AyrTroopMajor

I too have said multiple times that I'd be delighted to seal 8th place next season, but the flip side of that coin is that this is one of the best squads that we have produced in my lifetime and I think they are far, far better than the 20th best team in Scotland. As much as 8th may be considered a success, I think it would be a bit underwhelming given the buzz around this team right now.

Pedro Caixinha

I watched that game and thought you looked pretty well equipped to have a decent season. It must be said that Sunderland were excellent on Saturday, and maybe St Mirren players recognised that it was far from the most important game they'll play in. Still, as I said, momentum is important and getting horsed on your own patch isn't going to do wonders for morale on the pitch or in the stands.

I think the most concerning thing from a St Mirren point of view is the rapid destruction of the feel-good factor that Jack Ross had created at St Mirren. Crowds flocking to St Mirren Park, a strong vocal backing, a real bond between fans and players...Stubbs is risking destroying all of that momentum, which is huge in football, and player or manager would tell you that. Was at the game on Saturday in the away end and whilst Sunderland were on fire (Gooch and McGeouch were absolutely outstanding), I was stunned, as were the Sunderland fans around me, at how much of a shambles St Mirren were. Pre-season it may be, but that team will send you straight back to The Championship.

Our crowds have never massively increased after a promotion, hopefully the fact that we are a vastly superior outfit to the previous promoted Ayr teams will change that.

I hope you are not including the glorious Red T in this

So what is the exact number?

Agreed. Particularly if our playing style is the same as last year where we're flooding forward and susceptible to counter-attacks at the back.

The same 'Seaside Leagues' that 'The Famous' have frequented on multiple occasions since the turn of the century. Or did I dream that? Na, I didn't. Evidently, 'being pish' isn't limited to Ayr and Dumfries.

Yep, you certainly 'lauded it over' Queen of the South when 'The Famous' were sent packing to the 4th (FOURTH) tier of Scottish football.

Sunderland. Love them both, but apparently the home kit has been ruined by having an all red back because Adidas think that looks good...

Got ourselves a 7 month old Beagador (Beagle X Labrador). Sniffs everything. Eats everything. He's a good chap.

Short Changed - a book that focuses on the clusterfuck of Sunderland AFC over the past 8 years. Not bad, written by a fan.

Neck and neck with Callum at the top of the Luncheon Premiership. I'm bringing up the rear with a Tesco sandwich and a packet of Squares, nae juice.

Absolute 10/10 luncheon my good man.

Since we're all doing nothing else, what did you have for lunch?

Only if you're one of those oddities that goes to an away game and sits down chief.

This is the same club that were offered Papy Djilibodji from Chelsea for £3m, rejected it, and then signed him the next summer for £9m, so this is well within the realms of possibility tbh.

Thought it may be of interest to you all, I was listening to the Roker Report podcast last night with Sunderland's new owner Stewart Donald as the guest. His takeover of the club from Ellis Short went through yesterday and he was asked by the host if he was aware that Tom Beadling had been allowed to go to Dunfermline with no fee incoming, and SD said that he was aware that they'd lost Beadling and was very annoyed and frustrated that he was away. Seems Beadling was very highly rated at the club and if SD had his way, he'd still be a Sunderland player.

Stewart Donald, former owner of Eastleigh, has completed a £40m takeover of Sunderland. Ellis Short has paid off all remaining debt and is now gone. About f***** time.

never knew that tbh, breaks my heart even more knowing the sfa fucked us over and change all the rules down the line . It was an absolutely disgraceful rule, to be frank. You were fucked over, as were Falkirk whose ground was deemed 'unsuitable', as were Gretna who were made to play in a town absolutely nowhere near Gretna, as were Livi who now have the same issue as you with the 9k empty seats. Think they justified it by trotting out the old 'safety' line, but if Somerset/Brockville/Broomfield were safe to host games in Division One, what exactly made them unsafe for the SPL? Nonsense. It's good that it's been scrapped, but it's too late for some.

http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/Watto

We need 2 new full-backs as well though. On a side-note, commiserations on losing the pod-race to Anakin Skywalker.