This is where Pete Sixsmith captures the glory and shame, hope and despair, excitement and ennui of the Sunderland matchday experience. When, rarely, Pete is absent or delayed, a supersub does it for him and the seven-word verdict is preceded by an asterisk. Pete’s full analysis of the game will usually appear within a day or two.
Unfortunately, Pete’s duty tonight was to report from Carrow Road where, listening to BBC Radio Newcastle but not finding a reliable stream, I was grateful at first that his phone seemed to be out of action. We appeared to have been out-thought, out-fought and outplayed for most of the game, failing even to put Norwich under serious pressure after getting a goal back near the end. Far too easily brushed aside, as Gary Bennett suggested. Then Pete’s phone sprang into action, and the message was gloomy; M Salut will not be waiting up for Steve Bruce’s post-match missive.
The full Sixer’s Sevens archive – see link below – sums up what all Sunderland supporters feel, from darkest gloom to sublime elation, in the words one who is usually there …
Sept 26 2011 Norwich City (1) 2 SAFC (0) 1 Absolutely no positives to take from this
Sept 18 2011 SAFC 4 (3) Stoke City (0) 0 What a difference the right selection makes
Sept 10 2011 SAFC (0) 1 Chelsea (1) 2 Comical defending hands Chelsea their regulation win
Aug 27 2011 Swansea City (0) 0 SAFC (0) 0 Uninspiring game. Both teams look like strugglers
Aug 23 2011 Carling Cup 2nd Round: Brighton & Hove Albion (0) 1 SAFC (0) 0 Abysmal team selection got what it deserved
Aug 20 2011 SAFC (0) 0 Newcastle United (0) 1 Totally outfought in dismal second half display
Aug 13 2011 Liverpool (1) 1 SAFC (0) 1 Came back well, better side second half
To see Sixer’s Sevens in full, click here. If an asterisk precedes the comment, the words that follow are the work of someone else because Pete is for once absent from the game or his verdict has been delayed …
** Want to write to the club about what you’ve seen, heard or read about the way things are going? Do it with the Salut! Sunderland engraved pen. Yours for just £2, post-free in the UK, by clicking here
Bruce talks about Norwich having confidence, as if that puts them at some sort of natural advantage. He claimed that Sunderland had lost confidence after our defeat to NFC. He doesn’t seem to grasp that it is his role to inspire confidence and impart a positive attitude in the squad. The team lack passion and any sense of cohesion, they look lost and confused. Enough !
Well what can I say, ‘Well done Norwich’ You played us off the park. You deserved the 3 points and we where lucky to get away with 2-1.
I can only praise the supporters. They are a great bunch and they always make you welcome. Thank you.
Reading the write ups reflected my thoughts. Once again we had the majority of the ball and could not score. From a personal point of view we could once again play until Saturday and still not scored a second goal.
I think we need a basic 4-4-2. After all we have good wide players and its not as if we dont have striking targets in the middle. Get Bramble out and Richardson forward.
Sorry! Got carried away. That should be SB’s Job. You can spot him, he is the one who looks like Howard Wilkinson on the bench. You remember him? Clueless, with a lost look on his face.
Everything gained against Stoke lost in 48 minutes at Carrow Road in what can only be yet again described as an insipid/poor/pityfull performance against a side we should have beaten.
Two down by 48 minutes, little attacking threat and Bruce still takes 20 minutes until he puts the substitutes on. Camera shots of Bruce on the sidelines showed a defeated man, bereft of any ideas and accepting what he was seeing. Yes SB was right we did give the ball away too easily, but our totally pondurous apprach to our play really indicated that we would not have done anything with the possession anyway.
Only highlight was Richardsons well taken goal, but I agree with Scotter, his defensive capabilities are not up to scratch.
Next game against WBA is yet again another must win for SB. How much longer is it sensible to allow this to continue.
How long are we going to let this plonker keep saying it was a bad dissplay we had one win there is only one place. SAFC going to end up with this muppet in charge for gods sake NIAL get this idiot out before you end up with no supporters going to the match to watch that rubbish it is embarisment being a supporter if he carries on ile stuff my season ticket down his throat I love my club and he’s killing us he has not got a clue how to motivate them sending them for a meal is not the answer after only one win this season get out Bruce now
we are seriously lacking a cutting edge up front this will cost us this season i fear a relegation battle! Elmo is not good enough’ Bramble has regressed, mingolet needs to be dropped’ bring back Gordon he is different gravy.. Changes need to be made…
No doubt Bruce’s tactical “masterplan” of playing Sess up front rather than in the hole confused the team. Waste of a 6’5″ forward by playing him too deep.
Nice goal by Richardson but has no positional sense or concentration to be a full back. At least our left winger didn’t fall on his backside again to demonstrate that he hasn’t a left peg!!!
Inept team selection and woeful tactics. The lack of pace in the side worries me to bits.
Colin: Steve Bruce will be “disappointed.”
At least they made a bit of a fight of it towards the end. I think Ji has proved he’s worth a place in the starting lineup.