Good Sunderland article on us - also mentions our singing

[Nick]

http://rokerreport.sbnation.com/2014/3/ ... st-like-us


I have to say I was up there in the gods on sunday and the atmosphere was gash. everybody around me sitting don despite being on the back row of a steep wembley where you have to stand up to sing.

Second half we were better but that made it even worse and I was singing ''sing when were winning.."


end of random rant.

But fix up blues, im bored of the library. its embarassing.

[mr_nool]

That was a good read ,thanks for sharing. They were indeed more vocal than us, at least until we scored. But then again they had a lot more to cheer about in the first half. I do think that the novelty part mentioned also played a big part.

[Arjan Van Schotte]

lovely article that, cheers.

[Original Dub]

Can someone paste it?
Link doesn't work on the phone!

Cheers

[Blue Since 76]

Decent article and an honest appraisal. I don't ever recall being bitter about Chelsea's money when we were skint, as it felt about as relevant as moaning about Juventus being rich compared to what we had. Sunderland also strikes me as a 'proper club' whatever that really means. But a decent hardcore of fans who'll support them through anything and were out to enjoy themselves at the weekend whatever the result. Respect to the many who stayed to watch us lift the trophy as well, considering how far they had to travel. I genuinely hope they stay up, especially if it's at the expense of the Welsh.

As for the signing, they seemed a lot quieter in the second half until we scored the third - them starting up then made me think of how we've supported City over the years. There's no point being upset about a defeat, as they become pretty regular so just laugh them off. However, I still think a lot is down to the weird Wembley acoustics, whereby its hard to hear noise from people 20yds away although it's insanely loud if the people around you are singing.

[aaron bond]

Very good article.

It always makes me laugh when non-City fans say we've lost our soul, or they would stop supporting their club if they were taken over like we were. They would be as delighted about it as we have been.

Supporters of the old 'Big 4' dislike our newfound success because they are threatened by us. Supporters of other clubs who dislike our success is purely down to jealousy. All fans of less successful teams have that hope that they'll be the ones to disrupt the natural order and enjoy plenty of success. So when it happened to us, it meant it was far less likely that their sides could do it.

I know not all opposition fans feel that way but that's generally been my experience when speaking to others or reading comments online.

Nice to see a well-reasoned article for once. I have a lot of respect for Sunderland. Their fans are loyal and passionate, and they did a great job of winding up the United fans on the last day of 2011/12 season. I hope they stay up this season.

[Foreverinbluedreams]

Can someone paste it?
Link doesn't work on the phone!

Cheers

don't begrudge Manchester City their newfound wealth. If any set of fans deserve a chance at success - other than ours, of course - it's theirs. Or at least I think so, anyway. I mean, think how unbearable the Mags are and they just think they're a big club. Now imagine sharing a city with Manchester United. It must be tough being a City fan.

Or at least, it was. Not now. When they beat us on Sunday, I was gutted obviously. We'd pushed a team with an unlimited pot of money, with a squad full of superb players, all the way. At the end though, amidst the disappointment, I didn't feel bitter. Although City have bigger fish to fry these days, I bet their fans are still savouring every single cup win, be it League Cup, FA Cup or Premier League title.

It's easy to forget, but it wasn't too long ago that they weren't just a poor top flight side, they were languishing in the third tier of English football. Meanwhile at Old Trafford, Fergie continued stacking the trophies up. Their wealth, brash, new and "artificial" as it may be, is their only chance of ever coming close to their rivals. Let's face it, we'd love the chance to follow suit.

City might be able to draw on the world class talents of Sergio Aguero and Alvaro Negredo these days, but it wasn't always so. Back in the 1998/99 season, it was the rather more modest talents of Shaun Goater who was firing them up the league. "Feed the Goat and he will score" they sang when Manchester City plied their trade in the old division two. For the most part, there were over 28k singing it too; a remarkable average attendance given they were in the third tier.

That's why when I hear, "Where were you when you were shit?" aimed at the blue half of Manchester, it irritates me a bit. I know it's just a wind up, but it betrays an ignorance of the club and its history. They may wear blue, but they're not Chelsea. Their fans have always been there. They're a people's club. A supporters' club. Just like ours really.

On Sunday, they may have been less visible, less audible, but this was something like their sixth or seventh visit to Wembley in the last three years. It's not a novelty anymore, like it was for us. It's also extremely expensive. It's hard to imagine being in their position, but you can see why the majority didn't make a weekend of it. That said, we still out sang them for almost the entire game. They've got a bit of work to do on the vocal side of things. There's no excuse for that.

In the main, the elements of their support I did encounter were a fantastic bunch; friendly, humble and respectful of Sunderland. Well, the feeling is mutual. I've always had a bit of a soft spot for them and while it left me dejected, I applauded our players and then theirs when they lifted the trophy. If we have to lose to a side in a final, I'd sooner them than Chelsea or Manchester United.

Ultimately, City the club may have changed dramatically, but the support hasn't. I like that. I'd like to think it'd be the same here if we ever had the chance to build a side like theirs. I'd also like to think we'd still be perceived as the same and not derided for having spent money to try and compete. I mean, how else are you supposed to?

So when they beat us on Sunday, I felt gutted, proud of our players and a bit jealous of the City fans but also applauded their players as they lifted the trophy. Fair play to them. I hope they go on and dominate United for a few years yet. Then I can start to hate them...