Niall Quinn

He's just maybe got to take a different view on life in as much that what he's trying to get these unconfident players to do, it's actually harder than a game that they seem to enjoy more when Allardyce come in.

Well, funny enough, Jermain said, you know, when we got the goal at 1-1, yeah, maybe, you know, it could be that we could go on and win it.

But I don't think that's what the rest of his teammates were thinking.

I think they were thinking, my God, we're back in it, isn't that great?

You know, and there's a difference.

There's an edge that's missing here, and it comes with over the last few years of barely staying up, you know, there's this feeling that's around the place all the time that, oh, gosh, we'll only get going in the last couple of months.

And this time it looks like it's even worse because...

Do you know that the hopes were built up a little bit at the end of last season?

I saw Kone play here against Everton, last home game of the season, last season.

He was a man-mountain.

He dominated proceedings in the entire 90 minutes.

Loved watching him.

Cabool played alongside him, the two of them were excellent.

I thought, that's it, going back to Thierry's rock that your team needs to be, I thought, at last Sunderland have a centre-half partnership go forward.

That's just wilted.

And so...

To answer your question, what would I say to David?

David, take the pressure off them by the passing game.

Get people like Rodwell steaming into the box and play more direct.

But what an atmosphere out here now.