Duncan Watmore

Sixer’s West Ham Soapbox: late pressing by Irons brings another defeat

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Malcolm Dawson writes……….Pete Sixsmith is used to getting up early, what with next door but one’s dog to walk and the papers to deliver to the great and good of Shildon, so catching the coach to West Ham was no hardship. Watching the match might have been but for 94 minutes it looked like he could have been celebrating a 50 per cent improvement in our points total on the long journey home. That he wasn’t isn’t a novelty, but still he goes along most weeks to bring you his insightful views of how the Lads performed. Here’s what he rattled off before journeying forth to take in the Under 23s’ match this lunchtime.

westhamsoapbox

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Sixer’s Soapbox: Moyes stews as Sunderland get burned by Middlesbrough

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Malcolm Dawson writes…..I nearly didn’t go today. I’ve got a bad back. But my lift arrived early so I struggled into my socks and shoes and did what Lamine Kone didn’t do and trekked along to the Stadium of Light. I’ve moved a row back this season but the faces from last year were all there and we spent the pre-match minutes inevitably talking about how the events of the close season have put us back into a familiar frame of mind for our first home game of the season. Of the starting XI only Don Vito, PvA and Defoe were left from the line up which had put Norwich, Chelsea and Everton to the sword and ensured another season of Premiership struggle. It wasn’t supposed to be like this. We were supposed to be consolidating ourselves as a top half side. Instead we lined up with kids and other clubs’ reserve team cast offs. My GP has ordered a whole set of blood tests, I’m due an X-Ray in the week to see if he can determine the cause of my pain and has threatened me with a prostate examination if nothing is forthcoming from those. (I think he’s a closet Mag!) In the meantime I’ll let Pete Sixsmith describe his own painful experience (and I don’t mean getting through the multiple roadworks on the A690.)

BOROsoapbox

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SA’s essay: we can enjoy the weekend, not to mention the journey back.

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Jake's take on Big Sam
Jake’s take on Big Sam

John McCormick writes: this was surely an “I was there” game, only I wasn’t, I had to make do with the TV. A nervy start had me hiding behind the settee and I found it difficult to watch, even at 2-0 up, but I persevered and managed to relax when young Duncan scored. What must it have been like for yet another magnificent away crowd, and for the players and manager to win in front of them?

Here’s what Sam has to say in a letter he composed and sent to Colin (and maybe a couple of others) before getting back on the bus

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Wrinkly Pete, and why he hates the loan system

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Peter Lynn: What does he think of N'Doye?
Peter Lynn: I wonder what he think of N’Doye?

John McCormick writes: Another cup weekend means we can take a break from the “Guess the score” and “Who are you” features which signal our build up to games. We have a chance to look at some other aspects of our club and of football in general.

Which brings me to Wrinkly Pete and a thought producing opinion on the loan system. It was written before we beat Man United. I wonder if that game will have made Pete want to add Dame N’Doye to the list.

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SAFC 6-0 Newcastle. Seven in a row, after a fashion

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From the excellent Chris Young of the Sunderland Echo comes the heartening news that Duncan Watmore scored three times as Sunderland walloped Newcastle 6-0 in the secret friendly.

Seven-in-a-row? Of course not. Of no importance? Debatable but yes, if you support NUFC – though even some of their fans are joking about Steve McClaren telling the TV afterwards he was proud of his lads’ “fantastic” performance and was just disappointed at the result.

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