Pre Match Nerves

After much chipping away at the edges, by Billy and Jim I have bitten the bullet, swallowed the pride and made the decision to attend the game against Coventry. Of course it has nothing to do with the sweetener of a ticket supplied by Jim.

I really don't know what to expect. The last time I was there was to watch the humiliation inflicted upon us by Crystal Palace in the play off semi final, second leg, and that infamous penalty shoot out. I can only recall enjoying one game during the 2003 / 04 season and that was a 3-0 win against Sheffield United. The rest is just a blur. The football was less than rivetting, sitting up in Row 27 Seat 88 of the North Stand, daydreaming of times gone by and wondering how we could have fallen so far so quickly.

Still, tomorrow will give me the opportunity to see at first hand some of the signings McCarthy made and to assess if they really are any better than what we have had in the past. I don't expect it to be football of Brazilian standard, but the season is reaching the usual Sunderland climax with edge of seat, chewed finger nails and all round anxiety wondering if it is to be up or stand still for another season.

Looking at Billy's points grid in a previous posting we are in a better position than at this stage last season, but we still have some tough games to come away from home. Ipswich, Wigan and W Ham are games we dare not lose. Win the home games and don't lose those potential 6 pointers and I think it could be Premier league next season.

Will I be there in 2005 / 06? Hard to say really. Being truthful I'd be lying if I said I'd missed it this season. I haven't. The enthusiasm just isn't what it was. It still hurts and annoys me that we had the foundations in place to be come an established premiership side, and looking back it all started to go wrong when Hutchison was allowed to leave for West Ham, when Rae left for Wolves and when Bally moved on to Fulham. The heartbeat of the side, the creative engine that made us tick seized up after the oil wasn't put back in.

Can McCarthy attract the calibre of player needed to make a success of premiership life, should we get there? Remains to be seen, but he's gonna need a lot of dosh to compete at the highest level.

Well tomorrow will soon be here. I can here a ripple of applause as I put in the first appearance on the road to rehabilitation. It's up to you now Sunderland.

Jim, have one standing, mines a Fosters, be in about 12:30pm