Sheffield United vs Sunderland

EFL Championship Play Off Final - Saturday 24th May 2025 - 15:00 - Wembley Stadium
Please keep all discussion related to the match within this thread.

Player Ratings:
Matchday Stats/Player Ratings - https://www.s24su.com/forum/match-day/match/sheffield-united-vs-sunderland.749/

Officials:

Referee: Chris Kavanagh
Assistants: Lee Betts and Neil Davies
Fourth Official: Peter Bankes
Reserve Assistant Referee: Wade Smith
VAR: John Brooks
Assistant VAR: Timothy Wood

Coverage:

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Live TV Coverage:

SUTV (in Unsold Markets or Non-Televised in UK): https://www.sufc.co.uk/live/

​

 

[Tom Bott]

I take no comfort whatsoever in saying, back in February, it'll be Leeds top, Burnley second, us third, Sunderland 4th. We'd lose to Sunderland in PO final. How I got slagged off by some of you lot. My inner vision is a curse.

What was your prediction last August when we had no squad, mine was that a mid table finish was on the cards.

 

[radio]

If (and I know it might be a big if ) anyone wants to see the whole 90 minutes and you don't have Sky , it is now available on YouTube, through the Sunderland YouTube channel

 

[The Crab]

If (and I know it might be a big if ) anyone wants to see the whole 90 minutes and you don't have Sky , it is now available on YouTube, through the Sunderland YouTube channel

Other than on here I’ve not heard or watched anything. Not going to listen to second tier podcast dancing on our fucking grave either. I feel like I’ve been through some sort of traumatic event even though I’ve seen all before.

Between that and stepping down from coaching Sunday footy, I really don’t like football at the minute. This worries me because I’ve never felt like this before

 

[Gimli]

If (and I know it might be a big if ) anyone wants to see the whole 90 minutes and you don't have Sky , it is now available on YouTube, through the Sunderland YouTube channel

When I left the ground I text a load of mates (neutrals and 1 Sunderland fan) to say how much of a robbery I thought that was.

Woke up Sunday morning and in a more sober state said maybe it was a more even game and I might have just been reacting emotionally straight after the game.

Got home and put the highlights on (no way I’m watching full game again) and I was right the first time! Absolute robbery!!

 

[PrestwichBlade]

When I left the ground I text a load of mates (neutrals and 1 Sunderland fan) to say how much of a robbery I thought that was.

Woke up Sunday morning and in a more sober state said maybe it was a more even game and I might have just been reacting emotionally straight after the game.

Got home and put the highlights on (no way I’m watching full game again) and I was right the first time! Absolute robbery!!

I certainly remember thinking at half time that genuinely, Sunderland were shit. I just don't think we managed the game, the situation, at all well. We/Wilder just didn't seem to recognise what was happening. This wasn't a run of the mill league game we could just "see out", it was effectively a cup final where Sunderland had nothing to lose but we just didn't react when Sunderland started to step it up.

 

[ancientblade]

could and should have been 3 - 0 up by half time but was wilder that naive enough to think that sunderland wouldnt come out all guns blazing in the 2nd half when they knew they had dodged a bullit their fans knew it anall very very poor game management from wilder the premier league and 180m was within our grasp and our manager threw it away and i dont think that fact will have been missed by our new american owners time for a change

 

[Bladesince59]

The final outcome was obvious from the moment the second half kicked off. The Wilder effect was there for all to see.

 

[KOPPO]

,,aaaarrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr ffs the criminal VAR robbed us blades of a amazing burrows goal ffs who wants top league football it has cheating VAR in it ,it was a GOAL ,AAAARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR .................black cats 12th man VAR CHEATS

 

[The Crab]

,,aaaarrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr ffs the criminal VAR robbed us blades of a amazing burrows goal ffs who wants top league football it has cheating VAR in it ,it was a GOAL ,AAAARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR .................black cats 12th man VAR CHEATS

Mate, nobody cheated.

If there was no VAR used the goal would most likely have stood. But it was used and sadly it showed a clear offside. Sunderland did not cheat, the ref did not cheat, nobody cheated

 

[WestYorksBlade]

Two days gone by and if anything I’m more pissed off at how we still managed to find a way to fuck that up. Was classic United that. Always the bridesmaid, never the bride, and all too happy to enable Sunderland’s crowning moment despite them offering the square root of fuck all for 70 minutes.

The fans deserve so much more than the constant mediocrity and disappointment we’re forced to endure. People slagging off the atmosphere should know exactly why it was the way it was - we all knew what was going to happen the second those VAR twats called the ref over to the screen.

 

[ChipButtyBlade]

Ive have seen a bit of VAR consistency this afternoon Jamaica had a goal ruled out for the exact same reason we had Burrows goal ruled out.

Makes a change.

 

[Nick Jansky]

Ive have seen a bit of VAR consistency this afternoon Jamaica had a goal ruled out for the exact same reason we had Burrows goal ruled out.

Makes a change.

Bayern Munich had a similar one ruled out last week.

 

[KOPPO]

,,,,with 15 mins left at 1.0 up tufty should have brought rob holding on to steady the ship why get him on loan from arsenal when he hardly played him so personally is cost us big time he made a mistake leaving him on the bench that was a huge mistake to never play him in the play off final has hes a good experienced central defender for u would have got us over the line ,we will never know if rob holding would have helped out if brought on with 15 mins to go and blades lost 1.2 and it sadly cost the sufc gaffer tufty kop legend his job ,,a true fact....utb....

 

[Keen Blade]

Continuing to play Robbo after Holding became match-fit was the last straw for me & Wilder.
Then discovering that Robbo needed to play X games to give HIM the option over the CLUB to extend is contract was just surreal.
One began to realise that Wilder was running the club as his personal fiefdom , rather than as a professional manager , trying to make the wisest decisions for success.

Playing your uncouth mates who like drinking & fighting is all very well when it produces ultimate success ,
But can't be tolerated when it is directly responsible for ultimate failure.

All the board had to do was look at the £10m on the Cannon that won't fire and feck knows how much in loan fee & wages for Rob Holding ,
And conclude pretty sharpish that Wilder was not only a corporate embarrassment with his various questionable "antics" ,
but also a liability when it came to football decisions.

To go from a clear lead at the top , having "strengthened" in January ,
to 10 points behind both our rivals , required some explanation.

Then to chuck away our first ever lead in a PO Final was beyond any rational explanation.

For all the chest/badge beating "I love dem Blades and hate dem Owls",
which is nice , in an emotional sense ,
the guy was setting up a highly talented squad to produce turgid football all season , with a couple of exceptions.

The Wilder lovers will no doubt re-surface at every upset this season , and will probably be dancing if Selles fails to get promotion - but I couldn't give a toss.
A change had to come.
I hope that Bettis doesn't become a conduit for Wilder's continued sway over the club.
We need to carve out all tentacles of Wilder's influence , including members of staff who harbour resentment on his behalf.
And give Selles & his team a clean slate.

Wilder needs to return to being a fan , shed the horrendous responsibility of being a fan/manager and retire gracefully ,
Knowing that his achievements 2016-20 are unlikely ever to be equalled.

 

[TJ blade]

Continuing to play Robbo after Holding became match-fit was the last straw for me & Wilder.
Then discovering that Robbo needed to play X games to give HIM the option over the CLUB to extend is contract was just surreal.
One began to realise that Wilder was running the club as his personal fiefdom , rather than as a professional manager , trying to make the wisest decisions for success.

Playing your uncouth mates who like drinking & fighting is all very well when it produces ultimate success ,
But can't be tolerated when it is directly responsible for ultimate failure.

All the board had to do was look at the £10m on the Cannon that won't fire and feck knows how much in loan fee & wages for Rob Holding ,
And conclude pretty sharpish that Wilder was not only a corporate embarrassment with his various questionable "antics" ,
but also a liability when it came to football decisions.

To go from a clear lead at the top , having "strengthened" in January ,
to 10 points behind both our rivals , required some explanation.

Then to chuck away our first ever lead in a PO Final was beyond any rational explanation.

For all the chest/badge beating "I love dem Blades and hate dem Owls",
which is nice , in an emotional sense ,
the guy was setting up a highly talented squad to produce turgid football all season , with a couple of exceptions.

The Wilder lovers will no doubt re-surface at every upset this season , and will probably be dancing if Selles fails to get promotion - but I couldn't give a toss.
A change had to come.
I hope that Bettis doesn't become a conduit for Wilder's continued sway over the club.
We need to carve out all tentacles of Wilder's influence , including members of staff who harbour resentment on his behalf.
And give Selles & his team a clean slate.

Wilder needs to return to being a fan , shed the horrendous responsibility of being a fan/manager and retire gracefully ,
Knowing that his achievements 2016-20 are unlikely ever to be equalled.

That for me as got to be the post of year mate, well said.

 

[KOPPO]

Continuing to play Robbo after Holding became match-fit was the last straw for me & Wilder.
Then discovering that Robbo needed to play X games to give HIM the option over the CLUB to extend is contract was just surreal.
One began to realise that Wilder was running the club as his personal fiefdom , rather than as a professional manager , trying to make the wisest decisions for success.

Playing your uncouth mates who like drinking & fighting is all very well when it produces ultimate success ,
But can't be tolerated when it is directly responsible for ultimate failure.

All the board had to do was look at the £10m on the Cannon that won't fire and feck knows how much in loan fee & wages for Rob Holding ,
And conclude pretty sharpish that Wilder was not only a corporate embarrassment with his various questionable "antics" ,
but also a liability when it came to football decisions.

To go from a clear lead at the top , having "strengthened" in January ,
to 10 points behind both our rivals , required some explanation.

Then to chuck away our first ever lead in a PO Final was beyond any rational explanation.

For all the chest/badge beating "I love dem Blades and hate dem Owls",
which is nice , in an emotional sense ,
the guy was setting up a highly talented squad to produce turgid football all season , with a couple of exceptions.

The Wilder lovers will no doubt re-surface at every upset this season , and will probably be dancing if Selles fails to get promotion - but I couldn't give a toss.
A change had to come.
I hope that Bettis doesn't become a conduit for Wilder's continued sway over the club.
We need to carve out all tentacles of Wilder's influence , including members of staff who harbour resentment on his behalf.
And give Selles & his team a clean slate.

Wilder needs to return to being a fan , shed the horrendous responsibility of being a fan/manager and retire gracefully ,
Knowing that his achievements 2016-20 are unlikely ever to be equalled.

you missed why players were played out of position has well but its a good post pal especially not playing rob holding he would have helped us and the only thing i dont like is we dont play with 2 fast wingers we never did play wingers all game which ids crapo pal we really lack fast pace i liked tufty but he didnt play attacking football he held out for 1.0 wins which was scary to watch we could have killed that game off in play off final if we attacked more me im more a direct style of play pal maybee ruben selles will play more direct 433 style attacking football you right that tufty wont be equalled in all he did hes still a blades fan and give selles the spaniard a go hes the blades SPECIAL ONE maybee he will win every game like you said in 1st interview we need to be champs we can be more passion and win every match attack more ruben selles is more direct the italian style gaffer m8

 

[ATL Recs]

Continuing to play Robbo after Holding became match-fit was the last straw for me & Wilder.
Then discovering that Robbo needed to play X games to give HIM the option over the CLUB to extend is contract was just surreal.
One began to realise that Wilder was running the club as his personal fiefdom , rather than as a professional manager , trying to make the wisest decisions for success.

Playing your uncouth mates who like drinking & fighting is all very well when it produces ultimate success ,
But can't be tolerated when it is directly responsible for ultimate failure.

All the board had to do was look at the £10m on the Cannon that won't fire and feck knows how much in loan fee & wages for Rob Holding ,
And conclude pretty sharpish that Wilder was not only a corporate embarrassment with his various questionable "antics" ,
but also a liability when it came to football decisions.

To go from a clear lead at the top , having "strengthened" in January ,
to 10 points behind both our rivals , required some explanation.

Then to chuck away our first ever lead in a PO Final was beyond any rational explanation.

For all the chest/badge beating "I love dem Blades and hate dem Owls",
which is nice , in an emotional sense ,
the guy was setting up a highly talented squad to produce turgid football all season , with a couple of exceptions.

The Wilder lovers will no doubt re-surface at every upset this season , and will probably be dancing if Selles fails to get promotion - but I couldn't give a toss.
A change had to come.
I hope that Bettis doesn't become a conduit for Wilder's continued sway over the club.
We need to carve out all tentacles of Wilder's influence , including members of staff who harbour resentment on his behalf.
And give Selles & his team a clean slate.

Wilder needs to return to being a fan , shed the horrendous responsibility of being a fan/manager and retire gracefully ,
Knowing that his achievements 2016-20 are unlikely ever to be equalled.

Exactly this well done great on the button post