Fitzhugh Fella

Disagree - before Marcus Liebherr bought the club Turkish, the people who ran it were accountable. Ok not to the fans wholly, the shareholders were the gods, but some of them were fans and that is why Lowe finally faltered. I think the Liebherr family have been good owners, no great owners but the truth remains, as fans we no longer have any influence. Cortese could not give a **** about us and I doubt Katharina is losing too much sleep over yesterday's events.

This is going to be a slightly controversial post, but imo since the Liebherr family took over, the club stopped being run "for the fans". Instead it is run for the good of the "business". Normally the two go hand in hand but occasionally, there are times, like yesterday when there is a conflict of interest or a diversity of ambition. The events at the Stadium of Light have most probably thrown up the most discord on this forum since a Cortese inspired Liebherr bandwagon trampled the flawed Le Tissier dream ticket consortium into oblivion and swept into town to take over. Gawd we were all so grateful. Me included. I said at the time it is great to be rescued and to have real money at our fingertips (and what a five years we have had), but gone forever are the days where the fans priorities and dreams are a priority. Even Lowe had to keep one eye on keeping the fans happy. No one in charge at SMS really genuinely cares about our stripes, our traditions or our history. It remains a money making machine that will be sold or kept according to market forces. The fans dreams and hopes are mere side issues. We are supporting a company who happen to be based in our city and there is no going back. So who is going to Upton Park?

Come again?

But you miss the point, Sunderland had a good reason to field an under strength team - we didn't. HTH

Exactly again

Exactly

This story was doing the rounds in my local yesterday during the game

Someone send this post to Pochettino

This post should be read out to the manager and players the next time we have a Cup game

You know what he means. Why don't all fans boycott all Cup matches next season? Just a thought but I sure as hell won't be going.

IMO Turkish posts more good than bad - there are a lot worse.

Once you have avoided relegation and have no chance of a CL spot then yes its all pretty academic and boring - hence why I was looking forward to a run in the Cup. If you can't see that then there is no hope.

there are plenty on the other threads who are saying at least we don't have to compete in the Europa League. Maybe they are giving themselves false comfort but they seem to think winning a major Cup at Wembley is not worth the hassle of competing in a dodgy European Cup. Seems arse about face to me but like I say maybe it is a generational thing and getting one over Man Utd is all some care about. Just find that quite astonishing to be frank.

Maybe I am getting old, but I cannot believe people are relaxed about today's FA Cup elimination because at least "we won't have to compete in the Europa Cup". And then astonishment that some think to finish above Man Utd is more important than getting to Wembley is even more unbelievable. Or am I just a Bovril drinking dinosaur wanting my club to lift a second cup in only 128 years? And should I accept the fact I am a bed wetter to be annoyed that my club spunked up a great chance of Wembley glory? Or am I right to be just a bit miffed?

I think that makes Bill Ellerington (90) England's oldest surviving international

Right, let the serious business begin. I just hole Lambert and co aren't too knackered

Why bother with anything the D Mail writes?

God I thought I was cautious!!!!

Heartily agree

What a strange post. Either MP has told you directly he is not considering his future elsewhere or you have a crystal ball.

Yes in your top 3 I reckon

I can honestly say I never saw Niemi make a mistake as blatant as Boruc's failure to beat Crouch to that corner.

I think a lot of the original sentiments connected to my OP have flown over a lot of peoples heads.

they are canny the birds from Sunderland, I should know I married one!

It did but infuriatingly they omitted a crucial photograph that was integral to the whole article. If there is a link I will post it on here