Rollercoaster ride resumes at West Brom
SO here we go again. The rollercoaster ride that is your typical Sunderland season gets ready for its latest loop the loop.
You'd think that having beaten Hull at home last week and moved up the table there might be a feeling of optimism in the Foster household this week.
Well, actually you'd be right, but it only lasted until Wednesday, by which time it had again been replaced by nail-biting, anxious glances at the league table, and constant checks of the run-ins of each and every team down there fighting against the drop.
I'm not alone of course. I think it's probably fair to say that almost every Sunderland fan who has had their fingers burned supporting the lads (and, let's face it, that's probably most of us) is eyeing tomorrow's away day against West Bromwich Albion with some trepidation.
Of course, that's just one outlook. It's probably fair to say that there will be three trains of thought before the Baggies clash.
Train One: The supporters who go into the game full of bravado feeling that victory is the only possible outcome – you've got to applaud their conviction.
Train Two: The doom-mongers, who have been telling you all season (even before a ball was kicked) that we were in trouble, and even if they are proved right and saying 'I told you' so won't be happy.
Train Three: Those of us who are just too damned nervous to make any sort of prediction, and just wishing, praying and crossing everything in the hope of a positive outcome.
Whichever train you belong to, or even if you're somewhere between the three or have your own outlook, let's hope that come the final whistle tomorrow we are another step closer to Premier League safety.
Even a win over the Baggies (please God) won't mean that we have reached the holy grail of top-flight survival, but it will be within our reach and that should give even the most nervous among us something to cheer.
Congratulations to Roy Keane, who has returned to football as manager of Ipswich Town.
I'm probably in a minority, who thinks we still owe a debt to Keane, and also that we may have missed out in parting company with him (and yes I know it was him who walked away).
I have to be honest and say that I have been casting one or two envious glances at Portman Road ever since it was announced.
It's sort of like bumping into your first love some years later with her new fella – you know it's got nothing to do with you any more, but you can't help but wonder what it would have been like had you stayed the course, or stop yourself from feeling just a little jealous.
Still, it's not to be, and we have to hope that a bright future (without Keane) is only just around the corner.
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Weather for South Shields
Thursday 24 May 2012
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: 9 C to 20 C
Wind Speed: 9 mph
Wind direction: North east
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 8 C to 19 C
Wind Speed: 10 mph
Wind direction: East
