For the first of two Sunderland vs Leeds United ‘Who are You?’ interviews,, we turn to Susan Gutteridge*, who has …
Malcolm Dawson writes …….I watched this on the telly. Usually I shy away from talking about individual players’ performances when …
John McCormick writes. It’s a bank holiday, so no post delivered. Never mind, after the match Gus went out of his way to drop in a hand-written note to M Salut, and possibly some other supporters. This is what it said:
Rob Hutchison says: No disgrace, and took the game to Citeh when we had to, but not enough in the tank ultimately. Never going to make or break our season.
This is where Pete Sixsmith (when present, as he was at the Etihad) sums up Sunderland games in seven words, prior to his inimitable reasoned matchday reports. Today, he saw SAFC soak up pressure with relative ease until Yaya Toure’s magical strike on 56 minutes. That we came back to 2-2 after conceding another speaks volumes for the resilience of Gus Poyet’s team. That we gave away a winner 90 seconds or so later was bitterly disappointing …
Jan 1 2015 Manchester City (0) 3 SAFC (0) 2 Opened up too easily for the winner
A Happy New Year to all our readers. To kick off 2015, even before the action starts for us at the Ethihad, Peter Lynn looks at the way TV contracts and especially late changes to the fixtures list cause disruption and cost to football fans …
In keeping with the New Year Resolutions theme from other contributors, here is mine. “So I start a revolution from my bed” … please can we have our game back?
(with apologies to those of you who feel aggrieved that I have chosen an Oasis lyric two hours ahead of our kick off against Man Citeh)
The ink is barely dry on Pete Sixsmith‘s heartfelt adieu to Alan Pardew – https://safc.blog/2014/12/by-god-the-butlers-scarpered-fond-farewell-newcastles-monsieur-par-dieu/ – and now he comes along with some New Year’s resolutions. Almost simultaneously, Rob Hutchison – master of the one-word player ratings – offered with his succinct verdict on Sunderland’s 2014″ ‘Eventful,’ adding a few more words: ‘Can’t really remember a year like 2014 following the lads.’But now for Sixer’s will and won’t do pledges
John McCormick writes: I’m beginning this on December 29, the day after we’ve drawn against Villa in our 19th game of the season. With match reports from Villa (er, whatever happened to Bob Chapman’s?), then a game on New Year’s Day, then a cup match, the site will be busy with posts for the next few days, so my reflections will take their chances and appear when there’s a gap (just identified! – Ed).
I don’t think it’ll need much updating. My forecast is that Jozy won’t score against Man City. I seriously doubt whether Fletcher or Wickham will, although I don’t think the result’s a foregone conclusion. In fact, I’d keep Fletch at home and save him for the Leeds game rather than have him battered and risking injury against City … let us see
Nic Wiseman writes: Young Keir Bradwell has obviously been feasting on bah humbugs as he penned these ratings and most …
Pete Sixsmith was attached to Pardew his butler, and the butler seemed contended enough with life in Shildon’s posh bit, Busty Bank. But Palace gold talks loudly and the butler – he may seem ungoldly but his name derives from the French Par Dieu (by God) – is off back down south, gratefully detaching himself from the ruffians and vagabonds of the North East. Let Sixer sound the bugle ….