Monsieur Salut presented a brief argument in favour of sticking with David Moyes at this link. Rob Hutchison has already made the case more strongly here
We both knew our views would be controversial. And so it has proved. Some good, robust replies point legitimately to shortcomings in Moyes’s brief reign.
Not all readers of Salut! Sunderland will agree. But I shall say it anyway. Sunderland AFC, whether in the hands of Ellis Short, a Chinese consortium or the return of a Drumaville or even Sir Bob Murray, should stick with David Moyes.
Only Peter Reid and Lee Clark, and perhaps whoever served them at the Yarm Country Club, know for sure whether it really took five shared bottles of champagne to persuade the Wallsend-born midfielder to join Sunderland from his beloved Newcastle United.
That is what I recall Reid saying happened in an interview at the time. But whatever the truth of the 1997 booze-up recruitment meeting, it will come as little surprise to Sunderland supporters that Clark now regards the move as a mistake.
Having helped us to promotion, he then chose to wear a t-shirt bearing the slogan “Sad Mackem Bastards” at the 1999 FA Cup final, which he attended as a NUFC fan (they lost to Man Utd).
Fresh from much-praised exploits at the San Siro (despite a defeat) and in the draw at the Etihad, Southampton naturally fancy their chances against Sunderland in the EFL Cup 4th round on Wednesday. A hearty welcome to Aidan Small*, a budding sports journalist who owns www.freshsaints.com even if he does think we’re doomed to relegation without the consolation of further interest in the League Cup after the visit to St Mary’s …
Would you settle for a Sunderland defeat at Southampton on Wednesday, ending our interest in the EFL Cup, and a home win on Saturday? Me too, if your answer was yes.
Of course, wins in both games would be even better. But whereas beating the Saints would be nice enough, and stir dreams of a return to Wembley at the end of February, we are desperate for another kind of victory: the sort that brings three points and gives us hope that all may not after all be lost.
Pete Sixsmith is likely to be quiet for the next few days – see his explanation below – but, a glutton for punishment after his West Ham awayday, was keen to take in one more match first. The lure of Sunderland Under 23s overcame the disincentive of the weather. Time well spent? Let Sixer enlighten you …
Malcolm Dawson writes……….Pete Sixsmith is used to getting up early, what with next door but one’s dog to walk and the papers to deliver to the great and good of Shildon, so catching the coach to West Ham was no hardship. Watching the match might have been but for 94 minutes it looked like he could have been celebrating a 50 per cent improvement in our points total on the long journey home. That he wasn’t isn’t a novelty, but still he goes along most weeks to bring you his insightful views of how the Lads performed. Here’s what he rattled off before journeying forth to take in the Under 23s’ match this lunchtime.
Rob Hutchison thought this display was much better than last week’s dismal showing at Stoke but the net result is the same – nul points. After an hour of decent play, a few seconds of switch off in the 94th minute let the Hammers drive another nail in the Sunderland coffin. As Rob says ‘same old, same old’ …
While the missus watched X Factor – and why not? – Rob Hutchison sat down, tried to forget the disappointment of Sunderland’s last-gasp defeat at West Ham and put into writing his thoughts on a first footballing visit to the London Stadium…
John McCormick writes: If that had been us scoring the goal would have been disallowed. No ifs, buts or maybes. It shows just how much the Gods of football have taken against us in recent years and it makes me think, despite my optimistic nature and the presence of Hull, Boro (got to give them credit today) and Burnley (if Boro get credit what do they get?) that this could be the season we go down.
But maybe not. I know nowt about football and for an informed opinion I have to peek over M Salut’s shoulder as he opens the letter written exclusively for him (and maybe one or two others) and couriered across London at vast expense: