Everton

SA’s Everton essay: fantastic (with things to sing when you’re winnin’)

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

John McCormick writes: Petula’s singing quietly in the background as I finish my beer. I’ll shortly be going to bed, where I’ll hum “I believe” until, at midnight, Radio 4 lets the sound of Big Ben ring out with: Jer-main-De-foe, Jou-nas-Ka-boul; Kha-zri-Ko-ne, Ca-at-er-mole.

Tomorrow, I’ll wake up to Oklahoma’s “Oh what a beautiful morning”, which will be followed by Louis Armstrong and “it’s a wonderful world” but, really, I’ll be waiting for Stevie Wonder and “Overjoyed”, which will accompany Pete Sixsmith’s report.

But that’s tomorrow. Before then, after Petula finishes and before Big Ben begins, we have  “The Letter”:

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Sixer’s Sevens: Sunderland 3-0 Everton. King Kone turns striker, mission accomplished

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Jake: 'just let me celebrate, man'
Jake: ‘just let me celebrate, man’

Colin Randall writes: We did it as we all, er, knew we would. And despite allowing Everton a fair amount of possession, we did it in style, with en emphatic scoreline and a clean sheet that rarely looked under threat. Patrick van Aanholt’s free kick left Joel Robles hopelessly wrong footed in the Everton goal and three minutes later Wearside met paradise as Lamine Kone blasted the first of two poacher’s goals into the net. Kone and Kaboul – who was very close dos coring, too – were towers of strength at the back, too. Never forgetting the incredible job Sam Allardyce has done. Another sell-out crowd got its proper reward: Premier League football maintained. Pete Sixsmith‘s considered account comes later; this is where his seven-word instant verdict appears …

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Raise the roof tonight as Sunderland prepares to honour two sons

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Jake: 'get your own honours tonight, Lads'
Jake: ‘get your own honours tonight, Lads’

It may seem an odd thing to juxtapose final words of encouragement to the Lads, hours from tonight’s potential season-saver, and richly deserved honours about to be bestowed on two of Sunderland’s finest.

But think about what Jimmy Montgomery and John Hays have done for the club, the city and the region and it becomes the most natural mixing of themes imaginable.

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The Lars Word: acclaim from a big Sam fan

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EvertonHwidescreen

As Lars Knutsen says, the season’s not over yet, writes John McCormick. But we’re all walking just that bit taller and smiling just that bit wider. The reason, according to Lars, is that we have a manager who is not just up to the job of keeping us up but who is also capable of taking us forward …

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Words of caution ahead of SAFC-Everton: beware the ides of May

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Pete Sixsmith: will he be toasting another season or drowning his sorrows?
Pete Sixsmith: will he be toasting another season or drowning his sorrows?

Pete Sixsmith‘s been there, says John McCormick. He’s done it. He knows the season’s not over until the final whistle blows, and that the gods of football and fortune love to mock us. So join his prayer for what we all want tomorrow night, admire his epic support of the club through thin, thin and the occasional thick – but also heed his warnings and just stop sending tweets to that bastion of good taste, the True Geordie …

And while we’re on, there’s a book signing at the corner of the Central Library occupied by our friends from the SAFC Fans Museum (I really think they need an apostrophe to make it Fans’), between 3pm and 5pm. Nick Barnes and Gary Bennett, whose wonderful BBC Radio Newcastle commentary makes up for stop-start internet streams for exiles, will be there. Sixer will be there, too, which is fitting since we would impartially say he contributed by far the best chapter …

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Sunderland v Everton ‘Who are You’: a Toffeeman deliciously expecting SAFC survival

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Lyndon Lloyd: our Everton guest
Lyndon Lloyd: our Everton guest

Two more Who are You?s to go, including this one, and the judges are already busy choosing the best of the season for our annual awards. Can Lyndon Lloyd*, our Everton hot seat occupant, gain late support from our panel? Have a read of his interview, with thoughtful comments on his team and ours – as you’d expect from someone who runs ToffeeWeb.com – and then pray his prediction for the game turns out to be correct. After all that, settle down if you can for what could, just could, be a great Wednesday to be a Sunderland supporter…

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Sunderland v Everton Guess the Score. Win to make Watford a party

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Jake: 'give us another burst of pride, Lads'
Jake: ‘give us another burst of pride, Lads’

Monsieur Salut says: win on Wednesday and the Lads should be given the freedom of Sunderland, whether or not that still entitles holders to drive their flocks of sheep across Wearmouth bridge. It wouldn’t make a bad season great but it would give us all proper reason to believe the future can be brighter (yes I know) and enable us to breathe freely on Sunday. Read on to see how you can win the prize …

Let nobody be too quick to count chickens. There’s still scope for snatching misery from the jaws of bliss.

Saturday’s outstanding comeback to beat Chelsea, coupled with defeat for Norwich and a draw at Villa for Newcastle, gave us great hope. And that hope that can be turned into reality on Wednesday night. As every schoolboy should know, Sunderland stay up if they win.

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NUFC and Middlesbrough over there, Bolton and Blackpool over here

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John McCormick:
John McCormick
rambling around on a weekend

We might have another blank weekend but it’s only two weeks since my last relegation watch  so, even though things are hotting up, what with Norwich drawing with Citeh and Rafa Benitez taking over the horse punchers after the dismally drawn out sacking of Steve McLaren (and this in the week Mr. Ashley was warned he might be held in contempt for his failure to meet MPs who want to discuss the treatment of his employees), it’s too early to go back there.

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