The Observer has been milking us dry again. Today’s edition has a half-term report from a fan of each Premier side.
Here is Pete Sxsmith’s verdict (and click here for his thoughts on the draw against Everton):
Sunderland, 10th, Pete Sixsmith, SalutSunderland.com
August, September, October – really encouraging, good football, good results and a misty dream of breaking into the top six. November and December – the ghosts of McCarthy and Sbragia start to appear, as we begin our annual slide down the table.
Star man and biggest underperformer? Bent, Cana and Cattermole have impressed, Gordon has begun to look like a top-class keeper, and Reid’s weight loss has made him a regular. On the other hand, Campbell has yet to look a top-flight player and McCartney has proved the old maxim: “never go back”.
Happy with the gaffer? Steve Bruce will be a success, but there are times when he’s a little one-dimensional.
Who should he sign? We need two full-backs who can tackle, pass, support the wide midfielders and not get caught out of position.
Latest links: Graham Dorrans (West Brom, winger); Maynor Figueroa (Wigan, defender); Victor Moses (C Palace, winger).
Our biggest under performer has to be the man with potentially the greatest physical attributes for a striker. Jones is gods gift to the position but he lacks both courage and motivation and worst of all he lacks the commitment to perform for his team mates.
We are lucky if we get a full ten minutes of top quality performance from him.