Year: 2016

M’Villain of the piece: (2) ‘Yann’s useful, not so good I care’

by
Paul Summerside hoping for calmer waters - and a new man on the bridge
Paul Summerside absents himself from the M’Vila love-in

It is always refreshing to hear a different view on a current hot topic. Paul Summerside intended this as a comment at our Facebook pages after Monsieur Salut’s piece was published (see this link) but it deserves an outing here, too …

First of all let’s talk about the player as an asset to our club.

Based on a consistent end to last season, Yann M’Vila has somehow managed to propel himself into folklore among a section of Sunderland fans. I thought him to be a useful asset, especially when you consider our injury crisis. There’s no doubt he is a strong-tackling grafter.

But goals, key passes and assists … don’t remember many of those.

Read more

M’Villain of the piece: (1) do we blame Sunderland, Rubin Kazan or the player?

by
Lost to Sunderland
Lost to Sunderland

As Salut! Sunderland‘s deputy editor, Malcolm Dawson, put it in a comment on these pages late last night, the end of Sunderland’s hopes of bringing back Yann M’Vila – from Russia with the love of so many of our supporters – represents the loss of a player of known quality.

Martin Bain, SAFC chief executive, explains: “I was contacted this week by M’Vila’s representatives, who advised that the player no longer wishes to join Sunderland.

“There was a three-and-a-half-year agreement in place, however after discussions with the manager we have decided not to enforce the contract. Any player that we bring to Sunderland Football Club must be wholly committed.

“Yann M’Vila will therefore not be joining us in January and we wish him well for the future.”

Read more

The Things We Do For Love: Roker Park, spirit of ’66 and all that

by
Ask Jeremy 'Clock Stand Paddock' Robson where Sunderland play and he'll say 'Roker Park'
Ask Jeremy ‘Clock Stand Paddock’ Robson where Sunderland play and he’ll say ‘Roker Park’

Next Tuesday, December 13, is the deadline for stories, anecdotes and random thoughts on the things we do for our love of SAFC (or others do to accommodate that love). The prize is the print of Roker Park you see above, supplied by our generous sponsors http://www.wearedorothy.com. We have already had some excellent entries which can be seen at the earlier posts: https://safc.blog/category/salut-competition/ – and they keep trickling in. Here is Peter Lynn – Wrinkly Pete – with some lovely memories of times gone by …

Read more

Swansea vs Sunderland ‘Who are You?’: on Moyes, Bradley and missing Ashley

by
Ian
Ian James at the final Premier League game at Upton Park, won 4-1 by Swansea: ‘how we could do with a performance or two like that nowadays’

Saturday brings another game of huge importance, a chance for Sunderland to continue the encouraging recent revival but against opponents as desperate as us for points. Ian James is a Swansea City supporter and also the sort of football enthusiast the game needs: ‘profoundly deaf’, as he put it in our e-mail exchanges, he was the co-founder of the club’s Disabled Supporters’ Association, from which he is about to step down as chairman. Ian gives some straight-to- the-point responses to our questions ..

Read more

Swansea City v SAFC Guess the Score: the heat’s on, temperature reduced

by
Jake: 'four out of five? or is that asking too much?'
Jake: is ‘four out of five’ asking too much?’


Roll up for another prize (see below) Guess the Score, Swansea City versus Sunderland …

Had we lost at Bournemouth, drawn against Hull and failed to beat Leicester, the visit to Swansea would have had “must win” written all over it.

But we didn’t. We won all three and there was even a smidgeon of honour in defeat at Anfield.

Read more

Sunderland’s star striker: ‘a player I always hoped Liverpool would sign’

by
... just that little bit extra
… just that little bit extra

Is there a team in the land in which Jermain Defoe would not score goals? Probably not. Is our extraordinary little striker just not fashionable – or young – enough a footballer to appeal to the Peps, Joses and Antonios and the brands they manage? Maybe. We’re just lucky we have him. And Monsieur Salut’s daughter, Nathalie Randall, who has an irrational love  of Liverpool, relegating Sunderland to second place in her affections, wishes he earned his living at Anfield …

I’ve always been a big fan of Jermain Defoe. My dad thinks its only because I fancy him but he’s too short for me..

Read more

Moyes on the Boys v Leicester: we beat the Champions but let’s not get carried away

by

Moyes On The Boys

John McCormick  writes….. 
I was at our previous  game, which we lost. We did, however, have the semblance of a team and it was our first loss in three games, against a full-on Liverpool team. So full on, in fact, that I endured loads of stick on Monday from deluded scousers who, having listened to Klopp, thought we did nothing but defend. But I knew better and had a feeling we would show what we could do when we played the Premier League champions.

Not that it matters what I think. The really important words come from our manager, who writes to Colin (and maybe one or two others) immediately after each game. And Colin, in his turn, passes the letter on to his team so we can share it with you:

Read more

Sixer’s Sevens: Sunderland 2-1 Leicester. Mighty Anichebe, mighty result

by
Jake: 'terrific all-round efforts, Lads'
Jake: ‘terrific all-round effort, Lads’

Monsieur Salut writes: what a massive win. Jermain Defoe added to Robert Huth’s own goal to provide the cushion, a fabulous last-minute save from Jordan Pickford cut Leicester’s recovery short and the return of Jan Kirchhoff and Seb Larsson was crucial to the second-half breakthrough.

Pete Sixsmith had donned red and white, headed up past Durham and then … those with memories of his activities this time each year will know what happened next. He carried on due north to the chosen location for his Santa duties. These took him not to the game, but to the dark side of the Wear-Tyne divide, safe in today’s kind of red and white. Meanwhile, A N Other chips in with the seven-word verdict …

…

Jake: catch Sixer's instant seven-word verdicts throughout the season
Jake: catch Sixer’s instant seven-word verdicts throughout the season

Read more