Colin Randall

Athlone. The very name takes you back to old wireless sets and the crackly stations you found on them. Cows, fields, rain – they take me back to Europe. Pete Sixsmith enjoyed the lot, and caught a decent run-out for the Lads, a few jars of stout and real ale and a chance meeting with the opposition goalie. Oh, and we won 6-0………

Another summer, another trek around the Emerald Isle. This time, a shorter journey than 2007 bringing with it the opportunity to see new towns, visit new stadiums, drink more Guinness and generally bask in the glory of being a Sunderland fan in a country that appears to have fallen quite seriously in love with us.

The journey started in Belfast with visits to three excellent bars culminating in real ale and good music in John Hewitts. A rainy walk (stagger) back to the bed factory that is The Days Inn and an early start next day for the daily bus from Belfast to Athlone.

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After an encouraging unbeaten run against opponents of mixed quality in Portugal, Ireland and England, SAFC came a cropper against Ajax, missed chances preventing us at least sharing the honours with a decent Dutch side. New faces figure strongly asPete Sixsmith identifies the silver lining…

Home friendlies at the Stadium of Light are a bit of a luxury.

Reidy hated them, preferring to have beer thrown all over him in Belgium and I don’t think Mick was all that keen.

Since Roy’s arrival we have managed to attract Juventus and now Ajax and both outings have been interesting and informative.

Results are not always important in games like these – the performance is what counts. Yesterday, the four new signings all showed that they are an improvement on what we already have. All four of them have a good touch, three of them have real pace and they all look like players who are comfortable in the top flight rather than players who are busting a gut just to stay there.

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With school finally out for summer, Pete Sixsmith gets to his first Sunderland match of the season …..

A good warm up game on Keano’s old stamping ground and some very encouraging signs. Let me give you three:

Tainio looked like the reincarnation of Stefan Schwartz. He won the ball well, used it even better and tackled as if his life depended on it. Impressive.

Richardson looked extremely fit and took his goal really well. He is at least half a stone lighter than twelve months ago and is beginning to look like an international player.

Stokes set it up and looks sharp and keen to be involved. Maybe we will see the latent talent that lies deep within him.

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Pete Sixsmith is feeling contrite, having been lured by a newspaper headline into thinking Younes Kaboul’s transfer to Sunderland was in the bag. Salut! Sunderland is almost past caring whether he comes or not. Having beat the mighty Cobh Ramblers 4-0 away last night, and signed the most proficient spitter in the Premier League, do we actually need him? And wouldn’t we have to insist on chucking his agent Rudy Raba into the North Sea as a condition of the transfer? No matter, Pete welcomes the moves Keano has made in the market….

Sorry, I got the Kaboul one wrong and he hasn’t signed yet. I must admit that I read it through a beery haze after several pints of Deuchars and I was so excited about the arrival of the man with bigger underpants than Oliver Hardy, that I had a bout of premature speculation.

Anyway, we can welcome Pascal Chimbonda and look forward to seeing a step over and dummy competition between him and Nyron. He impressed me when I saw him at Wigan early in the 15 point debacle – remember, the game where Breen and Davies put down a marker for the season by giving away a penalty in the third minute.

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The scene has been set. And now, Fatima al Shamsi – click on the photo for a clearer view of her reading preferences – tells her own story…

June 2008, first week of work; the beginning of the end of my good judgement.

It all started with a simple question. “Who do you support?”

Next thing I knew it was the usual partitioning, each side of the conversation marking the appropriate boundaries: scoping out the enemy.

Understanding the allegiances of others helps you understand where the potential relationship stands. Apparently proclaiming my loyalty to the Gunners made me a glory seeker, whereas being a Sunderland fan was honourable.

I was informed that Sunderland was an example of a real football club, not a brand name. Although I strongly disagreed with those comments (and still do), I initially took pity on the misguided Sunderland supporter and thought no more of the matter.

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When it comes to football, Salut! Sunderland and Fatima al Shamsi are thick as thieves. From unpromising beginnings – Fatima’s allegiances read more like a list than a passion – has emerged the first hint that we are witnessing a truly remarkable transformation. Let us hail the born-again Emirati Mackem.

Fatima, who is studying at Columbia University in New York, recently entered the world of journalism as an intern at The National in her native Abu Dhabi. Part of Salut! Sunderland‘s mentoring duties at The National involve the indoctrination of all suitable candidates as surrogate Sunderland supporters.
“But I support Arsenal,” Fatima protested. “Then Barcelona, with a soft spot for AC Milan.”

All was not lost. She did, after all, adore Zinedine Zidane and loathe Materazzi, showing evidence of good taste.

And what was that lying about the desk but A Love Supreme’s More 24-Hour SAFC People? She took it home, vowing politely to read the chapter contributed from these shores but in the event devouring virtually every word.

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After the French distractions of the other day, Salut! Sunderland and/or Younes Kaboul’s agent need to eat some humble pie. Assuming, that is, that the news is correct, and we are not gazumped by Villa or Pompey* at the last second. “He wouldn’t join Sunderland in an earthquake” turns out to translate as “how much is Keane offering him, and what’s my commission?”. Pete Sixsmith swears he felt the earth move….

Where were you when the quake hit Wearside?

I was in Edinburgh and got news of the seismic shock via Sky Sports News which flashed up a banner saying that Kaboul had agrred terms* and was expected to sign, if he could find a house that was still standing.

His agent must be feeling about as smart as the general in the Amerian Civil War who dismissed the ability of an enemy sniper by saying: “He couldn’t hit a barn door from….aaaagh” It was a good funeral.

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