Dijon is a fairly attractive town set in the beautiful region of Burgundy. Links between there and Sunderland probably don’t extend beyond the short time one of their former managers, Patrice Carteron, spent at SAFC (the famous highlight of his stay being a goal against Newcastle United). The town does give its name to a mustard Monsier Salut regards as a basic necessity of life so should be thanked heartily for that. Pete Sixsmith could not make it to France for the three friendlies there but offers thoughts on what he saw of the 3-2 win – the game being played nearkly 200 miles away in Evian-les-Bains – via the club site …
Evian-les-Bains is one of the most delightful towns I have visited. Reminiscent of Harrogate and Buxton, it is a spa town par excellence, sitting on the banks of Lac Leman and having glorious walks along the promenade and splendid buildings from the Belle Epoque Era.
Mind you, it is 36 years since I was there on a school trip to the Alps, but I don’t think it will have changed very much. I would have loved to have revisited for this pre-season, but the possibility of the prompt removal of my gall bladder (which failed to materialise) made me turn down the chance of a trip to the home of mineral water.
Add to that a diagnosis of Plantar Fascilitis (a foot problem which sounds like one of Mussolini’s gardeners) and I am probably better off at home rather than skipping up and down assorted Alps like a demented ibex.
I was able to watch the Dijon game on the SAFCSEE link and was quite impressed. First of all, the backdrop was stunning, with Lac Leman in the background and various yachts passing by. Not as impressive as the moon going down over the Rock of Gibraltar that we viewed from Algeciras in 2003, but pretty good all the same.
Secondly, the quality of the pitch at this training complex compared with the paddy field that the two Manchester clubs were expected to play on in Beijing, once again demonstrated the folly of clubs chasing half way around the world to satisfy the commercial departments, kit makers and shirt sponsors. Europe, as 48 per cent of us know, is most definitely the place to be.
Thirdly, it was a good work out. Dijon looked a decent side and played some typically French football in that they looked comfortable on the ball and the players had the athleticism that we have come to expect from a nation that has given us Paul Pogba, Michel Platini and er…. Lilian Laslandes.
The link was a bit jumpy but it served me well enough and I quite warmed to the Crabtree/Ball double act as they sat in front of a screen in Sunderland and passed comment on the game and life in general.
Ball told a cracking story about a long ago pre-season in Norway, where they had to share beds. He cosied up with Derek Ferguson but there was a pillow between them so that’s okay then.
With thanks to TheMadMistake, a Sunderland fan on YouTube
Our performance was steady without being brilliant. Asoro looked good up front, took his goal well (I missed it as I was doing my foot exercises at the time) and he latched on to a great ball by Rodwell to set up Khazri for the second. I look forward to seeing more of him in the Under 21s/23s next season.
Kirchhoff came through his first game comfortably and made positive noises about a contract extension while Borini worked incredibly hard and made sure that it was he who rattled in the winning penalty after Watmore’s shot had hit the outstretched hand of a Dijon defender.
It also showed us the paucity of senior players in the squad and how Moyes needs to beef it up PDQ.
The youngsters who came on did well but none of the Robsons and various others are yet ready for Premier League football. The injury to Van Aanholt is a worry with two weeks to go before we meet Guardiola and his multi millionaires – Tom Robson up against Villa might be tricky.
The final game against Montpellier should be a stiffer test for us and will give us an idea of the starting line up at Eastlands with M’Vila expected to slot in once he has extricated himself from the last six months of his Ruben Kazan deal.
To those in Evian, enjoy it. I remember walking in the shopping area and seeing a rack full of Bolton Wanderers shirts outside a sports shop. Did Frank Worthington have a love child in Evian? Was there a secret cell of Sam Allardyce admirers beside Lac Leman? Did the sports shop buy a job lot from Admiral?
Ha’way The Lads.
It was introduced donkeys years ago in response to what became something of a trend headed by John Aldrridge if I recall correctly. I don’t recall it ever being rescinded so it may still be in existence.
‘Law 14 – The Penalty Kick
Players who feint to kick the ball once they have taken a run-up when taking a penalty will get booked for unsporting behaviour. Feinting in the run-up is allowed. And goalkeepers who come off their line too early will also be booked.’
I always assumed that this rule was still in place Malcolm, but that it had become one which the referees had chosen to ignore.
You might be right Jeremy. I’m sure I read somewhere that if a player stopped, feinted then scored the goal would be disallowed and an indirect free kick awarded but when I went looking again I couldn’t find it.
According to the Daily Star, Plantar Facilitis will be David Moye’s first signing.
My gall bladder vanished into a jar some 20 years ago. Not sure what it is (was), what it does (did) or whether its removal made any difference to my life.
Incidentally – I am wondering about the rule changes this year and if Borini’s penalty would have resulted in a yellow card in a Premier League game. The new law reads:
Law 14 – The Penalty Kick
Players who feint to kick the ball once they have taken a run-up when taking a penalty will get booked for unsporting behaviour. Feinting in the run-up is allowed. And goalkeepers who come off their line too early will also be booked.
I’d interpret this as meaning last night’s effort would be permissible but is there any advantage in a stutter in the run up? Would it not be safer just to use Watmore’s run and hit technique and avoid a yellow? Imagine getting sent off for feinting then taking your shirt off to celebrate!
Matthews gone back to Bristol City leaving us with just two experienced full backs. Agree with Pete in that I don’t think the Robsons are ready for anything other than a bench seat yet. Bally suggested that playing Rodwell at RB last night might have been to get him running up and down the pitch to increase his stamina but the fact he played CB on Monday suggests that Moyes is considering his options if new players don’t arrive in those positions before we face Man City.
Encouraging noises from M’Vila and Kirchhoff but worrying that the press are suggesting Kone may be a target for others. Surely Ellis Short must realise that even if a big offer is made for him he is too valuable to let go at this stage.
Despite all the upheaval this summer I am still concerned that we will end up making panic signings near to the transfer deadline. My hope is that the players we need are already lined up and deals just need to be rubber stamped when other factors fall into place.
I was pleased to see that Moyes agrees with you on the paucity of senior player and has apparently said that he requires five new faces……….a winger, a striker, a midfielder and two defenders.
I am assuming M’Vila will be one and wouldn’t be unhappy if Yedlin came back. Januzaj on loan is a maybe but not sure about the others. Can’t see us affording Fellaini