The Salut! Sunderland jury has spoken.
And the verdict in our 2012-2013 “Who are You?” awards – the honours presented each season for the best interviews with opposing supporters before their teams play ours – ended up, by pure coincidence, as a final between Wigan Athletic and Manchester City.
With the same outcome …
The sad, early death of Brian Greenhoff took Ken Gambles back half a century to the makeshift pitch on South Yorkshire wasteland where the future star paraded his precocious skills. Greenhoff went on to play more than 290 times for Manchester United and Leeds United and 18 times for England. He ended his career as player-coach at Rochdale. Ken’s game was restricted to university, local and finally veterans football. And, of course, following Sunderland. For Ken, reflecting on boyhood pals who did make the grade and those who did not, the phrase that comes to mind is ‘they also serve who only stand and watch’ …
One of the more unusual side-effects of growing old is that whenever you read an obituary,the first focus seems to be on how old the deceased was
Older than you and it is only natural; younger than you and it becomes a bit disturbing. When I therefore read that Brian Greenhoff had died on May 22 having barely reached 60, it was a double cause for reflection.
This, we now acknowledge, was an unjust and irrational assessment.
Pete Sixsmith asks the question, but the answer is anyone’s guess on this bleak day for Sunderland supporters ..
This is where Pete Sixsmith records his instant verdict, in seven words, on each Sunderland game. He judged this match beyond us even at one-down and missed the end to scamper back to Shildon in hopes of seeing Wembley-bound FA Vase glory (3-1 up, but only level with Tunbridge Wells on aggregate, soon after HT; perhaps someone can post a comment updating that little side issue). As for the Stadium of Light, it is probably true that putting loyalty and passion aside, few of us seriously expected to win and only a handful really thought a draw likely (whatever scorelines we predicted). The display was determined enough, with some bright interludes, but once again lacked quality and threat. We cannot blame bad luck (Bramble’s deflected own goal; Kevin Friend’s excessive respect for United as witnessed by harsh booking for N’Diaye, dodgy free kicks and no card at all when Young scythed down Sess). Prepare for a gloomy and/or nervous few weeks unless you’re a United fan uncorking the Premier title champagne or glorying in SAFC’s ominous predicament …
Hear the pre-match SALUT! SUNDERLAND Podcast: https://safc.blog/2013/03/salut-podcast-man-utd-preview-and-craic-with-ex-player-darren-williams/
This may be a controversial view but I like Scott the Red from the Republik of Mancunia website. We have a healthy intersite relationship – and a healthy difference of opinion on Poznan. I believe Manchester United fans are babyish to bang on about mildly funny (for us and neutrals), mildly annoying (as it should have been for them) antics at the end of last season. He thinks it is the height of common sense to be so aggrieved about such a trivial issue that he’s gone from quite liking SAFC to wanting us relegated. It would, of course, be equally babyish to deny him his right to such views. Scott came calling ahead of SAFC v MUFC to get Pete Sixsmith‘s thoughts on Poznan, the game, life in general …
Stephen Goldsmith writes: We have a former Black Cat, Darren Williams, discusssing Sunderland with us and ESPN sports writer and editor Dom Raynor. Get on it here: https://soundcloud.com/wise-men-say/salut-podcast-episode-4
Guess the score in Sunderland v Manchester United and you could win a life-changing prize or, if we’re clean out of stock, a mug …
Xuana does not know it – she was only one this week – but her dad is hoping against better judgement for big things this weekend from the reason for that scarf.
Dom Raynor*, the editor of ESPNFC.com and therefore Monsieur Salut and Pete Sixsmith’s boss when Salut! Sunderland goes on tour to his pages, is also an avid Manchester United supporter who passes all sorts of arbitrary Salut tests of entitlement to follow this or that club. He studied in the North East so knows all about football in our region (well Darlo, anyway) and shares Sixer’s Rugby League passion. Dom talks about a Sir Alex genius in which stage boorishness and dewy eyes are part of the package, accepts the Poznan row was daft, worries about Martin O’Neill’s managership and drools over Cantona’s lob vs SAFC. Prepare for a cracking read (does that qualify me for a pay rise?) …
John McCormick writes: I was supposed to be enjoying the onset of Spring in the Yorkshire Dales. It wasn’t quite like that, and the internet connection I had was also short on promise. Never mind, I’ve negotiated the weather and the M6 and am once again able to bring you my thoughts.
In this latest instalment of our new How Dare We? series, rather than bombard you with dodgy statistics and contentious argument, I’m making a case for referees and rules. How dare we? you might ask, given the going rate for fines when half a Premiership team abuses a ref is less than the income from 1,000 spectators at a single match. It’s just part part of the service, ladies and gentlemen, which we spare no expense in bringing to you without fear or favour.