SA’s Essay: Shattering (for the Mags, that is)

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Jake's take on Big Sam
Jake’s take on Big Sam

John McCormick writes: I e-mailed Colin yesterday to say I wouldn’t be available to do much this weekend (what with birthdays, daughter flying in from the States, alcohol to be consumed, etc.) I nearly wasn’t around right from the start as everyone had left for the restaurant before the final whistle blew and I had to shut down various feeds, set the alarm, leg it to the meal, and so on. But I did get there in time and then, as one of the people at the party was just over 1 year old (Born on the day we did 5 in a row, as it happens) we had to leave early, which meant I got back earlier than expected. As a result I had time to log on and find the very personal letter our manager had sent to Colin, and which had been forwarded exclusively to me.

It was so good I just had to share it.

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Sixer’s Sevens: Sunderland 3-2 Chelsea. The stuff off dreams. Magnificent, Lads

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Jake: 'One word: magnificent'
Jake: ‘One word: magnificent’

Colin Randall writes: Sensational. After a heartbreaker of a goal at the end of the first half, Sunderland came back from 2-1 down to win with wonderful strikes from Fabio Borini and Jermain Defoe to add to Wabi Khazri’s first-half screamer. The referee Mike Jones had a stinker and at times made it look as if SAFC were playing 12 men with some crazy decision all over the pitch. He should have sent off Cahill in the first half (Terry did go right at the end) and repeatedly got his calls utterly wrong. Never mind. One win – at home to Everton on Wednesday – and Sunderland are safe yet again. Expect Pete Sixsmith‘s considered account to be somewhat upbeat; this is where his seven-word instant verdict appears …

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Jan Kirchhoff: from short-lived villain to cultured hero – and now recognised

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Working well with Catts in support
Jake: ‘great stuff, Jan’

Congratulations Jan Kirchhoff on your player of the month award

At Salut! Sunderland and ESPN, as elsewhere, Jan Kirchhoff came in for some stick after that wretched debut at Spurs. Mitigating circumstances have subsequently emerged and Sam Allardyce has admitted his German signing was not match-fit and should not have been sent on as a sub.

And just look what has happened since. If Big Sam does not deserve to be part of a club facing the grave danger of relegation, nor does Kirchhoff. Monsieur Salut’s view is that we have not seen a better midfielder since Claudio Reyna.

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Chelsea Who are you (1): Very high highs and not so low lows

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Jake: 'no cross words from Neil
Jake: no cross words from Neil

John McCormick writes: This being an important weekend, we’ve decided to double up on the “who are you” contribution. First up is my guest, Neil Tabor, like Colin and myself, exiled but keeping his faith for decades. Not that it has been difficult for him these past few years.

I didn’t ask Neil to predict the final places until after last weekend. I nearly didn’t ask him at all…

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Sunderland v Chelsea Guess the Score: the reckoning

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17 (17) Newcastle United 36 8 9 19 39 64 -25 33
18 (18) Sunderland 35 7 11 17 40 58 -18 32
19 (19) Norwich City 35 8 7 20 35 61 -26 31
20 (20) Aston Villa 36 3 7 26 27 72 -45 16
POS LP CLUB P W D L GF GA GD PTS

Is this the most significant Guess the Score in the history of Salut! Sunderland running the competition? Yes, I hear some reply, but only since the last “most significant” one or until the next.

Think about it, though. As a result of our failure to pick up points when they have been there for the asking, we are now looking at a table that may well require us to take seven points from the remaining three games. I fully expect Aston Villa and Spurs to offer the flimsiest of resistance to Newcastle and that’s not even taking account of what Norwich might do with, like us, three games left.

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Bravo Leicester, keep faith with Sunderland and this season’s real champions, Shildon

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Shildon Tunnel
Shildon Tunnel

We can take our hats off to Leicester City, fully deserving Premier champs. We can pray those of us with a God, that Sunderland somehow manage for the last three games what the Foxes did in nine a season ago. And, to lighten heavy spirits, we can share Pete Sixsmith (and Monsieur Salut)’s joy at a great achievement for a home town we both share by adoption …

Amid the feelings of doom that pervade the thoughts of Sunderland supporters, a ray, nay beam, nay blast of sunshine hits some Red and Whites. For those like Monsieur Salut and me who cut our footballing teeth at Dean Street, Shildon there is a title win to celebrate.

Shildon AFC: Northern League Champions 2015-16.

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Sixer’s Stoke City soapbox: One point gained by a nervous team

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SOAPBOXstoke

Pete Sixsmith provides a grim read after his return from Stoke. All is not lost, and we are still in control of our destiny. Yet we have Chelsea up next and we’re not playing well.

Read on for Pete’s analysis of a game we were within seconds of losing and where a last-gasp effort kept us in touch with safety

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SA’s essay: A precious point

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Jake's take on Big Sam
Jake’s take on Big Sam

John McCormick writes: I do believe Stoke’s goal should have been disallowed after Crouch climbed all over Kaboul. I’m not so sure we deserved a penalty, so maybe things evened up. Whatever, a point away at Stoke is never a bad result and to get one when we weren’t as good as we have been makes it more even more sweet. Here’s Sam’s post-match letter, telling us what he thinks about the result.

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