Made worse by the fact I'd forgotten to book the next day off and had a site visit in the morning. Got home at 4 with a mild hangover starting to kick in, got to sleep at 5 then woke up at 7God, I'd somehow forgotten about the Ballard goal. God save all of the Sky Blue Army who made the long, miserable trip to the SOL, had to witness that and the ensuing celebrations helplessly in-person then endured a hellish journey out of the ground and back to their transport.
We were at a sports bar in Paphos who had agreed in advance to show the match then stayed open despite us being the only two customers. I had my head face-down on the table in despair and my wife had to go and pay our tab; even the bar manager seemed to be gutted!
I found the game. I have absolutely no memory of Stern John playing for Ipswich at all, turns out it was only 7 games and you guessed it, this was his only goalLove these post-match comments:
In terms of a moment that DOES haunt me, that Ballard goal went straight through me like no other. I couldn't even react, no throwing my arms up, dropping to my knees, shouting. Just a thousand yard stare to the sound of 45,000 Sunderland fans going mental and a hole opening up in the pit of my stomach.
I was listening to it on the radio at uni and think I may or may not have thrown said radio at the door when it went 3-2.I found the game. I have absolutely no memory of Stern John playing for Ipswich at all, turns out it was only 7 games and you guessed it, this was his only goal
So would we in their position. They played crap and got away with it, now reaping the rewards. Fair fucksSunderland fans have rubbed it in like no other since.
He really was an utter fucking clown was Chris ColemanLove these post-match comments:
He was terrible. Pissed away the only money SISU were willing to put into the squad.He really was an utter fucking clown was Chris Coleman
We have had shitter managers on paper, but the fact that I think we had a pretty decent side for our late 00s/early 10s standard and we were equally as shit makes him one of our worst and one of my most disliked
I don't think the squad was bad, it had some decent players - He was just a shit managerHe was terrible. Pissed away the only money SISU were willing to put into the squad.
To be clear I mean he pissed it away through his incompetence rather than poor recruitmentI don't think the squad was bad, it had some decent players - He was just a shit manager
Our 2009/10 side should have been a lot higher than 19th place
There was a very brief period in that 09/10 season (Feb/March time) where we looked like we could make a tilt at the play-offs and only got ourselves a handful of points off at some pointTo be clear I mean he pissed it away through his incompetence rather than poor recruitment
Was that Clive’s famous ‘March to the Arch’ season?There was a very brief period in that 09/10 season (Feb/March time) where we looked like we could make a tilt at the play-offs and only got ourselves a handful of points off at some point
We then went winless in our last 11 games and finished 19th
I don’t get why people talk as if we’d have won if not for the Dabo pen. Luton still had to miss and we’d have had to score another for us to win!
So would we in their position. They played crap and got away with it, now reaping the rewards. Fair fucks
It was worth itYeah, we took the piss out of them for 20 years.
Hopefully!Those last minute winners, even the ones that go against us, i.e. Ballard for Sunderland, are the moments why you go to football in the first place. The agony and the ecstasy.
I'd rather the play-off final loss on penalties, the FA Cup semi-final loss on penalties, and the Ballard last minute winner, then the boring seasons we endured from 2001 until about 2018.
It will be our turn soon enough and it will all be worth it!
Nilsson not clearing a harmless pass leading to a corner leading to a goal.FA cup semi final vs Sheff Utd. Moldovans missed chance.
Those last minute winners, even the ones that go against us, i.e. Ballard for Sunderland, are the moments why you go to football in the first place. The agony and the ecstasy.
I'd rather the play-off final loss on penalties, the FA Cup semi-final loss on penalties, and the Ballard last minute winner, than the boring seasons we endured from 2001 until about 2018.
It will be our turn soon enough and it will all be worth it!
A dreadful appointment by Ranson.He really was an utter fucking clown was Chris Coleman
We have had shitter managers on paper, but the fact that I think we had a pretty decent side for our late 00s/early 10s standard and we were equally as shit makes him one of our worst and one of my most disliked
Didn't we play this day as well? Seem to remember it being an away game I sacked off to spend all day in the pub instead of rushing home for the match2022/23 season:
Kane missing the second penalty v France
Dabo missing the penalty v Luton
With the Torp goal in 23/24, it wasn’t so much a moment that ‘haunts’ me, but it does make feel angry because that goal offside and we all know if the roles were reversed, VAR wouldn’t have intervened.
Possibly a worse appointment.A dreadful appointment by Ranson.
Reading away, lost 1-0. 22/23 was the only season I don’t get a ST over the last 5-6 years. Part of it was being skint, then the stadium delay but that 1/4 exit put me off football for a couple of months. Heartbreaking - international exits always hit me a bit harder.Didn't we play this day as well? Seem to remember it being an away game I sacked off to spend all day in the pub instead of rushing home for the match
Was certainly a weird feeling having a City game and England tournament match taking place on the same day
Ugh, I'd been working abroad and missed us winning 4 in a row before the break. Flew back, watched us AND England lose on the Saturday, got my shit together on Sunday then flew back out again MondayDidn't we play this day as well? Seem to remember it being an away game I sacked off to spend all day in the pub instead of rushing home for the match
Was certainly a weird feeling having a City game and England tournament match taking place on the same day
2022/23 season:
Kane missing the second penalty v France
Dabo missing the penalty v Luton
With the Torp goal in 23/24, it wasn’t so much a moment that ‘haunts’ me, but it does make feel angry because that goal offside and we all know if the roles were reversed, VAR wouldn’t have intervened.
Those last minute winners, even the ones that go against us, i.e. Ballard for Sunderland, are the moments why you go to football in the first place. The agony and the ecstasy.
I'd rather the play-off final loss on penalties, the FA Cup semi-final loss on penalties, and the Ballard last minute winner, than the boring seasons we endured from 2001 until about 2018.
It will be our turn soon enough and it will all be worth it!
Yep - Don't get the 'Play offs are the best way to go up' argument at allI dunno. I quite like the stress free 5-0 wins were getting at the moment. I wouldn’t complain at all if we were up by Christmas.
Forgot Roy Keane was Ipswich managerI found the game. I have absolutely no memory of Stern John playing for Ipswich at all, turns out it was only 7 games and you guessed it, this was his only goal
Reading were up by March and lost only twice all season. Clearly we’d all like some of thatI dunno. I quite like the stress free 5-0 wins were getting at the moment. I wouldn’t complain at all if we were up by Christmas.
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