‘Boy, could he take penalties’: good luck to Craig Gardner at WBA

by

Comments were inadvertently ‘disabled’ when this first appeared. The WordPress system seems to do it all by itself. Apologies: you may now now respond to the item …


Craig Gardner leaves Sunderland for West Brom with head held high, his reputation among supporters second-to-none for the right reasons.

For lots of fans, the fondest memories of his three years at the Stadium of Light will be of his rapport with them, lifeblood of the club.

When Sunderland beat Newcastle 3-0 at St James’ Park – sorry, on one of the occasions Sunderland beat NUFC 3-0 at SJP – Craig, suspended for the game, was captured on YouTube taking the Metro home and leading jubilant supporters in a Paolo Di Canio chant.

Read more

The Brazil World Cup: Salut! Sunderland begins search for ‘second team’

by
From Campo Retro's World Cup selection
From Campo Retro’s World Cup selection**

An extraordinary league season is over. Time to turn our thoughts to the World Cup, which opens at the Arena de São Paulo on June 12 when Brazil play Croatia and ends with the July 13 final at the Estádio do Maracanã in Rio de Janeiro.

Sunderland have very little direct interest this time. Sweden, the Irish Republic and Scotland – countries that would have taken our players to Brazil – are not involved. Adam Johnson failed to make the England squad, there was no place for our men, borrowed or bought, in the Argentina, Spanish, Greek or Italian squads.

Read more

Wembley and Safe: (8) Borini stars in Keir’s ratings for a crazy season

by
Jake is sleeping soundly
Jake is sleeping soundly

The Wembley and Safe series has produced some excellent reads but even good things, maybe especially good things, must come to an end. Pete Sixsmith’s series-closer has arrived so, unless any dawdlers who really, really meant to write something do so pretty smartish, they’ll find themselves left on the harbourside, the boat duly missed. Here are young Keir Bradwell‘s season-long ratings. His thoughts have been a refreshing addition to Salut! Sunderland’s reflections on the mysteries of life and we very much hope he returns with more of the same next season …

Read more

Wembley and Safe. Some words for the fans: (7) dignity, passion, belief …

by
Jake is sleeping soundly
Jake is sleeping soundly

The series is winding down. Pete Sixsmith, whose match reports have brightened these pages from the earliest times of Salut! Sunderland, will deliver his end-of-season verdict and that will be that. As Monsieur Salut returns from his little break in Sorrento – ‘Borini, Mannone, Giaccherini you said?,’ a young waiter trilled, admiring my command of Italian, ‘you’re a Sunderland supporter!’ – there may be just one more to fit in after this before Sixer has his say. Here’s Peter Lynn, aka Wrinkly Pete, with his own mixture of highs and lows, superbly pinpointing the magnificent efforts of the supporters all season long …

Read more

The WAY awards: Tottenham, Kidderminister, Man City snapping at Norwich, Hull, Man Utd heels

by
From Campo Retro's SAFC-related tops
From the SAFC-related tops of the WAY awards co-sponsor Campo Retro

“If the score stay like this …..,” commentators are fond of saying during the last or last-but-one games of any season.

Well, if the scores remain as they are in judging for Salut! Sunderland‘s annual Who are You? awards, the winner would be Raich Carter Junior (Hull City) with Melissa Rudd (Norwich City) just behind and Pete Molyneux (Man Utd) in third place. Click on any of those three names to see the interviews that made them contenders.

Read more