Did Bolo enjoy playing for Sunderland?

Gains

Gains

Well-known member
"We also finished seventh in the Premier League, and that gave us another platform in Europe. The vibe was different back then. We tried to win a cup or qualify for Europe at Middlesbrough. but Sunderland was mainly about staying up. We finished 10th, which was the best finish Sunderland had achieved at that point. It was great, but it was difficult for me, as wherever I played, I tried to either win the league, win a trophy, or play in Europe. None of that happened at Sunderland. It was different for me, but I enjoyed my time there."

I'll be perfectly honest Bolo, it doesn't really sound like you did.

Bolo
 
Marvanelli said:
Gutted we lost him to Liverpool on a free...who rarely played him.

He was absolutely vital in that 2004/05 season in which we finished 7th.

Incredible talent and someone we never really replaced.
Click to expand...
He was injured a lot at Liverpool but they didn’t offer him a contract extension in the end when he left.

He seemed to only want short term contracts too which was odd. Lots of 1 and 2 year deals on his cv, must have liked a Bosman signing on fee
 
gravy173 said:
He was injured a lot at Liverpool but they didn’t offer him a contract extension in the end when he left.
Click to expand...
Yep, and I seem to remember they played him at LW and LB at times....when he was much more effective and played his best football for us in the middle of the park.

I wonder if he has any regrets at leaving. Obviously we couldn't compete with Liverpool financially, and he actually won the Super Cup with Liverpool in his first season, but from a game time POV he didn't really break into the Liverpool team.
 
Not to go off on too far a tangent, but Bolo's comments sums up the difference between Boro and Sunderland in a nutshell. Boro competed for what we could (the cups, and our journey around Europe). We were ambitious with our signings, and we had some great times along the way.

Sunderland on the other hand were a club that just tried to be a turd that wouldn't flush, and in the process set some unwanted records during their time stinking the premier league out (lowest points totals - twice - most losses in a season, most consecutive defeats, a couple of 0-8 thumping's, the likes of Darren Bent being an example of one of their "marquee" signings, and then topping it all off with two consecutive relegations and spending nearly half a decade in the third division).
 
Last edited:
GazBoro said:
Not to go off on too far a tangent, but Bolo's comments sums up the difference between Boro and Sunderland in a nutshell. Boro competed for what we could (the cups, and our journey around Europe). We were ambitious with our signings, and we had some great times along the way.

Sunderland on the other hand were a club that just tried to be a turd that wouldn't flush, and in the process set some unwanted records during their time stinking the premier league out (lowest points totals - twice - most losses in a season, most consecutive defeats, a couple of 0-8 thumping's, the likes of Darren Bent being an example of one of their "marquee" signings, and then topping it all off with two consecutive relegations and spending nearly half a decade in the third division).
Click to expand...

In my 4 decades of watching football all Sunderland have wanted to be is a club who get big crowds. That's literally their whole reason for existence.

If they get 30k crowds in the 3rd tier they are obviously a massive club, if they get 40k crowds in the second tier they are obviously a massive club. In the top flight they literally just made up the numbers while being able to lord it over clubs like Leicester, Boro and Fulham for their massive fanbase.

Success on the pitch has always been secondary to them.
 
Marvanelli said:
Yep, and I seem to remember they played him at LW and LB at times....when he was much more effective and played his best football for us in the middle of the park.

I wonder if he has any regrets at leaving. Obviously we couldn't compete with Liverpool financially, and he actually won the Super Cup with Liverpool in his first season, but from a game time POV he didn't really break into the Liverpool team.
Click to expand...
He did play in the Champions League Final.
 
Marvanelli said:
Yep, and I seem to remember they played him at LW and LB at times....when he was much more effective and played his best football for us in the middle of the park.

I wonder if he has any regrets at leaving. Obviously we couldn't compete with Liverpool financially, and he actually won the Super Cup with Liverpool in his first season, but from a game time POV he didn't really break into the Liverpool team.
Click to expand...
He played in a Champions League final with Liverpool. I can’t imagine he has any regrets about that moveZ
 
There are loads of players who you forget played for Sunderland, you could almost make it a game. A **** version of Pointless maybe.

I'll go first...

Steed Malbranque | 102 games | 1 goal
 
Well firstly, Sunderland finished 7th in 1999/00 and again in 2000/01. And if we’re being pedantic, which I very much am, then you’d have to add that Sunderland finished 1st in 1891/92, 1892/93, 1894/95, 1901/02, 1912/13 and 1935/36, and second in 1893/94, 1897/98, 1900/01, 1922/23 and 1934/35. Which is a bit better than 10th.
 
Marvanelli said:
Gutted we lost him to Liverpool on a free...who rarely played him.

He was absolutely vital in that 2004/05 season in which we finished 7th.

Incredible talent and someone we never really replaced.
Click to expand...
I think he played in the champions league final for them.

I might be wrong.

Zenden was the glue of that team.

He loved a curry in raj bari in Yarm .
 
viv_andersons_nana said:
Well firstly, Sunderland finished 7th in 1999/00 and again in 2000/01. And if we’re being pedantic, which I very much am, then you’d have to add that Sunderland finished 1st in 1891/92, 1892/93, 1894/95, 1901/02, 1912/13 and 1935/36, and second in 1893/94, 1897/98, 1900/01, 1922/23 and 1934/35. Which is a bit better than 10th.
Click to expand...
They undoubtedly have an impressive history but a large percentage of their fanbase won't have seen them win a trophy. We'll always have Cardiff and the great European adventures.

And their fans can't talk properly.
 
parmoboy said:
They undoubtedly have an impressive history but a large percentage of their fanbase won't have seen them win a trophy. We'll always have Cardiff and the great European adventures.

And their fans can't talk properly.
Click to expand...
Plus weve had some amazing players. Who's been their best in the last 30 years? Kevin Phillips maybe? Then who?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top