This week's opposition view comes from Michael Potts (MP) and George Shaw (GS), from the independent Sunderland fanzine 'A Love Supreme'.

Why Sunderland?

MP: Being born and raised in Sunderland, it was the only choice.

GS: Like many, supporting Sunderland is a family thing. I was taken to my first match at 6 by my brother in law. However, unlike many, I can’t remember anything about that first game. Apart from running around a crowded, freezing Roker Park, desperate to see over the millions of towering heads that stood before me. It felt like millions, anyway. I’ve followed Sunderland ever since.
 
How long a fan?

MP: As long as I can remember. My first game was a Worthington Cup tie against York City in '98. I was only five, but I can still remember some of it.
 
Highlight of supporting the club?

MP: Well...erm...hmm...that's a tough one being a Sunderland fan in the past decade. The Phillips and Quinn era was fantastic but since then it's been a struggle. A more recent highlight came when the club was in ruin. We'd just been relegated. The finances were gone. And things were glum. Then came the return of a legend. Niall Quinn. Only this time as owner, chairman and manager. The last part of that only lasted five defeats, before turning to Roy Keane. Say what you like about his managing style/competence, but he was the perfect man to bring back the feel-good factor to the club and took us back to the top where we've stayed since.

GS: I could pick out one or two particular games for this, the entire 1998/1999 season for example, or the 2-2 against Newcastle back in 2002, where the noise that came from our support after Phillips made equalised blew the BBC’s microphone behind the goal , both spring to mind. But for me, the real highlight was being able to sit beside my dad at just about every home game for nearly 10 years. Whether we were celebrating victory, wallowing in defeat, or just screaming at the referee, our time together at the match made us closer than ever, and to me, that’s what supporting a football club is about.

Low point of supporting the club?

MP: Low point(s). The 19 point relegation season was horrendous. But now it looks relatively respectable compared to the dire 11 point relegation season just a couple of years later. Other low-points include our shocking record in the derbies. We've only won one home game against Newcastle at the Stadium of Light, and then there was the Halloween horror show. The 5-1. Say no more.

GS: How much room have you got? Going down with a record points tally, specifically watching Michael Proctor bundle in the third of his hattrick of own goals against Charlton, in 2003 was bad enough, but for us to come and back better, for lack of a better word, that record was chronic. 2004’s FA Cup semi final defeat to Millwall and last season’s Quarter Final exit to Everton stung pretty badly too.
 
Favourite current Sunderland player?

MP: We haven't had too much to cheer this season, but one player who has shone throughout is our goalkeeper Simon Mignolet. He looked decent, without being spectacular, last year. Then in the summer, we let Craig Gordon go. Controversial, but it was understandable due to his injuries and high wages. We knew Kieron Westwood and Mignolet were solid but could either excel? Definitely. Mignolet has made some world-class saves, doesn't make mistakes (touch wood) and has worked hard on dominating his area. He's become a complete player, and at 24, can only get better. Love the guy.

GS: Difficult to pick really. The whole Darren Bent and Asamoah Gyan sagas have left it difficult to take to footballers in the way I may have in the past. However, Sebastian Larsson is a good worker, Cattermole is an old fashioned tough midfielder and Sessegnon can provide great pieces of magic. So, any of those. Saying that, I wouldn’t mind Steed Malbranque back.

Favourite all-time Sunderland player?

MP: Kevin Phillips. Without a doubt. He's the only Englishman ever to win the European golden boot with 30 league goals. And that was in a newly promoted side. He's scored goals everywhere he's played and is still going at 39. An all-time hero. Honourable mentions go to Niall Quinn, Julio Arca and Steeeeeeed Malbranque.

GS: Niall Quinn. It’s hard to separate him and Quinn, considering I grew up watching the pair bang in goals on a weekly basis, but for what he contributed after his playing spell was over, it has to be the gentle Gaelic giant.
 
Thoughts on Sunderland’s season so far?

MP: I really don't know. At the time of writing, we've won two, lost three and drawn the rest, leaving us in the bottom half mire. We've only played well in one or two games but hopefully we can build on our win down at Fulham and climb to our top half aim.

GS: It hasn’t been great, but then it hasn’t really been poor. We’ve only lost three games, one of those defeats was at the home of the champions, and we’ve been picking up points in tough games, so any talk of a crisis is wildly premature. We’ve played some okay stuff at times, we just need that little bit of confidence that’s missing. Accusations of us playing a brand of football that’s boring and unattractive are probably fair, but it’s difficult to play the quick, counter attacking football so often associated with Martin O’Neill’s sides with our chronic lack of pace in  the middle.

Happy with Martin O’Neill?

MP: The boost he gave us when he came in was tremendous. Some of the best football we've ever played. He's the manager we've wanted for years, so when he eventually signed on the dotted line, everyone was buzzing. We got to an FA Cup quarter-final replay last season. It was chaos. One game from Wembley. Everything to play for. We got beat. And since then we've been flat. Especially since September. A tiny minority of fans have called for him to go, but that would be madness. At the end of the day, he can only do so much. The 11 players on the pitch have to do the business and quite frankly, they haven't. It's a mixture of manager and his squad. He needs time but he can guide us upwards.

GS: Extremely. For the first time in a very long time Sunderland have appointed an experienced manager with a proven track record. Hopefully that means everything is now in place for the club to push on and get the success, that I think, we deserve.

Where will you finish the season?

MP: We set out in August to finish in the top half. And that hasn't changed. I'd say there are seven top sides. After that, there's not a lot between anyone. I expect to see us, yourselves, Newcastle, Fulham and Swansea battling it out for the same places in the middle.

GS: That depends on our January transfer window, I think. If, in January, we can get a good, creative centre midfielder with a bit of pace, who can provide the link between our defence and forward we so desperately need, I reckon we’ll be a good, solid side, hopefully pushing on for a top 10 place.

What were your summer transfer dealings like? How have your signings settled in?

MP: The day we signed Adam Johnson and Steven Fletcher for a combined £24million was incredible! It was a frustrating summer, and we didn't sign anybody for ages. So to get those two in was brilliant. But it hasn't been plain sailing. Johnson has looked very poor until recently. Fletcher needs service to perform well and has managed an impressive goal tally considering the lack of service from the Man City man, Stephane Sessegnon and James McClean combined. He's finally replaced Darr£n B£nt.

GS: Very pleasing. We desperately needed a goal scorer and in Steven Fletcher we got an excellent one. People may have complained about the price tag, but so far this season he’s proved his worth. Adam Johnson, who excited us all, has been good in spells, but injury has hampered him settling in. Carlos Cueller could become a fan favourite, while Louis Saha could be a smart acquisition.
 
Who's been your best player so far?

MP: Like I say, Fletcher has been an outstanding poacher. Mignolet, the immovable object between the sticks. But another mention has to go to on-loan left back Danny Rose. Kieran Richardson was coming good when we sold him to Fulham, and Rose was an underwhelming stop-gap. Reports from Spurs fans weren't good. How wrong we all were. He's a seriously good fullback. Rapid and incisive going forward. Solid and intelligent at the back. Future England left back. You heard it here first.

GS: Simon Mignolet, without a doubt. So far this season Mignolet has been in inspired form, often earning us points single, and at times, double handily. His technical ability has been second to none, pulling off numerous acrobatic stops, whilst his bravery, despite taking an elbow to the face from Emile Heskey last season, has been admirable.
 
Anyone been a let-down, anyone been particularly poor?

MP: The combined trio of Johnson, Sessegnon and McClean. The latter in particular. They just haven't clicked. When they do it'll be a sight to behold. Sessegnon was tremendous last season but it hasn't worked out for him yet.

GS: Stephane Sessegnon.  The creative spark that drove a lot of our play towards last season has rarely even flickered thus far. Whether it be from a lack of fitness after missing pre-season, or if his head has been turned, Sess’s performances haven’t really been up to scratch so far and we’ve really suffered for it.  His goal against Fulham, however, will hopefully see an upturn in his, and our, form.
 
Your take on the James McClean poppy controversy?

MP: It's a tough one. The abuse/threats are ridiculous. Unnecessary in any situation. Apparently he didn't wear the poppy due to the deaths of innocent people in his hometown, caused by the British Army. On the other hand, maybe he could have came out and explained his decision. He hasn't done it to cause a stir on purpose.

GS: It’s ridiculous. A total non issue made into a massive problem by people determined to prove they’re more outraged than anyone else.

Are there any youngsters coming through the Sunderland set-up you are particularly excited about?

MP: Sad news came through recently that promising defender John Egan broke his leg while playing for Bradford on loan. But he's rated highly. After that, Blair Adams is already impressing at Coventry after being sent there recently. But our biggest prospect, quite literally, is Connor Wickham. He's been unlucky not to get in the first team picture more often since his mega-millions move. He's banging them in for our U21s and England U21s. Hopefulyl he continues to impress and can fulfill his obvious potential.
  
Any particular memories of Albion v Sunderland games that stand out?

MP: I remember coming from 2-0 down to win 3-2 a long time ago. Lee Hughes and Kevin Kilbane lined up for your lot. Another one that stood out was last year's game. I can't get to many away games, so when I got a ticket for our clash at the Hawthorns I was well up for it. We watched the big screen highlights of your thrashing of Wolves and you almost did the same to us. 4-0. Thanks for that...

GS: A couple. Roy Keane was an onlooker for the first, as we claimed our first win of the season, and only win of Niall Quinn’s managerial career. The second, a 4-0 in 2008, marked our first win since Keane’s departure. You returned the score line last season, thanks for that.

Thoughts on Albion's season so far?

MP: Very impressive. Solid at the back. With a definite attacking threat. It's a perfect combination. Sometimes a team goes on a run and ends up flagging. Blackpool, Hull etc but with West Brom I get that feeling you could keep most of that momentum. I think most would agree Europe could be a long-shot. But why not aim for it? A comfy, top half finish is likely.

GS: Put it this way, it’s much nicer to see you lot up there, breaking up the big boys, than it was the Mags, I can tell you.
 
Albion player you admire?

MP: I've been impressed with Shane Long. Had a fairly quiet season last year, but he seems to showing what he's all about this time around. I also like the look of Romelu Lukaku. He's scored a couple of goals, shown flashes of his obvious "next-Drogba" tag but most importantly...he single-handedly won the league for my team on Football Manager so he'll always be a legend to me!

GS: I’ve always liked, and secretly wished we could sign, Chris Brunt. Him and Zoltán Gera. Purely because of his name.

Premier League Champs?

MP: If Rafa can turn Chelsea's fortunes around and get Torres firing, I really think they could capitalise on the Manchester clubs' shakiness. It'll be another very close one though.

GS: Manchester United.

Three teams for the drop?

MP: Newc...nah. Southampton and Reading leak a load of goals which will always cause problems. So I'll say those two along with Villa, as I think QPR will scrape out of it. Both very poor sides, but QPR have the potential to kick on with the players they've got.

GS: QPR (hopefully), Southampton (sadly), Newcastle (wishfully).

Prediction for Saturday's game?

MP: An optimistic 1-0 home win. Fletcher the obvious choice.

GS: 97 - 6 to us. Realistically though, West Brom are looking great this season, we are not. Sadly, for us, I think you might nick it by the odd goal. It was definitely offside though.