Junior doctors to meet the fans before Sunderland v Arsenal

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Paula in the middle
Paula in the middle

Colin Randall writes: Salut! Sunderland is not a political site. Its contributors and readers have their views on all sorts of issues beyond football and no attempt is made to block those that pass ordinary tests of decency and legality. Some will support the junior doctors wholeheartedly in their dispute with the Government, others may consider their stance wrong-headed.

But the fact is their members at the Sunderland Royal are setting up a stall outside the Stadium of Light (beside A Love Supreme’s office) before the Arsenal match on Sunday so that fans can stop and raise any questions they wish. I happen to support the doctors’ cause. My view is unimportant but I am happy to allow space to one of them, Paula Bradley*, to explain the background. If Jeremy Hunt, the Health Secretary, sets up his own stall before the Chelsea or Everton games to explain his position, he’s welcome to write about it, too, but I won’t be holding my breath …

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Sunderland v Arsenal ‘Who are You?’: Defoe’s enduring magic, Wenger’s fading charm

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Spot Nick Birch, our Arsenal 'Who are You?' interviewee
Nick Birch, just to the left of Theo Walcott’s elbow, celebrates a goal scored by a man who, of course, learnt his trade at Sunderland

Nick Birch* is this season’s second supporter from the Arsenal fan site Gunners Town to volunteer or be volunteered for the ‘Who are You?’ hot seat. He’s a regular home and away, shares the apparently increasing disenchantment with Arsène Wenger and, instead of laughing at the idea of there being a Sunderland player who might do a job for the Gunners, suggests that Jermain Defoe could compete for a place if only as an impact sub. He will be at the Stadium of Light on Sunday and cheerfully accepts our best wishes for a great day out, to be followed by the visiting Londoner’s obligatory night out on the Toon, marred only by the result (can we also pray for glum faces in Bigg Market after a defeat at Anfield?) …

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Sunderland v Arsenal Guess the Score: Shakespeare, Shack and shaking expectation

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[polldaddy poll=9389387]

So, Guess the Score is again a prize edition and again there’s a catch. Only a correct entry predicting a winning scoreline for Sunderland qualifies; it must be the first to be posted before kickoff to claim the prize. Since the cost would be borne by Monsieur Salut, and he supports Sunderland and we need the points, that can be seen as rough justice but justice all the same. And as the prize is only a mug, it hardly matters anyway …

Football can really be quite simple. If Newcastle United can play like men unaccustomed to the sport for most of the season and then come close to beating a top four team, albeit one that barely bothered to turn up despite bringing its own linesman, Sunderland – having been quicker to overcome the same malaise – must go one better.

But at the very least we have to avoid defeat against Arsenal on Sunday.

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Sunderland’s Fans Museum breaks more ground

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From the new set of Fans Museum photos shown at https://www.facebook.com/groups/salutsunderland/
From the new set of Fans Museum photos shown at the Salut! Sunderland Facebook group pages. If the couple shown identify themselves, Monsieur Salut will send a mug and they can keep it or donate it to the museum

While we wait and hope for the right kind of Manchester City to turn up at SJP tonight, let us hear more from Michael Ganley on his admirable Fans Museum project. Michael has just posted some terrific new photographs at the Salut! Sunderland Facebook group as well as announcing a new corporate sponsor. You need a Facebook account to see all the photos – and really should join the group if you haven’t already – at https://www.facebook.com/groups/salutsunderland/ …

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Wrinkly Pete’s points projection sends Newcastle and Norwich down. Now you vote

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Peter Lynn: on keeping the faith and keeping smiling ...
Peter Lynn: too optimistic or spot-on? …

Read Peter Lynn‘s assessment of the relegation run-in and why he believes it favours Sunderland. Check the remaining fixtures – see footnote – for yourselves and vote. Since Monsieur Salut and his Norwich and Newcastle bloggers at ESPN FC all put their teams to finish 17th, we can hardly be surprised if the poll results reflect similar partisan hopes. But have a go all the same – some people may even be objective …

[polldaddy poll=9389387]

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Carroll, Vardy, Wisdom: referees supported after Leicester, West Ham and Norwich rows

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Every honest football fan knows he or she has occasionally howled at referees and linesmen only for the contentious decision to be proved to be flawless. Every honest footballer knows his entirely subjective view of an incident may not be accurate. And we all know footballers make many more costly mistakes than officials.

Yet weekend after weekend, there is the closest scrutiny of judgements seen as plain wrong, debatable or merely unpopular with one set of fans or the other.

As the season reaches the time when vital points are at stake, at both ends of all divisions and in decisive cup ties, controversy inevitably become more intense.

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Sixer’s Norwich Soapbox: Catt’s Cats calm Canaries’ clappers

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Pete Sixsmith: Real Betis, real close to home, real football
Pete Sixsmith: a long way from home
  • And so it came to pass that the 11 hours spent on a coach was worthwhile after all.
  • And that the 2,500 disciples shoehorned into the corner of Carrow Road were loud in their praise of The Great God Sam and his angels and archangels on the field.
  • And there was much wailing and gnashing of teeth from the followers of the home team, who vented their fury by renting their garments and hurling their clappers and plastic canaries onto the Holy Ground of the aforementioned Carrow Road.
  • And there was much gaiety and joyfulness on the long and (not very) winding road back to the Land of Milk and Honey that is known as County Durham.

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SA’s essay: we can enjoy the weekend, not to mention the journey back.

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

John McCormick writes: this was surely an “I was there” game, only I wasn’t, I had to make do with the TV. A nervy start had me hiding behind the settee and I found it difficult to watch, even at 2-0 up, but I persevered and managed to relax when young Duncan scored. What must it have been like for yet another magnificent away crowd, and for the players and manager to win in front of them?

Here’s what Sam has to say in a letter he composed and sent to Colin (and maybe a couple of others) before getting back on the bus

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