tow!  

What's the crack?  

• Been a while hasn't it…

• How have our southern cousins been the past few years? Have they missed us at all?  

• What are the thoughts on Teeside about Sunderland's recent appointment of Mogga? He's quite well liked down there, so will he get a good reception from the home crowd?  

• Chris has a quick rummage about the history of our regional neighbours, and gets Stephen's thoughts on what exactly these games are; Is it a derby? Do they care? Do we care? Are we both pretending we don't care because we don't know if the other one actually does?  

• How is Chris Wilder managing at the Riverside - are the Boro fans content or are things looking a bit dicey for him currently?    

• What do the lads think would be a fair result, are there any nerves ahead of this one?  

• All this and more!  

ICYMI: as mentioned above we also have a nice little reaction pod covering SAFC's transfer dealings from our Gav and Craig, which should be sat just behind the pod you're listening to now, if you fancy a bit more Lads chatter before the game!  

Enjoy your weekend and Ha'way the Lads!  

#SAFC #EFLChampionship #EFL

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Got a bit of a double bill of Podcasts for you this Saturday evening - first up our Gavin Henderson and Craig Chapman sat down the day after the deadline closed to summarise Sunderland AFC's business in the transfer market, and give their thoughts on whether Speakman, Harvey and Co have given new head coach Tony Mowbray enough to work with this season!  

What's the crack?  

• Pretty much what it says on the tin - the lads look at the incomings since the window opened and also note the lack of outgoings, as the recruitment team seem determined to retain as many first team players from the last campaign as possible;  

• Who stands out of the players signed this window - or even who stands out in the group of young lads unveiled to the Stadium of Light crowd on Wednesday night?  

• Do we think new gaffer will be happy working with the lads he has - he's stated a desire to develop the younger players and has some considerable experience of doing so at other clubs - so could this prove the perfect mix for Mowbray?  

• All this and more!  

ICYMI: the lads broadcast a Live Twitter Spaces on Thursday night as the deadline drew to a close, and you can catch the three hour uncut chat (whether you have a Twitter account or not) by following the link here - https://twitter.com/i/spaces/1ynKOaEmMQWJR - if you've a craving for even more Sunlun content.

Thanks for listening lads and lasses!  

#SAFC #EFLChampionship #EFL

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Our Gav and Martin got together again - for the second time in 12 hours - this time to react to the absolutely f***ing delightful first win of Tony Mowbray's SAFC tenure, as the Lads took the Millers apart at the Stadium of Light under the floodlights!  

What's the crack?  

• WHAT A WIN - The lads enjoy that one aye?  

• LOCH NESS DROGBA - Please give him a new contract, Kyril.  

• CLARKE LAD - What a performance from Jack tonight...  

• New signings - Michut, Diallo, Bennette and Ba all said hello to the SOL crowd earlier - and a few more on way apparently so... we happy so far?

• TONY MOWBRAY'S RED & WHITE ARMY HAWAAAWAAAWAAAAY

#SAFC #EFLChampionship #TONYMOWBRAY #CLASS

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Gav and Martin joined one another just now to quickly react to the worst kept secret in Sunlun, as Tony Mowbray steps in to replace Alex Neil as Sunderland head coach!  

What's the crack?  

• Been a funny week hasn't it...  

• Happy with the appointment? Blackburn fans are full of praise and Boro fans feel sick right now - how do the lads think it's gone down with our fans?  

• The departure of AN may have sent shockwaves initially but the club don't seem to be letting it get in the way of getting business done - some interesting signings on the way...

• How we feeling ahead of tonight's game against Rotherham?  

• Just a quick one lads and lasses, we'll be back soon! Ha'way the lads and All Hail Mogga!  

#SAFC #EFLChampionship #TonyMowbray

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Our Chris Wynn was joined yesterday by Phil West and 'ye olde man of tweed' Nick Barnes to try react to the chaos surrounding Sunderland AFC as Alex Neil joined Stoke City in a shock move that rocked the fanbase!  

What's the crack?  

• Alex Neil - what the good **** happened there Nick? WHATS HAPPENING?

• What can Barnesy tell us about Alex Neil's sudden departure? 

• Did he have an inkling something was happening before the Friday announcement?  

• What do we think was the primary motivation for Alex to leave when he did and does it rhyme with honey? 

• The fan reaction has been one of defiance for the most part - rallying around the players as we took on Norwich City on Saturday at the Stadium of Light - good to see...  

• Could the club and Speakman have done more - do we think we'll ever get to the bottom of exactly what's happened with the amount of rumours flying around?  

• Where do we go from here - what do we think the club will do now in its search for a new head coach? As of recording yesterday at noon we hadn't had an announcement from Stoke - did the lack of clarity lead to the Tony Mowbray links… and is there anything in that?

• The lads try and break down the Sunderland 0-1 Norwich result with all these distractions;  

• Aye. It's a bit of a mess lads and lasses but we move/go again...

#SAFC #EFL #EFLChampionship #AlexNeil

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Our Martin and Chris had the good sense to fuck off on holiday for Easter so Gavin grabbed our heavy loss specialist, Craig Chapman, to see if they could ignore talking about any of the football from the win on Good Friday over Cardiff or the horrific loss yesterday to Blackburn! 

What's the crack? 

• Those Good Friday vibes didn't continue, the lads would've talked about them but why bother? 

• Argh why us argh etc 

• Dodds was a mistake. A terrible, terrible mistake aye. 

• Would Heckingbottom be a good appointment and if so, would it be better to get him in now or leave it until the summer? 

• Craig attempts to get Kristjaan Speakman's attention by accusing him of picking the side himself, poor decision making, appointing his mate in a caretaker role unnecessarily, poor player recruitment for a while, resting on ancient successes and tells him to sort it out like because this isn't on like and we may get relegated next season if he doesn't sort it out like. No protests have been planned as yet. 

• The important/vital summer becomes more important/vital still as the "important/vital summer" quote extravaganza continues.  

• All this and more! Aye.

#EFL #EFLChampionship #SAFC

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Where do we even begin? Our Chris Wynn had the wonderful opportunity recently - just as the UK last heated to boiling point - to sit down for a chat with the absolute legend that is Clive Tyldesley!  

I'm not going to try to write down absolutely everything spoken about here - but to be brief - this is a frank, open and honest discussion about:

Clive's work in the industry since the mid 70's, his most memorable experiences, the inspirational characters met along the way, his feelings about the way the game has changed for journalists and broadcasters, his views on the role of fan media like ourselves, his friendships with players and managers alike, the history of the Premier League, the nostalgia of Roker Park and the older stadiums, the dark days of Heysel and Hillsborough, his love of Reidy and Brace, his favourite World Cup, his most memorable matches, the hardening of supporters to their rivals, his experiences with Brian Clough, his love of Saint & Greavsie, Newcastle imploding at home against little old Sunlun, and even a bit of chat about social media, politics and the world we live in today.

Aye.

We'd like to thank Clive again for the time he gave up in a busy week - it was a privilege to have him on - and as usual thank you all for listening. Enjoy the show!  

#SAFC #EFL #EPL #CliveTyldesley

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Our Gav and Martin were joined yesterday by our old marra Tom White from Sky Sports News - and anywhere the Lads happen to be playing - to break down Sunderland's away victory over Stoke City and look at our activity in the transfer window!

What's the crack?  

• Alex Neil has got us off to a cracking start; what has Tom made of our return to Championship action?  

• The SAS - Ross Stewart and Ellis Simms are relentless; are these lads the most potent attacking partnership in the EFL?  

• Dennis Cirkin is bossing it; the young lad is improving at a ridiculous pace, so safe to say the 'step up' was pretty easy for him?  

• Lynden Gooch has had a great couple games with the Captain's armband - giving everything he's got to get the job done - nice to see isn't it?    

• Transfer Talk; does Tom have any snippets of information he can reveal to us about Sunderland's recruitment plans for the coming weeks? What has he made of the business so far?  

• Jan Paul van Hecke - what do we know about the young Brighton defender (loaned to Blackburn last season) who has been heavily linked the past couple days..  

• Things seem to be going to plan - do the lads think this trend will continue under the mighty shiny bald heed of the chosen yin?  

• All this and more!  

HE LOOKS GOOD, HE LOOKS FINE, ELLIS SIMMS IS ON MY MIND AND HE'S SUNLUN'S NUMBER NINE! 

#SAFC #EFL #EFLChampionship

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As it happens both our Chris Wynn and this week's guest Dave Cowlishaw - from the wonderfully named Stoke City Podcast 'The Wizards of Drivel' - were in attendance last night for Sunderland's first league defeat in some time down Bramall Lane... so now we're heading to the Bet365 Stadium this Saturday, how are things looking for the Potters?  

What's the crack?  

• As podcast names go that's a blinder (and a pretty apt description for the entire industry) so how did it all come about and how are they getting on?

• It's been a while since we last met, how has the last six years gone for Stoke City and their fans?  

• How have the Championship years played out, and why in their opinion are they still here?  

• Why exactly do we keep swapping players between the two clubs - gets a bit weird at times...  

• Who wins between the two sides in a top trumps of worst overpaid PL mercenaries?  

• What does Dave make of the start to the 22/23 season? Happy with transfer business so far?  

• The lads chat a little about Sunderland's loss to Sheffield Utd last night and Stoke's late equaliser against Boro; what does Dave make of the way Alex Neil has us set up?  

• Michael O'Neill - apparently he's not an overly popular man currently, so what exactly is going on there? Purely results based or something a little deeper?  

• Apathy and toxicity - something we're a little too familiar with at Sunlun - seems to have crept/crashed in so is there any escaping it at this stage? Would Dave prefer to wait and see what happens?  

• How confident is he in the system they play, the squad they have currently, and the likelihood of a result on Saturday?  

• Listening to Dave here... is he absolutely sure he wants to go this weekend?  

• All this and more! Listen in!  

#SAFC #SCFC #EFLChampionship #EFL

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Gav returns with Phil and Martin to look at the 2-2 draw against QPR on Saturday in a bit more detail, as well as getting a few things off their chests regarding the administrative side of the club...  

What's the crack?  

• Now everyone's had time to think on it, how are the lads feeling about the performance from Sunderland overall - including that mad 5 minutes or so that resulted in us taking one point rather than three;. 

• Which players stood out - besides the obvious strike partnership of Stewart and Simms?  

• Ballard break? As of the time of recording the lads couldn't confirm the severity of the injury but reacted to the likelihood that we won't be seeing our new CB for a while...  

• Alex Neil's game management; there's been a little bit of criticism levelled at the manager after the removal of Simms and the change in formation, what do the lads think about it all? Is AN responsible for the madness at the end there?  

• Steve Davison; Our COO seems to be struggling with the concept of running a large football club.

• Why have we not employed more staff when we're clearly short? Why is the club so far behind off the pitch? Is there a real desire to improve immediately from the board as well as Davison?  

• Is KLD even aware we're being ran like a conference side when it comes to ticketing, marketing and merchandising? You'd hope someone above Davison has noticed something?  

• Why has Chris Waters been left in the position of seemingly having to deal with all this again this year despite it not technically being his job to do? A thought for the staff we do have who can't get the help they need to help us fans…  

• Gav reads out a few worrying emails from fans received as we were recording yesterday;

• Aye. There's a lot going on.

Ha'way the Lads and hire more staff!  

#SAFC #EFLChampionship #EFL #KLD #SteveDavison

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Aye the lads had as much wind knocked out of them by that equaliser as the lads on the pitch, as our Mike Dunne, Sam Blakey and Gary Winters met up at the Hilton to try and react to what we all just witnessed...  

What's the crack?  

• SAS - Stewart and Simms continue their beautiful partnership at least...

How did we not win that?  

• A great start - where did it all go wrong in the lads opinions?  

Seriously how does that even happen?

• Undefeated but a definite two point loss rather than one point gained today - how do the lads feel overall?  

Their keeper ffs...

• The lads need a drink here, and now we all need a drink.

#SAFC #EFLChampionship #EFL

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Aye we had a slight technical hitch this week, so our plucky podcasters gathered themselves - just after a forgettable cup outing against Sheffield Wednesday - to go over everything we've missed since Saturday evening and looking ahead to our return home this Saturday against QPR! 

What's the crack?  

• Everything is on the agenda - so where do we start?  

• Alex Neil - what do the lads make of our gaffer's start to our Championship campaign?  

• Do we think he gives a monkeys about exiting the League Cup? 

• Should the players given a chance to perform have actually tried to perform Wednesday night... or were they already resigned to not playing this Saturday afternoon?  

• Our win over Bristol City was a lot nicer wasn't it - so what do the lads make of young Ellis Simms?  

• No return for Broadhead - How do the lads feel about that?  

• Looking at QPR this Saturday - What do we think our chances are of coming away with our first home victory of the season?  

• All this and much more - Apologies for the wait lads and lasses!

#SAFC #EFLChampionship #EFL #CarabaoCup #QPR

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Our Mike Dunne and Bomber met up down in Bristol to react to Sunderland’s away victory at Ashton Gate!

What’s the crack?

• ELLIS SIMMS IS MINT

• LOCH NESS DROGBA RETURNS

• I SHOULD STOP SHOUTING

• What did the lads make of that performance overall?

• Exhilarating stuff, we can't complain too much after four points in our first two games!

HAWAAAAAAAAY THE LADS

#SAFC #EFLChampionship #EFL

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This week our Chris Wynn was joined by the lovely Ryan Dilks from the... crème de la crème... of Championship podcasts - The Second Tier - as we head into our first away fixture in the Championship for some time against Bristol City!  

What's the crack?  

• How are the lads over at Second Tier now the new season has started, and what - or who - got them interested in the Championship to begin with?  

• As a neutral (and someone who spends all their time talking about it) what are Ryan's thoughts overall on the way the rest of the Championship clubs are shaping up?  

• What was his reaction to the return of Sunderland to this level, as well as the relegation of his own side - Derby County - from the division back in April?  

• How perilous is the Championship for newly promoted sides, and what are the expectations for sides like ourselves, Wigan and Rotherham?  

• Season predictions; so where does Ryan have us on his list, and who does he think will be sitting at the top and bottom of the league come the end of the season?  

• Alex Neil; Is he Sunderland's biggest asset?  

• What does he make of the club's recruitment policy?  

• How have our next opponents - Bristol City - been getting along in recent years, and what does Ryan make of the reign of Nigel Pearson?  

• Who are the players to watch, and does he predict an evenly balanced match on Saturday?  

• All this and more! Listen in!  

#SAFC #BristolCity #EFLChampionship #EFL

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Our Gav Henderson, Craig Chapman and Martin Wanless sat down to review Sunderland's draw with Coventry on Sunday - chat about the positions Alex Neil and our listeners think need filling - discuss the serious issue with the away support throwing bottles down on our home fans again, and finally look ahead a bit to Bristol City!  

What's the crack?  

• Was that a satisfactory way to return to Championship action after so long away?  

• How class were Pritchard, Clarke and Gooch - They all have points to prove it seems;  

• What about that display organisation from the fans and The Spirit of 37 group? Stunning work from all involved.  

• What areas do we - and the lads and lasses on social media - think needs the most attention?  

• The lads answer some of your questions;  

• Alex Neil wants bodies in before the window - do we need to rush?  

• BREAKING: That ref was shocking, they all are it seems.

• Away fans and the North Stand - Don't try acting a bunch of edgy little c***s when there's families, bairns and elderly lads and lasses below you, you f***ing scummy bunch of ****** b******s.

• The club needs to do more to protect the fans from the projectiles from above surely? Not wanting our fans to take the law into their own hands eh?

• How we feeling about the game next Saturday against Bristol City - are we confident or not now we've seen the quality of some of our opposition?  

• All this and more! Listen in!  

#SAFC #EFL #EFLChampionship #WearThe37

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Our Ant Waterson and Mike Dunne met up at the Hilton after the game to give us their immediate reaction to Sunderland's Championship opener against Coventry at the Stadium of Light!  

What's the crack?  

• Aye it really was a game of two halves, maybe three thirds. The lads go over the negatives before the positives so stick with it.

• What did they make of that ref?  

• How good is it to be back?  

• What did they make of the overall performance?  

• We'll take the point aye? Solid start to the season?  

Gav and Co will be back tomorrow with a full detailed review of the game as usual...  

HAWAY THE LADS and good luck to the Lionesses!

#SAFC #EFLChampionship #EFL

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So we stopped a cycle of losing before heading into what is a very welcome international break for most, as Sunlun held QPR to a draw at the weekend. Join Gav and Martin as they try to talk about it all.. and end up talking about everything but the game.

What’s the crack?

• Our worst losing streak in a decade comes to an end, but we didn’t make it easy on ourselves; what did the lads make of it all? Nice quick minute or so spent on the game itself here.

• We got a clean sheet! Just the one for now but it’s good news? It is isn’t it? Tell me it is please I need something.

• Can we build on this result, however dull it might’ve been?

• We need this international break, we need this summer and ideally we need it all to come along a lot faster;

• Do we need to change up the backroom staff a bit as well as the head coach?

• This is exactly what our Chris Wynn said would happen aye.

• Just… aye. Ha’way the Lads!

#EFL #SAFC #EFLChampionship

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Our Chris Wynn has had just about enough time to recover from his Wembley wanderings to get back to it - joining him to preview our first game back in the Championship this Sunday is Glenn from Coventry's Sky Blue Fans TV!

What's the crack?

• What have they been up to since last we met in March of 2020?

• Their manager Mark Robins has been in the job for a while now, with a couple promotions under the belt since 2017; how are they getting on with him currently, and are they seeing real progress on the pitch?

• Who are the big players for Coventry these days? Who is their biggest threat in Glenn's opinion?

• Our pre-season wasn't much to write home about from a results point of view but they've been unbeaten so - does this fill them with confidence for the season ahead?

• How's the transfer window going for them? Any positions still needing to be filled?

• What do both lads predict the outcome will be on Sunday; Games between us are rarely dull, so what sort of game are we all expecting?

• All this and more!

#SAFC #CCFC #EFLChampionship

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Aye lads and lasses... we're about to start our first season back in the Championship after that long holiday in League One! So to kick things off our Phil and Gav got together for a chat about all the goings on as the Sunderland AFC pre-season draws to a close - from decent performances to half matches, power cuts, strange results and surprise signings - and to guess at the overall feeling of the fans as we head into the season opener (less than a week from now) against our dear old friends Coventry City!  

What's the crack?  

• How do the lads feel about the way the club has conducted its business over the last month or so?  

• The gaffer and recruitment team know what they have and who they need, don't they? Which areas do we think they'll look to strengthen?

• Do we think any significant lessons were learned from the matches played? Is there a chance AN is at all surprised by anything he's seen?  

• Is anyone concerned at this stage? How confident are the lads ahead of next Sunday?  

• What do we make of the transfer window so far - and the way the club continues to quietly do its business - is it a possibility we'll need to wait a little while longer for the players we're targeting?  

• Gav feels fairly relaxed - is this purely because everyone panicked last season and we still started well, or is Alex Neil exactly the manager you need in your life to keep your head from dropping?  

• All this and more!

There's everything still to play for...

#SAFC #EFL #EFLChampionship

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Our host Phil West was joined by our Gav Henderson and Rich Speight to talk about all the recent goings on at the club, as Sunderland start to strengthen Alex Neil’s squad ahead of the coming 22/23 EFL Championship campaign! 

What's the crack? 

• A big warm welcome for new recruit Daniel Ballard, as the young defender - and Northern Ireland International - signs from the Arsenal academy; what do we know about him, and are the lads happy with his arrival?  

• Does the signing of players like Ballard show we’re on a similar track regarding last season’s recruitment model - certain dips into nostalgia aside?  

• I’ll see your Borini and raise you a Rudoni; Speaking of nostalgia a rumour has spread after Fabio’s wife was contacted on social media - would the lads say no if there was any chance, and should we keep yearning as a fanbase for players of old when the clear plan is to target exciting young talent like Wimbledon’s Jack Rudoni, for example…

• How key were the contracts given to players like Patterson, Gooch, Wright, and particularly Roberts? Just what does it all show about the way we’re continuing to go about our business as a club?  

• A farewell to David Preece - the lads wonder over his leaving the coaching staff after a great season overall, as well as helping to bring the best out of a young Patto - we don’t think he’ll be out of work for long…

• Alex Neil knows who and what he wants, do we think we’re far from having it all in place, and are the lads at all worried about the short space of time between now and the start of the season?  

• All this and much more! Listen in!

#SAFC #EFL #EFLChampionship

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Aye lads and lasses, earlier today (June 22nd 2022 at the time of recording) the club released the following statement:

"Sunderland AFC today announces that Kyril Louis-Dreyfus has increased his ownership stake in the Club to 51%.

In parallel, Juan Sartori has increased his stake to 30%.

Governance remains unchanged.

The shares have been acquired through the purchase of shares held by Charlie Methven, who has sold all of his shares, and Stewart Donald, who has sold down his stake to 19%."

Followed shortly by this statement from Kyril Louis-Dreyfus himself, alongside Juan Sartori:

“Today marks an important step as we continue to rebuild Sunderland AFC. Following the 2021-22 season, it was the intention of Juan and I to ensure the ongoing speculation relating to the Club’s shareholding was addressed as soon as possible. Our ownership group has been consolidated and there will be no further sale of shares to a third-party buyer. We remain committed to our strategy of delivering long-term success and sustainability and together, alongside our dedicated staff and loyal supporters, I believe we can now move forward as one unified football club.”

So our Rich, Gav and Chris sat down to: discuss what all this means - speculate on what went on behind the scenes to get this deal sorted - wonder at the motivations of all parties - ponder Charlie Methven's legacy at the club and whether he'll actually let SAFC fans get the final word - revel in the increasingly silent aspect of former owner Stewart Donald's silent partnership and decreased shareholding - look at the lowering of risk, dependence and liability for the ownership group - generally share their feelings on the past few weeks/months/years of uncertainty, and look forward to Sunderland's immediate and long-term future without further ownership distraction.

We'll be back soon with actual footy chat! Honest...

Hawaaaaaaay the lads!

#SAFC #EFLChampionship #KLD #EFL

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Well it's been a weird week or so as an SAFC fan, leaving a few of our editorial group with more questions than answers surrounding all kinds of issues, so Phil West, Rich Speight and Martin Wanless got together to see what they made of it all!  

What's the crack? 

• The Fans Together, Methven and Donald - some games are likely being played here, how much of a risk is this proposed deal, how likely is it to go any further than it has, and who benefits from the chaos it brings - as it's certainly not the fans is it?  

• KLD: what would the lads like to see from our Chairman? Minor shareholder's games aside - should he be showing more commitment to both the immediate and long-term future of the club?  

• Speakman: As we're on the subject of running things... the sporting director has been chatting recently, so what do the lads make of what he had to say and what do they make of the job he's done so far?  

• Is club business being impacted by the shareholders infighting? Can Sunderland AFC multitask as an organisation? Would Steve Davison maybe like to get the club shop open properly and fully stocked up perhaps?  

• Transfer rumours have been few and far between so far but there's been a couple keepers mentioned - what do the lads make of the names we've heard? Do we think young Patto has completely secured his place in the Championship in the eyes of Alex Neil?  

• Hoffmann v SAFC - Our former keeper has not been kind to the club in a recent interview back in Germany, and the club itself has responded to this as you would imagine it might... Bit of legal action on the horizon?  

• Recapturing the momentum and the narrative - has the club let all these recent developments distract from keeping hold of that promotion winning feeling?  

• Speaking of promotion - and to try lighten the mood a bit - Martin tells us all about his epic journey from Australia to see the lads win at Wembley, and what happened next...  

The mood is not lightened.  

Seriously lads and lasses, we need the footy back.  

#SAFC #EFL #EFLChampionship

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Our Rich Speight got together with football finance specialists and authors - Martin Calladine and James Cave - to find out a bit more about the group seeking to purchase Stewart Donald and Charles Methven’s 39% stake in Sunderland AFC!

What’s the crack?  

• Martin and James know a thing or two about football finance and cryptocurrency - as well as how the two have tried to merge in recent years - so what do they make of all this news about the TFT group?  

• Who exactly are ‘The Fans Together’ - who runs this group, what have the group attempted so far, and what are their plans for the future?  

• How likely is it that cryptocurrency will be able to be used in football ownership with any success anytime soon, and are these group’s claims of “fan ownership” based on anything but a desire to profit from the idea of such models using confusing language and the obfuscation of facts?  

• Do we think the EFL are capable of recognising the dangers of such groups and do Martin and James think this particular deal has any chance at all of succeeding?  

• I know lads and lasses, it’s all a bit... confusing. If you’d like to learn more about the world of football finance, football ownership, football’s regulatory bodies, cryptocurrency models and the crazy story of groups like OwnaFC - you can purchase Martin Calladine and James Cave’s book ‘Fit and Proper People: The lies and fall of OwnaFC’ using the Amazon link here, and follow both Martin here and James here on social media.

• We’ll be back soon! Thanks for listening!  

#SAFC #EFLChampionship #TFT #OwnaFC

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Aye, it’s all kicked off again. After a few weeks of elation, the minority shareholders at the club have decided to accept a bid from a crypto group by the name of TFT, and chaos/panic/rage has once again gripped Sunlun social media. So Rich sat down with our friend and fellow supporter Tom White - who broke the news on Twitter about the deal - to get his thoughts on it all... particularly the difficulties surrounding releasing information to his fellow fans without us suffering a collective nervous breakdown.

What’s the crack? 

• Well that’s the crack there. Not Charlie washing up his stash of Columbia’s finest... but instead himself and Stewart Donald have apparently accepted a bid for their 39% stake in Sunderland AFC from a group heavily involved in cryptocurrency. Aye.

• How did Tom come by the news, and what does he know about the deal as it stands? 

• What do we make of the statement released by Kyril Louis-Dreyfus about the news? 

• Is it possible to disclose information *as a journalist* without running the gauntlet of fan outrage? 

• How is Tom feeling about it all, and the reaction he’s had personally to... doing his job? 

• What does Rich - who has been speaking to people familiar with this group extensively - feel about the possibility of a sale to these people? 

• Are we looking forward to talking about the footy again? I know I am...

• All this and more! Don’t shoot the messenger lads and lasses. 

#SAFC #EFL #Championship #TomWhite #TFT

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Away from what will be an endless avalanche of breaking news and updates on the SAFC ownership saga for the next month or so - Our Gav Henderson and Chris Wynn sat down to try work out what our EFL League One best XI actually is - drawn from the past four years in the division - using the glorious benefit of hindsight!

What's the crack?

• Exactly what it says on the tin lads and lasses - I encourage all of you, after listening in, to head to the RR social media feeds and tell them where you think they went wrong... or agree. The former is always so much more amusing.

Enjoy the trip down memory lane!

#SAFC #EFL #Championship #LeagueOneXI

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Our Gav is here with a very quick breakdown of some breaking news surrounding the Sunderland ownership situation as revealed today by SSN's MLF - Tom White!

• We'll update as more information becomes available lads and lasses! 

#SAFC #KLD #EFL #Championship

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Rich, Gav and Chris sat down to finish the promotion Pod trilogy with a discussion surrounding the Sunderland management saga this year - looking at the rise and fall of Lee Johnson, the rise and rise of Alex Neil, the decision making of Kristjaan Speakman and the recruitment team. As well as a quick look over the players let go by the club, and the contract negotiations currently underway!

What's the crack?

• How happy are the lads that - despite the chaos of that transition from one manager to another - we have Alex Neil at the helm now?

• How much credit does the gaffer get for his handling of everything since his arrival, and what did they make of his approach to the final against Wycombe?

• What do they think are the main differences between the two men who took charge of our campaign this season - it appears both did exactly what we were told they were brought in to do doesn't it?

• Kristjaan Speakman - all things considered, has he done enough to convince fans he's the man for the job? Has the appointment of Alex Neil - now promotion has been achieved - saved his skin?

• Recruitment - We've had more hits than misses this season, so could we have done better? Who actually gets the credit for certain signings, and how many do the lads think we need to bring in through this transfer window?

• How happy are the lads looking at the retained list, and did any of the releases and contract offers surprise anyone?

• How many times have we watched last weekend back?

• All this and much more - Cheers for listening lads and lasses!

#SAFC #EFL #EFLPlayoffs #AlexNeil

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If you haven't noticed there's a little gift we've posted full of joy and positivity just prior to this here podcast. Honest it's all great fun. Seriously though we are actually back, as Gav and Chris sat down late last night to look at the Southampton result and ahead to QPR! 

What's the crack? 

• BREAKING NEWS: WE'RE STILL SHITE

• It wasn't exactly an inspirational performance against Southampton but at least we got a couple goals aye? 

• Stop overthinking it Mike; the lads try to explain to Dodds where he might be going wrong... 

• Defensive injury woes continue to just get worse as Seelt is now absent for Saturday and likely the rest of the season; so how do we sort this mess until Luke gets back? 

• The lads both get a little ranty about it all and question the team selection, specifically regarding players like Adil Aouchiche.

• So with QPR retaining the services for now of a lad who allegedly hit someone with a brick back on the continent, we have to deal with a reasonably potent attacking threat. Especially if he's got a rock in his hand.

• The lads try to predict how things will look after the final whistle and sort of give up. Aye.

• All this and more. Ha'way the Lads! 

#SAFC #EFL #EFLChampionship

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Part two of what is turning into a series of podcasts surrounding Sunderland’s promotion over the weekend - in this episode Rich, Phil and Bomber reflect on their own experiences and discuss the match itself - with a tablespoon of tactical analysis and a sprinkling of hero worship...

What’s the crack?

• How is everyone feeling a few days after the event? 

• What were the lad’s experiences in the stands - and at home - at key moments during the game? 

• Which players stood out for Sunderland, and who do the lads think flew under the radar a bit? 

• Alex Neil’s tactical nous shone through on Saturday - what did everyone make of the way he approached the game? 

• Why did Phil not give everyone a 10/10 in the RR player ratings? What does he have to say for himself? 

• Luke O’Nien is nominated for man of the year/future PM... 

• How proud are we of the players and the fans? 

• All this and more to come - as the lads milk this winning feeling for as long as possible! 

As Sacko says - it’s special. 

#SAFC #TilTheEnd #EFLPlayoffs #Wembley

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WE DID IT LADS AND LASSES - Sunderland AFC are back in the EFL Championship after four long years in League One! We're a bit knackered now mind...

What's the crack?

• Gav, Craig and Chris try to remember everywhere they went this weekend...

Aye, that's literally the crack. Enjoy!

HAWAAAAAAAAAAAY

#SAFC #TilTheEnd #EFLPlayoffs #Wembley

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Seriously now, don’t take our advice on travel, won’t be held responsible... but aye lads and lasses it’s here! Some of us are already in London but our Rich, Gav and Ant recorded before the journey - giving their thoughts on the 24 hours or so to come, and the match itself! HAWAY!

What's the crack?

• Gav was bricking it - he’s currently in Millers down London if you want to track him down and report back on his progress...

• How are the lads feeling about everything? Confident?

• Which of the squad now fully/partially fit would the lads bring in for the final?

• Rich gives us a rough guide of London travel and the underground system - Gav points out Google maps is your friend;

• More crack about feelings, big flag displays from Spirit of 37, Wembley seats with shite views, arguing with the bank about how much money you've spent - the usual;

• Just a quick one lads and lasses! Enjoy yourselves, safe travels to all!

HAWAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAYAAAAAAAAAAAAAYAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

#SAFC #EFLPlayoffs #LeagueOne #Wembley

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After a busy season himself, winning the League One title with Wigan Athletic, we had the pleasure of sitting down with former Sunderland Captain and all round lovely lad - Max Power - ahead of Sunderland's trip to Wembley this Saturday!

What's the crack?

• Max Power is one of only three men in our history to lead Sunderland to victory at Wembley - how does he feel knowing that?

• Things have gone well at Wigan for our former Captain - is he enjoying his time off before next year's Championship campaign?

• How is former SAFC Striker 'Big F**k' Charlie Wyke doing now, and how difficult was it for Max watching that unfold? Is Charlie in good spirits?

• Max gives us his view as he looks back over his time at the Stadium of Light - does he have any regrets? What does he think went wrong for the club in his first season here in particular?

• What has he made of our 21/22 season? How close does he think it got in the end?

• Max gives his thoughts on Sunderland's coming League One Play-off Final this Saturday - does he think the Lads have what it takes to overcome Wycombe?

• What can he tell us about the experience of playing at Wembley - not just once for Sunderland - but three times?

• How draining is it physically and mentally, and how gutted was he that the one time we got the win he wasn't able to share the moments with the Sunlun fans?

• What message does he want to send the fans themselves, and will he be watching?

• All this and a massive thank you to Max for taking the time out to speak to us!

HAWAAAAAAAY

#SAFC #MaxPower #TilTheEnd #EFL #LeagueOne #WAFC

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Not long to go now - our Chris Wynn was joined over the weekend by our old friend - ITV's Simon O'Rourke - as he rounds off his 21/22 RR trilogy by looking over the job Alex Neil has done to get us to Wembley, ahead to the party before the final at Trafalgar, and gives his opinion on our chances of promotion from League One on Saturday!

What's the crack?

• Been a crazy season at the Stadium of Light hasn't it? How is Simon feeling ahead of a busy week?

• What has he made of Alex Neil's efforts to get the lads focused on the task at hand - promotion from this division;

• #TilTheEnd - Has Alex Neil given the lads some much needed steel since arrival? They don't give up easy do they...

• How vital is it for everyone - including Kyril Louis-Dreyfus - that we get out of this league now?

• Which players have stood out over the past few months, and particularly over the two legs against Sheffield Wednesday;

• What does Simon make of Wycombe - including his take on their Chairman's interesting efforts to sell tickets via weird cringey statements about... Netflix clubs? Aye.

• Battle of the shithouses - who does Simon thinks comes out on top between Ainsworth and Neil?

• Is Alex Neil's attitude toward the media and pressers just as no-nonsense as we've seen from afar?

• So... Will Simon and the ITV cameras be travelling down this week? Is he looking forward to it?

• All this and more! Ha'way the Lads!

#SAFC #EFLplayoffs #LeagueOne #PlayoffFinal #Wembley

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Gav, Chris and Phil got together yesterday after a night of celebration (followed by a day of trying to sort tickets) to react to Sunderland's victory in the dying minutes of the second leg of the League One Play-off Semis down Hillsborough! Aye. 

What's the crack?  

• The lads try and work out how they feel after the late drama of Monday night;  

• How do they rate that performance from the Lads? How proud are they of the players?  

• 'Alex Neil has balls of steel' - he stuck with his selection when most wouldn't have done, and it paid off...  

• The rush for tickets for the final is always a laugh - had any random DMs lately? 

• How confident do we feel ahead of Wembley (we'll go into this in further detail over the coming days) but does this feel like it's time to finally leave League One? Does Alex Neil look like the man who can get the job done? 

• Warrior spirit - It's all we ever want isn't it? Players battered and bruised, covered in mud and blood... 

• Do we now have the edge - the ability to grind results - and the players to take us up to the promised land of the Championship?  

• How mental are the next ten days going to get, and is Trafalgar Square ready to be red and white once again? 

ON OUR WAY! ON OUR WAY! 

#SAFC #TilTheEnd #EFL #EFLPlayoffs #LeagueOne

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A very rough and hungover Gav was joined the morning/night after the night/morning before by our ‘man down under’ Martin Wanless and our Phil West, to break down an atmospheric and compelling night at the Stadium of Light - as Sunderland took the lead in our home leg of the Play-off Semi Finals against Sheffield Wednesday - and to look ahead to the away fixture at Hillsborough Monday night!

What's the crack?

• Now that was some atmosphere lads and lasses - an incredible performance from the 44,742 mackems in attendance (and with a few up from South Yorkshire) - so how did it all feel last night? Can the lads remember the last time they felt like that?

• ROSSCO STRIKES AGAIN; The Loch Ness Drogba drove his way through to take a one goal lead into the second leg on Monday - which row did our Gavin end up in?

• What did the lads make of Alex Neil’s team selection - do they think he got the balance right?

• So many good performances it’s difficult to pick out a particular player deserving of al the praise - but who put their best shift in Friday night?

• Luke O’Nien managed to nullify Barry Bannan for long periods of the game - can/will he do the same at Hillsborough?

• Did the scoreline flatter our opponents - they didn’t necessarily make it easy but we could’ve been a few goals clear couldn’t we?

• How do we think Alex Neil will set up for Monday? We can’t go looking for a draw, so what would we be looking for... besides a win of course.

• The gaffer is keen to remind us all we’re only halfway there - so bring on Hillsborough!

HAWAY THE LADS!

#SAFC #SWFC #EFLPlayoffs #LeagueOne #TilTheEnd

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Our Chris Wynn was joined by the wonderful Rob Staton - from BBC Radio Sheffield - to get an idea of where our opponents in the semi-finals are currently, what's been going on down Hillsborough of late, and more importantly preview the upcoming matches/ordeal.

What's the crack?

• No surprises here - It's about Sunderland v Sheffield Wednesday in the semi-finals of the play-offs.

• What's the situation with the fitness of key Wednesday players ahead of the match on Friday? Who else does Alex Neil need to keep an eye on?

• How has Darren Moore performed this season? Is he looking and sounding confident at the moment?

• Do we need to forget about our previous meetings and just go for it?

• How does Rob think it'll play out on the pitch - are Wednesday still as vulnerable as the last time they visited?

• The lads take a quick look at the madness up and down the EFL pyramid;

• Is anyone brave enough for a prediction then?

• All this and much more! We're almost there lads and lasses! Ha'waaaay the Lads!

#SAFC #TilTheEnd #SWFC #EFLPlayOffs #EFL

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Gav was joined last night by our Chris Wynn and Phil West as they reacted to the end of the EFL League One 21/22 season, and what it all means for Sunderland as we face Sheffield Wednesday in the Play-Off Semi Finals!

What's the crack?

• So here we are lads and lasses - Sunderland are going to face Sheffield Wednesday over two legs, to see who can get to Wembley to face either Milton Keynes or Wycombe Wanderers.

• How are the lads feeling about Alex Neil’s more.. methodical.. approach to matches - particularly the match everyone watched on Saturday?

• Will this ‘by any means necessary’ attitude serve us well in the coming matches?

• BROADY LAD - He’s there again but it looks like he’s taken a knock, and as of recording we have no idea as to whether he’ll be fit or not this Friday so... what exactly do we do without him if this is the case?

• Ross Stewart took a knock on Saturday also, although that looked marginally less worrying than Broadhead’s - does nothing for the nerves does it?

• Which players stand out as being the most important/influential as we look to the Play-off Semis - there’s a certain Aiden McGeady on the horizon but would Alex Neil want to be using him this late on? Is there time for one last step over?

• Looking at the midfield - do the lads see the concern over Dan Neil not being selected? Does Embleton fit back there, and how well is Corry Evans performing the task he’s been given by the gaffer?

• The lads try to work out if they’re confident or not, and... did you know our Chris was on Sky the other day? We had no idea.

• All this and more! Once more unto the breach and all the rest! Hawaaaaay the lads!

#SAFC #EFL #EFLPlayoffs #LeagueOne #TilTheEnd

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Gav was joined once again yesterday by our Martin Wanless and Phil West, as they looked back in greater detail over our victory on Saturday afternoon, and ahead to Tuesday night's ridiculously important game against Rotherham! 

What's the crack?

• We really needed that ahead of our final two regular games of the 21/22 League One season - what did the lads make of the overall performance?

• Some game from a certain Lynden Gooch - it's a great time to hit form for the lad isn't it?

• Speaking of form, Alex Neil has Sunderland firing on all cylinders at just the right time - how key is his experience of the play-off pressures going to be?

• We surely can't not make the play-offs at this stage can we? We are Sunlun of course but still...

• The lads take a look at the rest of League One and who our rivals are playing this week - some sides are in a far more desperate position than ourselves as they look to stay up; 

• Ahead to Rotherham; how do the lads think we'll set up against them? We owe them a battering for the humiliation down their way earlier this season, but they're still quite the threat in spite of current form - so can we do this? 

• We chat injuries - including poor Winchester on Saturday - look at our returning players, and Martin teases everyone with the slimmest of chances of the automatics!

• It's going to be a hell of a week Lads and Lasses! Listen in!

#SAFC #EFL #LeagueOne #RUFC

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Personal circumstances we don't really need to go on about online have unfortunately put the pods back a couple weeks, so in the interest of continuity/torture/sadism this is a combination of three recordings made after our defeats at home to Swansea, Norwich City and Leicester City… running back to back. 

This isn't something we'd necessarily advise you listen to, especially if you're feeling a bit low, but if that's your thing then we won't judge. Enjoy the descent into madness or switch to the Southampton reaction and QPR preview that's just gone up.

What's the crack? 

• The first half hour or so the lads looked at the defeat at home to Swansea City, tried to work out what exactly the players were playing at and started to show a little concern over the Dodds intervention on the pitch. Gav was not feeling confident at all.

• The second half hour is of course dedicated to the memory of Doddsy's sanity and tactical nous, as the lads just stood aghast at the complete lack of attacking intent against a Norwich side that could have been beaten on the day. 

• The final part of this glorious trilogy features further concern after our result against Leicester City and a complete lack of belief in the lads being capable of getting a result at Southampton which (spoiler alert) funnily enough turned out to be the case.

• We're very sorry we have to do this to you all. Good luck and Ha'way the lads! 

#EFL #EFLChampionship #SAFC

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Our Ant Waterson was joined immediately after the game - at the packed (and loud) Hilton bar - by our Sam Blakey to react quickly to a very comfortable win against Cambridge Utd at the Stadium of Light!

What’s the crack?

• That was nice wasn’t it? Some lovely goals to try chip away at our GD - how do the lads feel after that?

• EMBO - Brilliance from the lad yet again!

• THE LOCH NESS DROGBA IS BACK! Haway the Rossco! 

• Another goal for Broadhead, and a return to action for Pritch!

• A great game from Gooch today - was that his best performance this year?

• Was that a red? Definitely a penna but a red?

• One game down, two to go!

#SAFC #EFL #LeagueOne

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Well Lads and Lasses… what started out life as a mere Sunderland AFC v Cambridge Utd preview became something else entirely, as our Chris Wynn was joined for a couple of hours on Thursday night by a legend of broadcasting - Mark Saggers - to go over not only his love for Cambridge Utd, but his surprising family ties to Sunderland AFC - as well as his 40 years in the business of sports broadcasting and journalism… It's an epic!

What's the crack? 

• Where do we begin? Saggers let's us in on his family history and his links to Sunderland as a club and a city, including his first visit to Roker Park in the 1960's!  

• Chris gets his deep-dive fix as Mark details his amazing journey through the ever changing world of broadcasting… from Muhammad Ali to Jimmy Carter, from Terry Wogan to Stan Collymore, from covering the Olympic games to the World Cup (and the occasional horse race) Saggers has seen a lot. What moments stand out so far in his long career?  

• His love of sport in general - particularly football and cricket - and his experiences at Cambridge Utd with the likes of Chris Turner, Gary Johnson, John Beck and many more... as well as watching a certain Lee Johnson grow up;  

• The lessons he learned from legends of broadcasting at the BBC, and many stories from a time when journalists were a very real conduit between fans and their clubs;  

• The birth of Sky and Sky Sports - Saggers tells us of the years of rogue broadcasting, the occasional almost accidental interview and the pursuit of the story - as Sky and Rupert Murdoch changed the face of sports and news broadcasting in the UK and across the world;  

• His time at Talksport and the insanity of the era, as the lads just took what they could get and ran with it - often with hilarious results;  

• His relationship with former England Manager Terry Venables; having to take Tel to the Ritz in the build up to Euro 96 and securing the exclusive interview ahead of his then rivals at the BBC and ITV. 

• Saggers talks about gambling harm and recovery, and his work with Betknowmore UK on a series of Podcasts highlighting his struggles and the struggles of others;  

• If you're rushing for time ahead of the match and want to jump into the preview ahead of the match between Sunderland and Cambridge - jump ahead to around 1:23:00 - listen to a few insights on how the U's are doing this season under Mark Bonner, and when you get the chance… come back and listen to the rest of the tale!  

• Chris and Mark wax lyrical about League One and the rest of the English game. Where is elite football headed? Does Saggers approve of the direction it's taken and may take in the future? Will the almost universally despised 'Super League' rear it's head again in some form or another?  

• Mark tells us about his new venture on Talk TV as he launches a brand new show - The Sunday Night Club - which starts May 1st; what issues in sport does he aim to highlight as he moves forward to another chapter in his career?  

• Eight days to save Sunderland's season - does Saggers think we can do it?

• All this and so much more. A pretty wild ride through many different eras from a man who may well have seen it all… Enjoy!  

#SAFC #EFL #CamUTD #Saggers #TalkSport

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Gav was joined by fellow RR editorial team members Phil West and Chris Wynn to run right through all of the action over Easter - discussing whether four points across the two games vs Shrewsbury and Plymouth are good enough as we approach the final three games of the 21/22 season!

What's the crack?

• The lads delve deep into both of the games over Easter and ponder what this all means for the rest of Sunderland's season...

• Shrewsbury were almost a banana skin for Sunderland - what did we make of the performance?

• Alex Neil's interactions with the media are earning him praise - is his approach more of what fans and players like to see and hear?

• Did the win on Friday impact on how the gaffer approached Monday's game?

• Sunderland shaded the statistics at Home Park - but is it a good point?

• Our defensive players shone, but our attackers struggled...

• Do some of our big-hitters look jaded by the busy schedule?

• What does this all mean ahead of next weekend's round of fixtures?

• This and much more - tune in!

#SAFC #EFL #LeagueOne

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