Ed was away; he left me his season ticket and thanks to his generosity I watched the lads for free if I don’t count the 8 gallons of petrol, the couple of bottles of wine for Susan (my sister, who put me up) and a couple of pre-match pints for designated driver Paul.
Britain’s best newspaper – remember those useful if outdated things? – came calling again and Pete Sixsmith answered The Observer‘s call, with this half-term report (written before the win vs Watford)…
We are deeply entrenched in the annual relegation battle, have been told there is no money to spend and the owner has made it clear that the club is up for sale. Sunderland supporters are a stoical bunch but our stoicism is being stretched this season.
Monsieur Salut writes: as significant, almost, as the three precious points from this 1-0 win, was the vast improvement in the play of my man of the match Jason Denayer and the often (and rightly) criticised Adnan Januzaj. The goal came from a splendid Januzaj-Defoe-van Aanholt move and PvA’s finish was sublime. This is where you come to find Pete Sixsmith‘s instant seven-word verdict; there’ll be more to come on this match …
Ask Jeremy ‘Clock Stand Paddock’ Robson where Sunderland play and he’ll say ‘Roker Park’
The Things We Do For Love competition attracted some excellent entries, some great memories. Choosing a winner of the above print of Roker Park – with mighty thanks to our generous sponsors http://www.wearedorothy.com – was tough.
Check out the earlier mentions of the competition here and, when Pete Sixsmith’s reminiscences on Sunderland in the European Cupwinners’ Cup in 1973, prompted more memories here.
But this, from Wrinkly Pete, aka Peter Lynn, is the winner on the arbitrary choice of Monsieur Salut. Out thanks to Pete, to all others who posted contributions and to the folk at Dorothy, who assure us the prize is in the post.
Mike Parkin*, co-presenter of the Watford FC podcast ‘From the Rookery End’ and the club’s blogger at ESPN, readily agreed to answer questions ahead of Saturday’s game at the Stadium of Light … he fears our luck may finally have run out
Successive defeats have dumped Sunderland straight back at the bottom after all the promise of our mini-revival.
Most of us get fed up with being told this or that match is “must win”. We could beat Watford handsomely and then embark on a long losing streak sending us down by February or March.
Equally, we could lose and then shock football by taking point off not only Burnley but Manchester United and Liverpool, too.
In reality David Moyes, unlike his predecessors, does not start his post-match e-mails with a salutation. ‘Dear Colin’ is therefore a made-up device on the part of Monsieur Salut. What was there to say about the 1-0 defeat to Chelsea – a logical outcome of bottom versus top, boys against men, honest endeavour overwhelmed by sheer quality? Moyes tells us how he saw it …
