The build-up to Sunderland v Arsenal hasn’t been bad.
Gambles’ Rambles: recalling another spelling test Harry Redknapp, aged 2+, failed
It was while waiting to be released from the Riverside after a hard-fought but deserved win against the Boro that Ken Gambles learned, thanks to the scoreboard, that Fabio Capello had resigned. It set him thinking …
Sunderland, the play wowing Paris, to be St Etienne le film
It is a great feeling to be changing lines on the Metro in Paris and find a poster for Sunderland the play, currently running at the Petit Théâtre de Paris, staring you in the face. Equal billing with Calamity Jane – Jane, not Steve, you’ll note – which is being presented at the bigger (ie no Petit) Théâtre de Paris in the same building in the 9th arrondissement.
The Boro Soapbox: Sess sees off the Smoggies
“Disaster is around the corner, it is,” says Martin O’Neill, tongue in cheek maybe (or maybe not). “It’s lurking. But that’s probably why I’m a Sunderland fan, absolutely, I couldn’t have chosen a more appropriate club.” At the Riverside, we delayed the nasty change in fortunes, setting up a second home game with Arsenal, dangerous but beatable. Pete Sixsmith looks at the 2-1 win at Boro and praises lively opponents as well as our own quietly effective team …
The SAFC v Arsenal Who are You?: ‘Arsène must go’
Who is she? The toughest part of introducing our Arsenal volunteer, Clemency Burton-Hill, is deciding where to start. Musician, actress, political writer, novelist, television (BBC2’s The Culture Show, for instance) and radio presenter. I think we will just let Clemency* speak for herself* on an impossibly packed professional life that requires – allows? – her to live in New York, work just about anywhere and spend free moments reflecting sadly on the end of two eras: Highbury and M Wenger. And this weekend, she must work out how, finding herself in Venezuela, she will keep tabs on the first of the coming Sunderland v Arsenal games …
Martin’s Musings on winning at Boro: ‘no tap-in goals around here’
Martin O’Neill‘s post-match email from the Riverside describes a game we always seemed likely to win but in which we struggled to assert ourselves. And two classy finishes (three if we’re fair to Lukas Jutkiewicz, assisted as he was by crazy defending) …
Sixer’s Sevens: Middlesbrough 1 SAFC 2
This is where Pete Sixsmith captures the glory and shame, hope and despair, excitement and ennui of the Sunderland matchday experience. When, rarely, Pete is absent or delayed, a supersub does it for him and the seven-word verdict is preceded by an asterisk. Pete’s full analysis of the game will usually appear within a day or two.
Beat Middlesbrough, overhaul Newcastle but cling to regional common ground
If you grow up in the North East, there is a very good chance that your family will be spread around the region so that aunties, uncles, siblings, cousins and the rest end up supporting different football teams.
Late result as Stoke lose appeal on Huth: Pulis 0 Decency 1
As a matter of record, Salut! Sunderland notes with satisfaction that Stoke have lost their appeal against Robert Huth’s red card. He collects the standard three-match ban but avoids the extra match the FA disciplinary committee adds for “frivolous” appeals.
Boro v SAFC Who are You?: ‘a rivalry so strong’
What a relief to move on from Robert Huth, Tony Pulis and the Britannia’s frozen wastes. Can the O’Neill factor work its wonders even in banana skin territory? We will know tomorrow night when we attempt to amend for a tepid display in the first game against Middlesbrough. Enter Iain Lazenby*, great name for a Boro fan, conqueror of Kilimanjaro (took his dad’s scarf to the summit) and once chairman of Middlesbrough Supporters South. He loved our previous interviews with Harry Pearson and Alan Comfort** and was happy to do the honours for the replay …