In the piece I have just written for ESPN, and which now appears at the Sunderland pages, I began by …
For the dress rehearsal at the Etihad, it’s back to reward-in-heaven mode. Have a go, but just for fun. Anyone who is waiting for a mug won or promised in the recent past is asked to be patient; they’ll be on the way soon.
We have ever-presents at this site, either every home game or virtually every game home and away. Sixer gets to development squad games, too, and would doubtless turn out even if the Under 7s were playing away to Rhyl.
Not all of us can claim similar goodliness. Some live so far away that the North East of England, and the towns and cities Sunderland visit, are a world apart. Others are prevented by a variety of work, domestic and health factors from attending games.
I may have used that headline before. I hope the last bit – “not 5-1” – is not only right …
How many times have I lain awake in far-off parts, mobile phone by the pillow set to silent to avoid annoying Mme Salut but ready to be consulted when Pete Sixsmith’s texts arrive with news of a stream of Sunderland goals?
I’d love to see Gus Poyet put out a winning team but I’d love even more for that winning team to be drawn heavily from players not always involved in Premier action.
No rocket science needed. Avoid defeat and we’re at Wembley. Lose 1-0 and we’re out if it stays that way in extra time..
That is only one-goal defeat that sends us straight out. A 2-1 defeat after extra time means penalties while 3-2, 4-3, 5-4 etc means we win on away goals. Correct me if I am wrong in my understanding of the Capital One Cup rules.
The other possibilities are that we win again – unlikely but possible – or they breeze past us as if we weren’t there, somewhat less unlikely.
In his otherwise exemplary Southampton “Who are You?” interview, Sam Dobson – answering questions before the Nicola Cortese resignation – said: “… most of this Against Modern Football stuff is a load of rubbish. A lot of the things that people moan about today have always existed.”
Except, perhaps, the 1245 kickoffs for games between clubs from opposite ends of the country. This one means Sam, an ever—present at Saints games home and away, that will see him up as some ungodly hour to make the trek north.
No fanfare, no fuss, no prize. You can bid for Eric Bowers’s Salut! Sunderland in a charity auction at another post – West Ham gone, Man Utd faltering. Forget formalities: Man City-SAFC final – but this is the just-for-fun Guess the Score for Fulham vs SAFC.
After Sunderland’s decent Christmas, no one guessing the score versus Aston Villa saw what happened coming.
The losers were not only SAFC. The dispiriting performance was at odds with the optimistic predictions so donations promised by readers to Help the Heroes, the British Heart Foundation or Water Aid came to nought.
I am sure Eric Bowers, donor of his latest Guess the Score prize mug, would want the idea to continue until someone wins and hands over a little dosh to his or her chosen cause.
So have a go – whoever you support – at guessing the score in Sunday’s FA Cup game at home to Carlisle United.