Sunderland in League 1 in 2026 (5 Viewers)

[robinsforever]

Seems we as a fan base are very confident and upbeat about next season but I'm now a little more cautious about this optimism. Sunderland this calendar year have been atrocious and frankly against us were useless as well. They played like a L1 side against a Championship or Premier League team.

Assuming Sheff Utd easily beat Sunderland which tbh seems a given, I can see Sunderland doing a Huddersfield and Barnsley who I think both made the play offs and were relegated the next season.

The spirit and mentality of out deck and the love Lampard has for the club isn't in doubt. The question is whether this deck is really technically good enough to challenge next season given they couldn't win either play off match against what looks like an abject Sunderland team.

 

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[Simpson]

Seems we as a fan base are very confident and upbeat about next season but I'm now a little more cautious about this optimism. Sunderland this calendar year have been atrocious and frankly against us were useless as well. They played like a L1 side against a Championship or Premier League team.

Assuming Sheff Utd easily beat Sunderland which tbh seems a given, I can see Sunderland doing a Huddersfield and Barnsley who I think both made the play offs and were relegated the next season.

The spirit and mentality of out deck and the love Lampard has for the club isn't in doubt. The question is whether this deck is really technically good enough to challenge next season given they couldn't win either play off match against what looks like an abject Sunderland team.

It wouldn't surprise me to see him leave before the season starts tbh.

 

[steve cooper]

Sunderland are not an atrocious team, they will give Sheff U a good game. I think sheff will win but it will be close. Where do people get these ideas from?

 

[Simpson]

Sunderland are not an atrocious team, they will give Sheff U a good game. I think sheff will win but it will be close. Where do people get these ideas from?

The majority of Sunderland supporters were going crazy when we were clearly coasting the last half dozen games.

We were equally concerned when he allowed us to surrender the ball so much which we hadn't previously done.

But we were the least exhausted team at the end of each leg so who knows.

When we open up, as we did when we beat Sheff Utd, we're capable of beating anyone.

The manager is a mystery tbh.

 

[Travs]

Sunderland were neither "shit", nor did they "take us to school tactically"........

If either of those scenarios had been true, it would have been decided either way before the 123rd minute of the 2nd leg.

They played how they needed to, kept the game tight, and small margins either way decided it..... fair play to them.... if Wright scored that header in injury time it would have been hailed as the perfect away performance..... but Sunderland won and they get the spoils.

 

[Potbellypig]

Seems we as a fan base are very confident and upbeat about next season but I'm now a little more cautious about this optimism. Sunderland this calendar year have been atrocious and frankly against us were useless as well. They played like a L1 side against a Championship or Premier League team.

Assuming Sheff Utd easily beat Sunderland which tbh seems a given, I can see Sunderland doing a Huddersfield and Barnsley who I think both made the play offs and were relegated the next season.

The spirit and mentality of out deck and the love Lampard has for the club isn't in doubt. The question is whether this deck is really technically good enough to challenge next season given they couldn't win either play off match against what looks like an abject Sunderland team.

Let's not pretend he won't be on his way out the first better opportunity he gets.

 

[Flying Fokker]

Let's not pretend he won't be on his way out the first better opportunity he gets.

Don’t spend too much time thinking about this one. None of us know him do we?

 

[Otis]

Seems we as a fan base are very confident and upbeat about next season but I'm now a little more cautious about this optimism. Sunderland this calendar year have been atrocious and frankly against us were useless as well. They played like a L1 side against a Championship or Premier League team.

Assuming Sheff Utd easily beat Sunderland which tbh seems a given, I can see Sunderland doing a Huddersfield and Barnsley who I think both made the play offs and were relegated the next season.

The spirit and mentality of out deck and the love Lampard has for the club isn't in doubt. The question is whether this deck is really technically good enough to challenge next season given they couldn't win either play off match against what looks like an abject Sunderland team.

Nothing is a given in this league and Sunderland are more than capable of beating Sheff Utd.

On the day anything can happen and anyone can beat anyone

 

[Sheffield Sky Blue]

Sunderland defended extremely well in both legs. For all our pressure, we had very few clear cut attempts on goal.

Our set piece balls were atrocious - how many corners failed to beat the first man? At the death, they showed us how it's done.

I am not a Sunderland admirer in any way, but we have to recognise that in both those respects they were better than us across the ties.

 

[olderskyblue]

They had that bit of luck in both games. We had it vs notts county and boro.

they are a better team than they showed against us, so will be interesting to watch the play off final.

I wouldn't bet against them tbh.

 

[PVA]

Sunderland are a good side with some very good players.

However they set up like absolute cowards and the gamesmanship was shocking.

 

[ajsccfc]

This is all a bit silly

 

[ccfcricoh]

Charity £50 bet says they are not in League 1 in 2026?

 

[robinsforever]

Nothing is a given in this league and Sunderland are more than capable of beating Sheff Utd.

On the day anything can happen and anyone can beat anyone

True except I'm not as sure that applies at Wembley. That pitch and the occasion makes it very hard to sit in for 90 mins and Sunderland will have to as man for man Sheff Utd are much better. We would have had a better chance v Sheff Utd albeit I think would have lost.

 

[ajsccfc]

Sunderland and Sheffield United have a win each against each other this season, the idea that they're some kind of rank outsider makes little sense.

 

[Travs]

Over two matches i think Sheffield United are the strongest of the four playoff sides by some margin.

In a single game at Wembley, Sunderland have the same chance that we would've had......

ie they're clearly underdogs, but they've got the quality to go and score two goals in the first 20mins and pull off a relative shock.

(whether they will is a different matter..... i think Sheff Utd win but its not a foregone conclusion)

 

[procdoc]

Sunderland did a job on us, end of. I don’t like the club or their fans but I’m not going to cry and bitch about losing a game of football against them

 

[fatso]

Seems we as a fan base are very confident and upbeat about next season but I'm now a little more cautious about this optimism. Sunderland this calendar year have been atrocious and frankly against us were useless as well. They played like a L1 side against a Championship or Premier League team.

Assuming Sheff Utd easily beat Sunderland which tbh seems a given, I can see Sunderland doing a Huddersfield and Barnsley who I think both made the play offs and were relegated the next season.

The spirit and mentality of out deck and the love Lampard has for the club isn't in doubt. The question is whether this deck is really technically good enough to challenge next season given they couldn't win either play off match against what looks like an abject Sunderland team.

Very harsh mate.
Sunderland got through our tie, despise being outplayed over 210 minutes. That's the nature of knock out football.

The final is a one game cup tie when 1 mistake or piece of quality could decide it.

They arn't the favourites, but if they get promoted then fair play to them, they've deserved it.

 

[robinsforever]

Very harsh mate.
Sunderland got through our tie, despise being outplayed over 210 minutes. That's the nature of knock out football.

The final is a one game cup tie when 1 mistake or piece of quality could decide it.

They arn't the favourites, but if they get promoted then fair play to them, they've deserved it.

Think many are missing my point. The facts are they this calendar year are bottom of the table points wise. They did beat us but they literally parked the bus which is what lesser teams do. Of course it worked, knock out football we see that happen all the time.
If they don't win next week, and I am certain they won't, then I think there is every chance they could go down based on what they have done this calendar year. We are not that brilliant a side that we dominate teams to the extent we did Sunderland.
I know nothing of their finances. Maybe they have a war chest. If so then they will do well again as any side with a war chest will. If not then I think they have problems .
Luton got relegated after coming down from the PL so it's not such a bold prediction I'm making really.

 

[fatso]

Think many are missing my point. The facts are they this calendar year are bottom of the table points wise. They did beat us but they literally parked the bus which is what lesser teams do. Of course it worked, knock out football we see that happen all the time.
If they don't win next week, and I am certain they won't, then I think there is every chance they could go down based on what they have done this calendar year. We are not that brilliant a side that we dominate teams to the extent we did Sunderland.
I know nothing of their finances. Maybe they have a war chest. If so then they will do well again as any side with a war chest will. If not then I think they have problems .
Luton got relegated after coming down from the PL so it's not such a bold prediction I'm making really.

I doubt very much that they can beat Sheffield Utd, who deserve to go up over the season, but if they do then fair play to them.

However I don't think there's any chance of them going down next season, their home form and support will be more than enough to keep them up, but I don't think they will achieve a top 6 finish next season.

 

[robinsforever]

I doubt very much that they can beat Sheffield Utd, who deserve to go up over the season, but if they do then fair play to them.

However I don't think there's any chance of them going down next season, their home form and support will be more than enough to keep them up, but I don't think they will achieve a top 6 finish next season.

Their home support is terrible, and has been a major issue for them for years. I've a friend who is. Sunderland fan and that's a huge issue up there how lacking in atmosphere their home matches are. They haven't scored at home in normal time for around 6 consecutive matches or something.
So often one team who made the play offs goes down the next season. Definitely won't be us as we clearly are getting better and I doubt it will be Bristol City either . I think all the promoted sides will do well so when I look at the performances this calendar year I see Sunderland and Preston as two sides who may well really struggle.
Of course if they win next week fair play to them. And it's actually better for us from a confidence perspective moving forward if they win. If they get battered then it also would highlight the gap we need to bridge if that makes sense

 

[fatso]

Their home support is terrible, and has been a major issue for them for years. I've a friend who is. Sunderland fan and that's a huge issue up there how lacking in atmosphere their home matches are. They haven't scored at home in normal time for around 6 consecutive matches or something.
So often one team who made the play offs goes down the next season. Definitely won't be us as we clearly are getting better and I doubt it will be Bristol City either . I think all the promoted sides will do well so when I look at the performances this calendar year I see Sunderland and Preston as two sides who may well really struggle.
Of course if they win next week fair play to them. And it's actually better for us from a confidence perspective moving forward if they win. If they get battered then it also would highlight the gap we need to bridge if that makes sense

Not a snowflakes chance in he'll of us or Sunderland/Sheffield utd going into league 1 next year.
Sunderland are one of the best supported teams in the Championship, I can't speak about the atmosphere, but in terms of numbers they definitely impress

 

[robinsforever]

Not a snowflakes chance in he'll of us or Sunderland/Sheffield utd going into league 1 next year.
Sunderland are one of the best supported teams in the Championship, I can't speak about the atmosphere, but in terms of numbers they definitely impress

Yes numbers wise definitely. Nobody disputed their massive fanbase.
Their form this calendar year has been abysmal and based on their performances vs us I can see why they have struggled. They struggle to score. The goals they got against us were totally gifted to them. Next week will be fascinating.

 

[fatso]

Yes numbers wise definitely. Nobody disputed their massive fanbase.
Their form this calendar year has been abysmal and based on their performances vs us I can see why they have struggled. They struggle to score. The goals they got against us were totally gifted to them. Next week will be fascinating.

I think their form was poor once they realised that they were comfortably in the playoffs but weren't challenging for the automatic places.

They arnt pretty to watch, but are efficient at getting results. Sheffield utd are a better team, but anything can happen in a playoff final.

 

[robinsforever]

I think their form was poor once they realised that they were comfortably in the playoffs but weren't challenging for the automatic places.

They arnt pretty to watch, but are efficient at getting results. Sheffield utd are a better team, but anything can happen in a playoff final.

Yes I am sure the on the beach mentality played a part but that's always been proven to be a hard mindset to get out of. Ballard being out i think was a huge loss and against us he showed what a top player and leader he is.
I've a feeling Ohare is going to get the winning goal next week and be assisted by Hamer.