A rash tackle in a dangerous position and we’re 1-0 down. Another near the end and it’s 3-0. Sandwiched in between a clinical finish means that this year we leave the Etihad empty handed. Pete Sixsmith was there and his verdict is here.
Martin’s Musings from Manchester City: disappointment after three minutes that lasted another 90
Martin O’Neill highlights Cuellar’s challenge as the turning point of the game. That it came after only three minutes in such a dangerous position, is something no doubt he and his backroom staff will discuss with the team. Whether or not it was necessary at all will also be considered. Of just as much concern will surely be the ineffectiveness of the midfield and the lack of goalscoring opportunities created. Manchester City have strength in depth and a wealth of talent at their disposal but despite the endeavours of the Lads on the pitch in red and white, City were worthy winners. In his personal letter to Monsieur Salut the manager expresses his post match feelings …
Predictions: Sunderland, Citeh, Newcastle, Man Utd, Wigan, Everton. How Will They Fare?
Stephen Goldsmith writes: my inability to receive e-mails appears to be improving as only Jake’s predictions are still missing. If …
Salut’s Week: Manchester City opposing view was ‘the best we’ve ever had’
That should of course have been a question in the headline for our occasional – ie not necessarily weekly – look back at the week just gone. The accolade was awarded by Jeremy Robson, who writes here regularly both as a contributor and reader, to a fine set of answers from Simon Curtis, a City fan and blogger based in Lisbon who paused long enough from the serious business of sampling fine Portuguese wines to give his thoughts about our two clubs and today’s game. Others commenting on Simon’s responses to the Salut! Sunderland questionnaire were also full of praise. Must be the quality of the questions …
Book of Mark: rash optimism – ‘Man City? We can beat this lot’
A warm welcome to Mark Ferguson, editor of the Labour List and a passionate Sunderland supporter. In this, his first column (we will sort out images and the like later), he takes a huge risk of acquiring egg on face – but, as Pete Sixsmith said in his interview for the Bluemoon site, what’s the point of going or caring unless you believe you can win? …
McCormick’s Craic: forward with football’s past
John McCormick takes another entertaining look at football history, relatively recent on this occasion as he compares the evidence of reruns of games from the early 1980s with what we see these days. The headline seemed right but is adapted from an old Battlefield Band album title and slogan (Forward to Scotland’s Past), also dating from the 80s …
Salut! Reflections: Fletcher for Scotland, Bramble’s form and Villa’s Darren bloody Bent
Stephen Goldsmith writes: I can’t believe I’m about to venture into Darren Bent territory once more. Well actually, I can. He simply doesn’t make it easy for us Sunderland fans not to. There are two developments directly involving Sunderland to discuss on Salut! Reflections this week, with Darren Bent being another. Let’s get to it…
And what we told Manchester City
We went to one Man City site for views on Saturday’s match- and there’s broad agreement it produced a great piece – and another came to us. Bluemoon put Pete Sixsmith – star of Salut! Sunderland, the teaching profession and the admirable By Far The Greatest Team site – on the spot and got a loyal prediction of a Sunderland win …
Manchester City v Sunderland: a winnable game, a special ‘Guess the Score’
As the final whistle is blown on Saturday, Monsieur Salut may well prove to have been absurdly optimistic with the headline that drew you here.
The Lars Word: great centre backs from King Charlie to John O’Shea
Lars Knutsen, Sunderland exile in the USA, praises the contributions of our centre-back regulars to the unbeaten start to the new season and looks back at the rock-like figures who played for SAFC in the days when there was one in the middle and he was called the centre-half …
John O’Shea in action vs old mates: image by ‘vagueonthehow’