Looking beyond the disappointment of yet another failure to take three points off our nearest rivals on home soil, Pete Sixsmith sees a disturbing lack of initiative and quality from the boys in red and white. Judging by the grumblings of the fans leaving the Stadium of Light on Sunday, he is not alone. Here he presents his thoughts in his inimitable style.
Can’t really argue with anything that the manager has to say in his after match verdict, delivered personally to M. Salut. His thoughts echo those of the majority of red and white fans leaving the ground and on the radio phone ins. The lack of penetration and the failure to threaten the opposition goal on more than the odd occasion is something that the coaching staff must address and address quickly. That it took a player in lime green to put the ball in the net will not be lost on them. His word of thanks to the supporters will be appreciated but won’t distract from their concerns. Over to the Boss.
Martin O’Neill delivers his post-match e-mail verdict
In the end we had Calamity Williamson to thank, his cynical block on Saha giving Larsson the chance to send over the cross from which that deadly O’Shea/Ba combination paid off. Sunderland did not, truthfully, play well enough to win even after Tiote rightly saw red for his reckless, unnecessary and career-threatening studs-up lunge at Steven Fletcher. Second-half possession made the equaliser about right, and we’d have taken James McClean’s late strike going in instead of just wide. But Pete Sixsmith‘s seven-word verdict below is spot-on and Monsieur Salut was left wondering whether he’d have been better off watching his daughter Nathalie score a hat-trick as Old Actonians Ladies hammered Maidstone 6-1 …
One last spot of fun before the real business starts.
Enter the Newcastle United defender whose Mastermind subject would be “falling over in the box”, Steven Taylor, a shoe-in for the role of pantomime villain.
Stephen Goldsmith writes: Let’s all be honest here. As my weekly e-mails float out in an attempt to gather people’s predictions and thoughts, enthusiasm isn’t always, shall we say, bouncing from the computer (or crap phone) screen when I read the replies. As the two main sources of our predictions – Sunderland and Newcastle – meet this weekend in what will surely be some sort of love fest played all in the right spirits, asking people for another two predictions seemed pointless. Especially when I annoy everyone and ask for a summary. This week, I wouldn’t blame anyone if they had simply replied:
Stephen Goldsmith writes: This is the second time Danny Rose has appeared in a Salut! Reflections feature in the space of about three weeks. Both topics are based around Danny trying to do what he enjoys the most – play football. The issues raised, however, branch and contrast away from each other in startling fashion.
Regulars here will recognise the nom de guerre UTD111 as belonging to a Newcastle-supporting occasional visitor to the comments section of postings concerning our two clubs. It seemed logical to invite Mick Gray – the other North-eastern Mick(ey) Gray and the man behind the username – to step forward and take the “Who are You?” chair ahead of the Wear-Tyne derby. Mick runs the UTD111 site and came up with some great answers …
Another in the occasional series, and it is open to supporters of both sides – and of neither – to enter.
Guess the correct score in Sunday’s Wear-Tyne derby – posting your prediction before kickoff time – and if you are the first to get it right, Salut! Sunderland will send you a Martin O’Neill mug, the design suitably amended if a Newcastle supporter wins.
