Football is a sport for dreamers, and the optimists amongst Sunderland’s fanbase are in heaven at the moment.
Football is something that should bring joy to us. After all, it is only a game, and as such, it should be a relaxing pastime.
Of course, supporting Sunderland, it’s rarely the case. Many of us, including myself, get deeply emotionally involved in the club, and the trials and tribulations of eleven blokes playing in red and white stripes can have a significant impact on our mood.
Following a football club is something that is a way of life for many of us, and it’s also something that can’t be done 100% of the time from the sofa. There’s always at least a glimmer of joy and optimism when you go to the match, even back in the dreadful days of League One.
It’s been far more enjoyable going to games this season, especially given that in the summer we were all dreaming of just avoiding relegation in our first season back in the big time. As a confessed dreamer and optimist, I was excited for this year, but few of us could have predicted that Sunderland would perform as well as they have.
The first objective of the season was to make sure we’re a Premier League club next season, and until we reach 40 points, this won’t be close enough to being as official as we’d hope. However, we can almost safely say that we’ll not go down, and with this in mind, we can start to dream bigger about exactly what is possible for this squad.
The word Europe has been on the lips of some Sunderland fans, and having only been in European competitions during one season back in 1973, why shouldn’t we dream? Six months ago, we were coming to terms with being back in the Premier League. With half the season to go, let’s dream some more.
For only the second time in about a decade, Sunderland progressed past the third round of the FA Cup. With a winnable tie in the fourth round, what is to stop us taking a good run deep into the season and maybe even picking up something at the end of it?
You may think this is unrealistic or downright idiotic even to mention Europe or the cup (win the FA Cup and we get Europe, just saying), but honestly, like I said before, what is wrong with a bit of dreaming and optimism? It makes us tick as football fans, and for so long we’ve dreamt of big things for our club – why can’t it actually happen for once?
Take our next opponents, Crystal Palace, for example. Last year, they won the FA Cup, their first-ever major trophy win, and are enjoying a debut season in Europe. That could be us, and we’re building towards being ready for a shot at something big.
It feels very much as though we’re entering into the next phase of the season now, especially with most of the AFCON lads back. We continue to look up rather than down, and nothing is stopping us from making this season a one to remember, because to be honest, it already is.
Category: General Sports
