The Chapman Report from Chelsea: summer relief for the well-travelled SAFC fan

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Robert Chapman: 'when does the new season start?'
Robert Chapman: ‘when does the new season start?’

Bob Chapman brings down the curtain on what we hope has been another season of fine, incisive reporting from each Sunderland game, the best of it combining analysis, observation and humour (the latter quality is remarkable, given the feelings of dejection that all too often haunt the Sunderland supporter’s life). Pete Sixsmith has explained his absence from the final two games, leaving Arsenal to his younger brother Michael and Chelsea to his pal Bob, a frequent understudy. Salut! Sunderland thanks all contributors for one more season of triumph over failure, hope over despair …

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The highs and lows of Sunderland’s season, at a handy glance

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Didn't think we'd have to play this card again so soon
Didn’t think we’d have to play this card again so soon

John McCormick writes: regular readers will know that I’ve been tracking the progress of SAFC and other at-risk clubs by means of my “dodgy numbers”. I’ll look back on how they all fared some time after Pete Sixsmith finishes the end of season reviews, with a view to selecting teams and methods for next season’s relegation watch.

In the meantime, here’s a by-product of my tracking exercise, a chart detailing our climb to safety and the key events of what turned out to be a long hard slog. Click for a clearer view …

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Reviews of the Season: ‘got lucky. Twice as many wins as defeats’

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John McCormick:
John McCormick: looking back, looking forward

John McCormick writes: when the fixture fairy first waved her wand I thought I might struggle to make more than a handful of matches. It turned out I was right; over the season pre-booked flights, rearranged games, competing demands and a pregnant daughter all took their toll. So, too, did my lowly position in the loyalty points league. Our away support is so good that there are loads of fixtures where I can’t get tickets in my own right and, sometimes, even the best efforts of stalwarts such as Pete Sixsmith aren’t enough, as became clear from game one; Burnley away was the first target I missed.

In fact, I only managed three games. Even so, in a season when we did little, they all stood out for some reasons.

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Reviews of the Season: blaming the owner, managers, players – and fans

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Jake: Wrinkly Pete dips into the record collection again'
Jake: Wrinkly Pete dips into the record collection again’

After the excitement tension and ultimate relief of last Wednesday comes a time for cool reflection. Sunderland didn’t peer once again over the precipice because of rank bad luck. Survival was a close-run thing and we need to consider why there was yet another desperate battle for dear life in the last few games. Peter Lynn has some answers some will find spot-on, others a bit too finger-pointing. See the full End of Season Review series at https://safc.blog/category/end-of-season-reviews-2015/ …

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Reviews of the Season: would a short extension suit Mrs Advocaat (and us)?

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Jake: 'the supporters have their say'
Jake: ‘the supporters have their say’

Think of the London and Southern England branch of the SAFC Supporters’ Association and it is impossible not to think of its co-founder, Ian Todd, an exile in the capital since the 1960s and a man who has invested frightening amounts of time, effort and money into supporting Sunderland and helping others do so. It was fitting that Salut! Sunderland should turn to such a home-and-away regular to contribute to this series of reviews of the season just ended …

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Sixer’s Sevens: Chelsea 3 SAFC 1. Competitive in defeat. Au revoir Hull

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Jake pins Sixer to the wall
Jake pins Sixer to the wall

Pete Sixsmith‘s boycott of expensive trips to London was maintained for the final game of the season, though he was able to follow proceedings from afar and supply a seven-word verdict. The game at Chelsea went to script despite Steven Fletcher’s rediscovery of his goalscoring touch, before Costa’s penalty equaliser in the first half and two Loic Remy strikes in the second. Fletch could have done better with his own subsequent chances. Not a bad display – we were far from overwhelmed – but logic prevailed. Whatever we think of Steve Bruce – and he fully merits what we think of him – it is more than a little sad to see Hull City, a decent club with decent fans, go down ..

Jake: 'oh well ...'
Jake: ‘oh well …’

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Reviews of the Season: (1) Sixer, nearly a detached Observer, launches series

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Jake: 'this could get controversial'
Jake: ‘this could get controversial’

John McCormick writes: this gets our End of Season Review series underway.

Pete Sixsmith, who came close to giving up the ghost, launches it and will close it. Feel free to contact us if you feel you can contribute one of your own.

Pete it sorted me out a ticket for Goodison but we only managed to meet briefly at the game. In the few minutes between Peter Reid’s half time entrance and exit Pete summarised this season as one of his most disappointing, and that from over half a century which includes the 15 and 19 point seasons.

But that was at half time, and then things got better, and then even better in the next game, and then the next was good enough, and so was the one after that. So much so that the last game of the season is of little consequence.

Unless, of course, you’re a Mag or Steve Bruce.

Does that mean Pete has changed his opinion? Decide for yourself as he gives you his, as supplied to The Observer …

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HAWAY awards update, Hull and Newcastle slug it out, Chelsea demand appreciation

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Jake: 'with thanks to all opposing fans who participate'
Jake: ‘with thanks to all opposing fans who participate’

We’ll look at tomorrow’s match at Chelsea – plus the relegation dogfight – but first, an update on the HAWAY awards …

The prizes are sorted for Salut! Sunderland‘s annual Haways – awards for Highly Articulate Who are You? interviews – so step forward our Guess the Score sponsors, Personalised football Gifts, and old friends from Campo Retro and When Saturday Comes.

There are 13 shortlisted interviews, to which you could easily add either of the two – Arsenal and, though there is dissent about this, Chelsea -to have appeared since the judging process began.

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