Popularity of Sunderland AFC in Ireland

**galwayhoop** · 10/07/2007, 10:05 AM

Originally Posted by pete

Just wait for the massive media hype when Sunderland arrive for the friendlies & it will be out of control when the Premiership starts...

yeah.

can't wait for the mass hysteria and the all of the closet "i always liked sunderland" fans who pop up in galway during race week.

come to think of it i may sell my reduced price ticket to some such muppet at an over-inflated price and bring the family away for the weekend!!

**Ryhopian** · 10/07/2007, 11:38 AM

Originally Posted by reder

Seen a fair few around Cork when I was down there. Reckon there will be a large rise in the number travelling alright. Always saw a few Sunderland jerseys in the airport now and again last season.

Most of the new people travelling will be corporate though I reckon.

Hope to venture up to the S.O.L in a few weeks when you are playing the greatest club in the history of British football.

How do you think you will fare this season?

It all depends who he signs over the coming weeks. The two signings Keano has made so far, whilst being useful additions to the squad, have hardly whetted the appetite of the fans. If we are to prosper then we need to sign some genuine Premiership class players but I think the club is finding this harder to do than they expected. Having said that we can hardly do any worse than we have the last two times we have 'graced' the Premiership, going down as the worst team in its history twice.

**OwlsFan** · 10/07/2007, 3:52 PM

2 minute wonder. Sunderland are relegated. Keane abandons ship. The new Sunderland Irish supporters go back to following Man U or Liverpool or whatever team Keane moves on to.

**Neish** · 10/07/2007, 8:16 PM

I know a couple of Sunderland fans both were fans long before Keane & Quinn got invloved. Don't notice many Sunderland top about but have heard quite a few people refer to Sunderland as their 2nd team after Celtic, Man U, Liverpool etc of course none of these people support LOI teams.

**shakermaker1982** · 10/07/2007, 8:22 PM

I hope Sunderland stay up. I think they'll need 3/4 more decent additions to do it but I think Keano will make a go of it up there. Good luck to him and the Irish lads. I'm excited at seeing Stokes and co take on these so called 'big guns'.

**Ryhopian** · 16/07/2007, 11:37 AM

Originally Posted by Bald Student

Chawke owns shares in Sunderland.

So Chawke and Fitzgerald, are we talking millionaires or billionaires? Excuse the ignorance but not being from Ireland I know little about both of them.

**Dodge** · 16/07/2007, 11:44 AM

Millionaires. Both earned their fortunes as publicans with Fitzgerald owning quite a number now.

**OwlsFan** · 18/07/2007, 7:27 AM

Was in DID Stillorgan at the weekend. A whole stack of Sunderland dvds on sale (only those dvds - no others) about the promotion season. Very wierd

**RogerMilla** · 18/07/2007, 3:54 PM

Originally Posted by Roadend

Who did they sign this Gaffer chap from or has he been promoted from the reserves?

from walsall reserves ??steve staunton to sunderland ? i've heard it all now , backup for baird??

have seen sunderland jerseys on young fellas in cork.

**OwlsFan** · 26/11/2007, 10:02 AM

Originally Posted by OwlsFan

2 minute wonder. Sunderland are relegated. Keane abandons ship. The new Sunderland Irish supporters go back to following Man U or Liverpool or whatever team Keane moves on to.

Might happen yet. Worrying part of the goals I saw on tv, McShane seemed to be at fault or involved in at least 4. I think Harte was also on the pitch as well.

I fear for McShane's future.

**Dodge** · 26/11/2007, 10:22 AM

Originally Posted by OwlsFan

I fear for McShane's future.

He has the worst positional sense I've seen in a top flight league. Loads of heart and hustle and sometimes covers his mistakes but he generally looks lost

**shanman2** · 26/11/2007, 11:13 AM

Originally Posted by Dodge

He has the worst positional sense I've seen in a top flight league. Loads of heart and hustle and sometimes covers his mistakes but he generally looks lost

Mc Shane has been really exposed as a defender in the last couple of weeks. I genuinely thought he would be a great signing for Sunderland (maybe I hoped) meaning he would break into the Ireland side and be a success, Keane has got serious problems now he hasnt got a decent defender in the ranks, no premiership quality midfielders he is up sihts creek without a paddle now.. But you live and die by the players you sign so he made his own bed in that sense.

**dcfcsteve** · 26/11/2007, 11:36 AM

I pray every night that Sunderland will get relegated.

Not because I have anything against the club or town. I actually quite ike the place, as used to do voluntary work there.

But I despise the numerous goons who have jumped on the SundIreland bandwagon. I can't wait until the wheels fall off it and they find themselves having to crawl back to whichever other sh!tty English club they swore heart-felt allegiance to in advance, pretending they were only following Plunderland 'for the craic' anyway.......

**NeilMcD** · 26/11/2007, 11:43 AM

Has anyone met any of these good. I hear about them but I dont know one person who has jumped on the Sunderland bandwagon here in Ireland.

**shanman2** · 26/11/2007, 11:46 AM

Originally Posted by NeilMcD

Has anyone met any of these good. I hear about them but I dont know one person who has jumped on the Sunderland bandwagon here in Ireland.

Ill second that I dont know any. Most (including myself) wish them well.

**Dodge** · 26/11/2007, 12:00 PM

Originally Posted by shanman2

Ill second that I dont know any. Most (including myself) wish them well.

How sure are you on the most bit? I wish them nothing but relegation. And I say that as a Roy Keane fan. Most I talk to want the publicans egotrip to fail...

The media bit into Quinn's rubbish almost immediately and have definitely given Sunderland more airtime/column inches than their footballing status/Irish connections deserved. There's even books about it FFS. And bar a couple of fools at a Cork-Pats game earlier this season I haven't seen any sign of their "massive irish following"

**Risteard** · 26/11/2007, 12:01 PM

Jayz, I'm amazed at that.
It's huge in Cork anyway.

**Dodge** · 26/11/2007, 12:06 PM

Originally Posted by Risteard

Jayz, I'm amazed at that.
It's huge in Cork anyway.

Doesn't surprise me. In the real world its alittle different...

**Risteard** · 26/11/2007, 12:12 PM

I suppose people follow their own.
No doubt there'd be a big Inchicore Sunderland Supporters Club if Quinn gave the job to . . . . . . eh . . . . . . . . . . em . . . . . . .

**pete** · 26/11/2007, 12:17 PM

If Sunderland came back here for a few friendlies I would be surprised if they could sell the tickets.

Keane has bought some exceptionally average players for large sums of money. IMO his teams are set up to score goals but also to concede goals. Whatever about the defence the midfield is like a sieve - how he though Yorke could survive in Premiership is beyond me

Any one else noticed how many substitutions Keane makes at half time?