Which division do we belong in ?

[Young_Nudger]

Tha belongs weer tha belongs at end ot day. Sunderland are rotting in league 1 cos they've been run by idiots who've let debts get crazily out of control. The size of that club is enormous and they've always had a top flight 'pull' but are where they are.

Leeds did 3 seasons in league 1, Sheffield United did 6 consecutive seasons in league 1. Forest were down there for a couple o years, so too Wednesday.

Barnsley has the potential to pull 20000 home fans regularly if successful but it's a big if. Realistically we are a 6000 hardcore and always have been barring the 1970s doldrums.

Those 6k diehards will be all that's left next season

Yes - but you are talking about the influence of history there regarding Sunderland.

If Sunderland had the same history as Barnsley they would be getting the same attendances as Barnsley.

You have mentioned the word ‘doldrums’.
In my time watching Barnsley the club has rarely been out of the doldrums.

I can say Alan Clarke years, Norman Hunter years, the Glavin era, the John Dennis era were good.
All the rest have been doldrums years.
Including most of Patrick’s 15 year reign.

And then PMG took over and those yo yo years were going to end.
But didn’t.
The club (and Town) are crying out for a sustained period of success.

[pass_and_move]

Yes - but you are talking about the influence of history there regarding Sunderland.

If Sunderland had the same history as Barnsley they would be getting the same attendances as Barnsley.

You have mentioned the word ‘doldrums’.
In my time watching Barnsley the club has rarely been out of the doldrums.

I can say Alan Clarke years, Norman Hunter years, the Glavin era, the John Dennis era were good.
All the rest have been doldrums years.
Including most of Patrick’s 15 year reign.

And then PMG took over and those yo yo years were going to end.
But didn’t.
The club (and Town) are crying out for a sustained period of success.

So history in your opinion has a bearing on what kind of support that a football club can drag. I don't necessarily subscribe to that school of thought and here's a few examples why...

Sunderland have a good history of course but so too do Huddersfield Town, Blackburn Rovers, Bolton wanderers and Preston NE. I don't see those clubs dragging at times gates of 40k in league one or the championship in this day and age. They aren't even close Nudger.

Sunderland have won one major trophy in the last 86 years- the FA Cup in 1973 which as we know was an unexpected bolt from the blue- they were a second division outfit at the time.

Modern history? I think you'll agree that it's fair to say that Sunderland haven't had that sustained success barring the Peter Reid era where they were a mid table Premiership club forra few seasons with the odd top ten finish chucked in.

[Acido]

Its all abaart opinions of course, as to where fans think their club deserve to be.
I would have liked to see our style of footy under Ismael in the Prem, and it would have annoyed a lot of em, but it would only have been for one season.
And even Burnley for example, after a number of years in the Prem, would probably say they don't belong at that level.
When we were struggling to make ground in Lg One under Danny Wilson, I still told myself then that we were or should still be a Champship club.
But you are what you are, and relegation down to a lower league means you deserve it.

[EastStandRed]

Thing that helps the North East clubs like Sunderland get good attendances is there are not many clubs up there so if you like football it’s probable that you’ll support the club where you live. Plus one club per City so no divides in the Cities

[Dingle council]

Andy Richie said we are a top end league 1/low end championship outfit back then which apparently cost him his job, that was a fair assessment back then but in the recent years the standard n budget of the championship has risen, IMO we are a decent league 1 side at min with the lack of decent investment we’ve seen recently

[animallittle3]

I leave this debate to the fans of other clubs who I've had many a conversation with in The Dove pre match especially the last time we were in league one .

" Your one of the bigger club's
in this league and should be in the championship "

My reply is always " aye but we are one of the smaller ones in the championship which is why we are playing you today "

Currently and for some time , somewhere between league one and the championship .

But should with investment be a player in the championship all day long .