Sunderland AFC vs Ipswich Town Preview & Matchday Thread
Posted: Wed Feb 05, 2020 6:54 am
Sunderland AFC v Ipswich Town
Saturday 8th February 2019 – 15:00
Stadium of Light
Pre-Match Thoughts - Mike
Can It Possibly Get Any Worse ?.........
At a time when I really needed a lift to cheer me up my beloved ITFC came up with what can only be described as a shambolic performance, it was yet another big game in which we froze, didn't turn up, failed to deliver, let the fans down, blah blah blah !!! For the opening Fifteen minutes we actually looked ok but it was soon to deteriorate and proceeded to get worse and worse the longer the game went on. Yes I felt the penalty for the first was harsh and having seen it again you have to admit that there is every reason as to why the officials gave it, it was a blow from which we were never going to recover but even that was nothing compared to what was to unfold for the second Peterborough goal.
When Luke Woolfenden mopped up another Peterborough attack and laid it back to Will Norris there was absolutely no danger whatsoever, he had an age to clear it but instead tried to be a smart arse and what followed was not even school boy stuff, it was suicide and totally unbelievable to try and play it around the attacker, furious doesn't come close, I have never rated Norris and never will, he is a liability that has cost us points against Portsmouth, Lincoln, Wycombe and now Posh, some have even pointed out Holy would have plucked the ball out of the air at Rotherham just before they scored, these are only games I can think of in recent weeks too, there are no doubt others but my head is scrambled right now and they escape me. What I do know is that if he never played for Town again I would be happy, if Holy is not in at the Stadium of Light then something is massively wrong because Paul Lambert would be just about the only person who would consider keeping Norris between the sticks (apart from the odd argumentative insufferable pr*ck of course).
Once it went Three Nil I had seen enough and recent events conspired to make me do something I have never done before and something I said I would never do and that was to leave a game early, not just early though, only 65 mins on the clock when I made my way home, yes it really was THAT bad, walking home it was just a haze in the memory, I do recall thinking things must be bad as Gwion Edwards was for me our stand out performer, I felt he had his best game in ages, typically he is now banned for Two games, you couldn't make it up.
Clearly the league table does not look as it did two weeks back when we went top again and that is how quickly it can change, I don't even think it is the defeats that are the problem but more the manner of them, out thought at Rotherham and outclassed against Peterborough, that is the top and bottom of it and while we ares till in a decent position it could have been oh so much better. I am not one to normally go all knee jerk about our poor results etc but man that was a cause for concern, I don't care what anyone says we are better than that !!!!! What is a fact is that we still can't get a positive result against our main rivals, thankfully we've played most of those games now so all is not doom and gloom.
With a trip to a much improved Sunderland next up it may well get worse before it gets better because based on those two defeats last week and Sunderland's recent results it looks to be a home banker but this is Town and when you least expect they are capable of coming up with a surprise or Two, we can but hope although I would not be putting any money on us on this occasion.
Due to personal reasons I am unable to make this game so will have to rely on others first hand accounts although I may give this I player thing a look for the first time, that said I won't be losing any sleep at sitting this one out. I would love to be my usual positive self but it's a Sunderland win on this occasion I am afraid to say, a result which could see us slipping out of the top six if I am not mistaken ? Now that will cause a meltdown.
The Opposition – Sunderland
Founded 17 October 1879 as 'Sunderland and District Teachers A.F.C.' by schoolmaster James Allan, Sunderland joined The Football League for the 1890–91 season. They replaced Stoke, who had failed to be re-elected, becoming the first new club to join the league since its inauguration in 1888.
During the late 19th century, they were declared the "Team of All Talents" by William McGregor. Sunderland won the league championship in the 1891–92 season, one season after joining The Football League. Sunderland successfully defended the title the following season. In the process, they became the first team to score 100 goals in a season, a feat not matched until 1919–20.
Sunderland came close to winning a third successive league championship in the 1893–94 season, finishing second behind Aston Villa. However, they regained the title in the 1894–95 season.
Sunderland came close to winning another league title in the 1897–98 season, when they finished as runners-up. That season was their last at Newcastle Road, as they moved to Roker Park the following season. After coming second in 1900–01, the club won their fourth league title in the 1901–02 season.
The club won the league again in 1913, but lost their first FA Cup final to Aston Villa, in a very tough loss. This was the closest the club has come to winning the league title and the FA Cup in the same season.
Two seasons later the First World War brought the league to a halt. After the league's resumption, Sunderland came close to winning another championship in the 1922–23 season, when they were runners-up to Liverpool. They also came close the following season, finishing third, four points from the top of the league. The club escaped relegation from the First Division by one point in the 1927–28 season.
The club's sixth league championship came in the 1935–36 season, and they won the FA Cup the following season, after a victory against Preston North End at Wembley Stadium.
The remainder of the decade saw mid-table finishes, until the league and FA Cup were suspended for the duration of the Second World War.
For Sunderland, the immediate post-war years were characterised by significant spending. This, along with record-breaking transfer fees, led to a contemporary nickname, the "Bank of England club". The club finished third in the First Division in 1950, their highest finish since the 1936 championship.
The late 1950s saw a sharp downturn in Sunderland's fortunes, and in 1958 they were relegated from the highest division for the first time in their 68-year league history.
Sunderland's absence from the top flight lasted six years. After the close call in the previous season, the club was promoted to Division One in 1964 after finishing in second place. At the end of the decade, they were again relegated to the Second Division.
Sunderland won their last major trophy in 1973, in a 1–0 victory over Leeds United in the FA Cup Final. Since 1973 only two other clubs, Southampton in 1976, and West Ham United in 1980, have equalled Sunderland's achievement of lifting the FA Cup while playing outside the top tier of English football.
By winning the 1973 FA Cup Final, Sunderland qualified for the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup, the club's only appearance in European competition to date.
After spending six seasons in the Second Division, Sunderland were promoted to Division One in the 1975–76 season, however, they were relegated the following season back into Division Two.
Sunderland appeared in their first League Cup final in 1985, but lost to Norwich City.
In 1987, Sunderland saw one of the lowest points in their history, when they were relegated to the Third Division of the English league for the first time, but were promoted straight away the following season.
In 1990, they were promoted back to the top flight in unusual circumstances. Sunderland lost to Swindon Town in the play-off final, but Swindon's promotion was revoked after the club was found guilty of financial irregularities and Sunderland were promoted instead. They stayed up for one year before being relegated on the final day of the following season.
Sunderland's next outing in a major final came in 1992 when, as a Second Division club, they returned to the FA Cup final. There was to be no repeat of the heroics of 1973, as Sunderland lost to Liverpool.
After promotion from Division One in the 1995–96 season, Sunderland began their first season in the Premier League, but finished third from the bottom and were relegated back to the First Division.
In 1997, Sunderland left Roker Park, their home for 99 years. The club moved to the Stadium of Light, a 42,000-seat arena that, at the time, was the largest stadium built in England after the Second World War.
Sunderland returned to the Premier League as First Division champions in 1999 with a then-record 105 points. At the end of the season Sunderland finished seventh, with Kevin Phillips winning the European Golden Shoe in his first top-flight season, scoring 30 goals.
Another seventh-place finish in the 2000–01 season was followed by two less successful seasons, and they were relegated to the second-tier with a then-record low 19 points in 2003.
Former Ireland manager Mick McCarthy took over at the club, and, in 2005, he took Sunderland up as champions for the third time in less than ten years. However, the club's stay in the top flight was short-live as Sunderland were once again relegated, this time with a new record-low total of 15 points.
Following Sunderland's relegation from the Premier League, the club was taken over by the Irish Drumaville Consortium, headed by ex-player Niall Quinn, who appointed former Manchester United captain Roy Keane as the new manager.
Under Keane, the club rose steadily up the table with an unbeaten run of 17 games to win promotion to the Premier League, and were named winners of the Championship.
At the start of the 2009/10 campaign, Irish-American businessman Ellis Short completed a full takeover of the club, and Steve Bruce was announced as the next manager on 3 June.
Sunderland started the 2010–11 season strongly and they eventually finished 10th — which was still their highest top-flight finish for 10 years.
Bruce was sacked in November 2011, and replaced by Martin O'Neill. In February 2012, Quinn left the club with immediate effect. O'Neill was sacked in March 2013 and Italian Paolo Di Canio was announced as his replacement the following day. The appointment prompted the immediate resignation of club Vice Chairman David Miliband due to Di Canio's "past political statements". Sunderland went on to survive relegation with one game to go.
Di Canio was sacked after a poor start to the 2013–14 season, and reports of a complete breakdown in relations with his players. Gus Poyet was announced as his replacement, and led Sunderland to the 2014 Football League Cup Final, where they were defeated by Manchester City.
In March 2015 Poyet was sacked, and veteran Dutchman Advocaat was appointed as the club's new head coach, saving the club from relegation. Eight games into the 2015–16 season he resigned from the position. Sam Allardyce was appointed the next manager in October 2015. Sunderland remained in the relegation zone for much of the remainder of the 2015–16 season, but Allardyce was able to save the club from being relegated with improved form in the second half of the season.
In July 2016, Allardyce left the club to be announced as manager for the English national team following the dismissal of Roy Hodgson. Former Everton and Manchester United manager David Moyes was appointed as his replacement on a 4-year contract. Under Moyes, Sunderland made the worst ever start to a Premier League season, taking just 2 points from their opening 10 matches. The club was relegated to the second tier for the first time in ten years at the end of the 2016–17 season, finishing bottom of the table with 24 points. On 22 May 2017, Moyes resigned as manager of the club. On 15 June 2017, goalkeeper Jordan Pickford, product of the Sunderland's academy, having joined the club aged eight, was transferred to Everton for a fee of £25 million, rising to a possible £30 million, a record for a British goalkeeper.
Following relegation, Simon Grayson was announced as the new manager of the club. Under Grayson, the club made a very poor start to the 2017–18 EFL Championship season (which was documented in the Netflix series Sunderland 'Til I Die), taking only 2 wins in 14 games. was sacked, and Wales head coach Chris Coleman replaced him in November 2017.
In April 2018, after a second consecutive relegation, this time to League One, the club was sold to a group led by Stewart Donald, chairman of Eastleigh F.C. and Coleman was released from his contract.
St Mirren manager Jack Ross was appointed as manager in May 2018 to take charge of what is only the club's second ever season in the third flight of the English football league system. In their first season in League One the team finished 5th and reached the playoff final, but lost to Charlton Athletic at Wembley.
On 17 October 2019, Phil Parkinson was unveiled as the Sunderland manager on a two and a half year contract.
The Manager – Phil Parkinson
Form Guide
Sunderland Last 5 Matches – Currently in 7th place with 45 points
1 Jan Fleetwood 1 - 1 Sunderland
4 Jan Sunderland 3 - 1 Lincoln City
11 Jan Sunderland 4 - 0 Wycombe
18 Jan Milton Keynes 0 - 1 Sunderland
24 Jan Sunderland 0 - 0 Doncaster
Ipswich Last 5 Matches – Currently in 4th place with 48 points
14 Jan Oxford Utd 0 - 0 Ipswich Town
18 Jan Tranmere 1 - 2 Ipswich Town
25 Jan Ipswich Town 1 - 0 Lincoln City
28 Jan Rotherham 1 - 0 Ipswich Town
1 Feb Ipswich Town 1 - 4 Peterborough
Marko’s Caption Contest – THE DON CUP
LINCOLN SCORES
Shed on Tour (Cap 1) 5pts
Blueblood & IpswichTownNo1 4pts
Ando (Cap 2) 3pts
Bluemike & Shed on Tour (Cap 2) 2pts
POSH SCORES
Aylesburyblue (Cap 1) 5pts
Aylesburyblue (Cap 2) 4pts
Bluemike (Edited cap 1) 3pts
Blueblood & Frosty 2pts
LEAGUE TABLE
AylesburyBlue 91
DerickIpsw 70
Bluemike 70
Blueblood 52
Ando 43
Shed on Tour 40
Blue Wilf 38
Number 9 37
JohnnyB 25
Frosty 20
Tangfastic 19
Quasar 18
Kerry Blue 11
Watership Down 10
IpswichTownNO1 9
Barmy Billy 8
AshfordBlue 7
Todd66 6
Nicscreamer 5
Charnwood 4
Lucy 1
MasseyFerguson 1
CAPTION PIC:
Match referee – Jeremy Simpson
SUNDERLAND 1 IPSWICH TOWN 1