Sounds like one of those grim Daily Mail confessionals its female feature writers seem to be obliged by contract to write. In fact, it’s our own esteemed deputy editor, Malcolm Dawson, explaining a momentous decision. Malcolm remains a fervent Sunderland supporter, as he’s been all his life. He’s still deputy editor, thank heavens, and he’s even information officer for the Heart of England branch of the SAFCSA, which he helped to found, despite having moved back to Co Durham. Let him explain what he is not …
The furore regarding the appointment of Paolo Di Canio as manager caused many left wing thinking Sunderland fans to examine their principles and question their willingness to renew their season cards. But not me.
The mauling at Villa Park has cast a black cloud over what should be a great week of remembrance. But we need to forget it if we can, at least until Monday night. For now that we have reached May 2013, it is time for Salut! Sunderland to join the extended SAFC family and diaspora in commemorating a remarkable event in the club’s mighty history. Mighty as it is, 1973 did not begin as a year of glory. On May 5, exactly 40 years ago this coming Sunday, it became one when Bob Stokoe led his second-tier team to Wembley and came away with the FA Cup after humbling top-drawer Leeds United.
There will be plenty of articles to read, memories to relive, glories (for younger readers) to imagine. But let us start with this …
Back in 1973, Jeanette Coyle was a Sunderland-mad teenager with a part-time job at Roker Park. Her father Bill was a well known and respected local footballer either side of the Second World War, having played for Darlington and West Auckland as well as a host of other Northern League clubs as a guest during the years of conflict.
Jeanette became friends with many of the Sunderland squad and has her own special memories of May 5th 1973. Here in conversation with deputy editor Malcolm Dawson, she talks about the build up to the great day. Her experience of Cup Final day itself will follow shortly, in the second of this two part reminiscence …
In the final part of Salut! Sunderland‘s mini series looking back at Martin O’Neill’s first year at the Stadium of Light (read the first four via the home page) Pete Sixsmith recalls Decembers of the past, one when the Lads put in a performance to remember, helped in no small part by an unsung Frenchman, another when a feisty Irishman called it a day and finally one which saw the arrival of another saviour, this time from the northern part of the Emerald Isle.
Sixer gives his thoughts on yer man’s first 12 months …
In the third of our series looking back at Martin O’Neill’s first term in office, (visit the home page salutsunderland.com to see the first two) we welcome a new contributor, Gareth Barker who is visited by the ghosts of Christmas past and of Christmas yet to come. Pete Sixsmith will, in his own inimitable style, round off our offerings later today but before that let Gareth explain why Martin O’Neill may just be the gift we always wanted.
Martin O’Neill has been in charge for twelve months now and Salut! Sunderland contributors have their own thoughts on the success or otherwise of the Ulsterman’s time at the helm. Malcolm Dawson looks at what is going wrong, argues that a rethink is necessary and weighs up the O’Neill In/Out arguments …
Malcolm Dawson poses the question: is this the sorriest squad in the history of Sunderland imports? One possible riposte: it would be far easier to select a truly awful team of homegrown players who have turned out for us over the years, easier still if Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland qualified as homegrown. See whether you agree with Malcolm’s choice or feel he has been harsh on some and overlooked others …
When Sunderland fans debate the strengths and weaknesses of Steve Bruce, one aspect of his management career which never fails to divide opinion is his success in bringing overseas players into his sides.
Many point to the players he signed who have succeeded in English football, others to those so-called cut price players who have ultimately proved expensive flops.
Bruce himself concedes that some of his better buys, such as Charles N’Zogbia and Maynor Figueroa took time to adapt to English conditions. Some settled in immediately, whilst others sunk without trace.
Those currently calling for a reappraisal of his time at Sunderland point to the players he has brought in on permanent and part-time deals and question his success in this area: Angeleri, Da Silva, Riveros hardly ever on the team sheet; Mensa – injury prone; Muntari – unfit and costly; Elmohamady – limited ability.
This got me off on a train of thought, hardly original but one which passed a few idle moments. What did I consider to be the worst team of imports Sunderland AFC has signed since the advent of the Premier League?
I set myself a few criteria. Firstly, they had to be permanent signings, not loan players. Secondly they would not be young players brought in with a view to future development such as Jean-Paul Mvoto but heralded as the finished article. Next, I would consider value for money, initial outlay, wages and money recouped balanced against the contribution to the cause.
For our fourth end-of-season review, we turn to Malcolm Dawson, who has written some cracking articles for Salut! Sunderland and is warmly welcomed here whenever he chooses to write. Looking back, he salutes the quality play he has seen from SAFC and deplores the more dire performances, often against modest opposition; looking forward, he hopes we are not about to settle for mid-table obscurity …
It is hard to be dispassionate when talking about football and in particular about the the club you support. Witness the ire displayed by several Villa fans on this site when it was suggested that maybe Sunderland are a bigger club or the responses of some Arsenal supporters, when it was intimated that they are the sinners, as much as the sinned against. Witness too the back and forth “banter” between some of our regular contributors at the suggestion that Steve Bruce is or isn’t the answer to our prayers.
