Year: 2013

Everton v SAFC Who are You?: ‘we’ll finish fourth. Sorry, you’re doomed’

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Jake demands answers
Jake demands answers


Salut! Sunderland wishes all readers a happy Christmas and fabulous new year

Everton under Roberto Martinez are, on their many good days, one of the teams of the season. The victory at Old Trafford was just one of a string of excellent results and they reach Christmas in fifth place. That makes Paul Dargan*, an author, journalist and broadcaster, as happy as you’d expect an Evertonian to be and he believes with a touch of wishful thinking that the club will finish one position higher. I hardly dare mention where he thinks we’ll end up …

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Sunderland Observed: the half-term report. Not for the squeamish

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obs

Pete Sixsmith was again asked by The Observer to reflect on all things Sunderland for the newspaper’s half-term review. This, submitted before the Norwich game, was the pre-editing version …

The season has been as dismal as the league position suggests. Defeats to those pushing for the title at home, coupled with defeats to our relegation rivals away have made it almost as dispiriting as the infamous 15 point season. But there is hope – as long as we have managed to beat Norwich yesterday (oops – ed).

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Pure Poyetry: No Christmas stuffing for Delia’s canaries

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Jake captures the Bard, with thanks to Owen Lennox
Jake captures the Bard, with thanks to Owen Lennox

John McCormick writes: Even before today’s match I wasn’t looking forward to Thursday. Not only are Everton playing well, there’s hardly any public transport running and it’s bound to rain as I make the long walk back to wherever I can pick up a taxi. So when Gus said in his post-match e-mail that he was disappointed I thought “Join the club, Mate”. Anyway, enough of the joys of living down south, here’s Gus telling M Salut what else he thought:

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Sixer’s Sevens: SAFC 0 Norwich 0. Brown red deepens despair

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Pete Sixsmith - or supersub - does it in seven words
Pete Sixsmith – or supersub – does it in seven words

A draw is, of course, better than a defeat. Unfortunately, in in Sunderland’s predicament, it is not enough. With possession galore, especially in the second half, there ought to have been two goals difference by the end. Instead, there was distinct lack of finishing strength and Wes Brown was harshly sent off by our friend Martin Atkinson in the final minute. His tackle looked a yellow card offence but handed Norwich a chance they did not merit to steal the points – and deprives SAFC of a key player. The task looks as great as ever and Pete Sixsmith, with his usual seven-word instant verdict, was unimpressed ..

Jake's gloom" 'one point nee good'
Jake’s gloom” ‘one point nee good’

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Sunderland vs Norwich Guess the Score: a cup final already

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Jake hopes the (notional, prize-free) winner is someone who tips SAFC to win
Jake hopes the (notional, prize-free) winner is someone who tips SAFC to win

After the draw that should have been a win at Upton Park, I said that much as I hoped for a win against Chelsea, I was more concerned about the league game at home to Norwich City. It is a tired old cliché (as is “tired old cliché”), but this had much more of a cup final feel to it than Wednesday’s league cup game.

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Sixer’s Chelsea Soapbox: Ki the key, Giaccherini the eye-catcher

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Jake: 'now stuff the Canaries, Lads'
Jake: ‘now stuff the Canaries, Lads’

The news from Ferryhill, Shildon or one of the North East’s airports, where the great man was on early taxi duty, is that Pete Sixsmith, the morning after the night before, is ‘still bouncing and beaming’. Ever the realist, he adds ‘and I hope I will be on Saturday night’. Here is Pete’s considered verdict on a good night for SAFC that should stiffen the players’ resolve for coming battles …

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