Before getting on to Bolton Wanderers and Guess the Score, here is one small piece of unfinished business from the West Ham match.
For my last words on the satisfactory afternoon’s work on Saturday, I shared with readers of the ESPN FC site the thought, already expressed on these pages, that the good, loud contingent Hammers support deserved better than the miserable display their team offered them.
I bumped into a few of them when delivering Mme Salut to the Seaburn, aka Marriott, hotel for her customary leisure club alternative to football or the Bridges. They were a bit miffed at having failed to persuade anyone to perform the simple task of switching the TV over from something unwatched to the early Premier game, but chatted amiably before we made our separate ways to the ground.
This is how I recorded the Hammers’ contribution to Saturday’s atmosphere:
Away fans are now banished to the upper section of the north stand at the Stadium of Light, still a significant improvement on what Sunderland fans routinely put up with at grounds from St James’ Park to Upton Park. On a cold January day, the travelling East Enders gave a heartening level of encouragement despite the wretchedness of their team. I know what it is like to cover hundreds of miles and wonder whether the effort was worth it, so hats off to the Hammers.
Otherwise, as you can see by following this link – http://soccernet.espn.go.com/blog/_/name/sunderland/id/961?cc=5739# – I echo Pete Sixsmith’s warm praise for David Vaughan and offer general thoughts on whether we have now, finally, turned the corner.
Now for the FA Cup. Have a go at guessing the score – which should be the final score at the end of normal and any extra time, not the outcome of a penalty shoot-out.
The winner can either settle for a superiority complex, having entered merely for fun and got it right, or choose the buy one/win one option and become the possessor of two Martin O’Neill “Team of All Talents – work in progress” mugs for the price of one. If delivery is in the UK, that price is £9.50, postage free.
A Bolton winner would receive mugs with a suitably modified design. As mentioned last week, Monsieur Salut could have sworn a Wanderers fan posted a 2-2 prediction for the first game but that the comment then somehow vanished. I am looking back in the system to see if I can locate any such correct but lost forecast and will pass on the applicable prize offer if one can be found.
There may be another Bolton “Who are You?” or there may not. I was not going to bother for the replay but ended up doing a similar Q&A for a Bolton site – Burnden Aces – and will publish my interviewer’s reciprocal responses to my questions if they arrive in time.
Ha’way the Lads.
0-0 then 1-0 AET 🙂
I’ll go for 1-1 a.e.t.
Not quite as comortable as everyone thinks Sunderland 3 Bolton 2
Depends what team MON puts out, but I am saying 3-0 again. We’re on a roll.
I would actually play Wickham and Campbell starting ina 4 4 2. I’d give Killa a run out and Bramble, and give O Shea a rest. Give those on the fringe a run out. I know MON rates the cup and want to field strong, but I don’t. I don’t want injuries, and want us to climb up the PL. Plus I think our fringe team can still win. If we’re not doing so well, then bring Fletch etc on in the 2nd half.
That’s the last thing we need – a cuptie game that goes for two hours and leaves us weary.
As no-one else has I’ll go for 1-0. Hope it doesn’t go to extra time … I’d like to be home before midnight!
Still basking in the glow of a correct scorecast against the Hammers, I have decided to go for a 2-2 after 90 mins, 3-3 after 120 mins and a 4-2 victory on pens. When you’ve got it flaunt it!
Well as I didn’t bother with my customary 5-0 prediction for the West Ham game and we saw a much better result I shan’t bother this time either.
And I will avoid a 6-0 forecast. That’s what I’d like however.
on the basis that 1) we can’t possibly be as bad as we were for the first half at their place, and 2) Alf can’t play, for some reason, I’ll go for an unchanged team and another 3-0
I’m going to go for a 4-1 drubbing.
SAFC 4 – 0 Bolton, another strong display from the Lads who are hungry to have vengeance on Everton.
2-1 to the lads
I was going to say 2-0 but let’s go with 3-0. I just want to get this game out of the way with everyone in the squad uninjured.
Anything for it being snowed off due to crowd safety concerns in the surrounding area? Did this ever happen at Roker Park?
if not then 2-0 to the Lads