John McCormick writes: I could get used to this. Sitting at home with the bairn laughing, me laughing, and looking forward to match of the day. It’s aal reet, it’s better than aal reet.
I might even have a beer or two between now and then. First, though, I’m intercepting Colin’s post to bring you the letter that Sam has written to him, and perhaps to one or two others
John McCormick writes: Ed posted that his lift to the game had been delayed because of the snow. I hope he got there in time for the start.
Sam’s transfer dealings appear to be paying off and we might, just might, be in with a chance.
What does Pete Sixsmith think? We’ll have to wait for his more considered opinion but now, while we’re still exulting over our first home win against Man Utd since Micky Gray, here’s his instant seven-word verdict:
With our regular Boro-supporting visitor Smoggie in mind, this is essentially a repeat of the SAFC v MUFC ‘Who are You?’ (see our exchange at https://safc.blog/2016/02/manchester-united-who-are-you-maybe-newcastle-not-safc-for-the-drop/). If you have already read it, feel free to move on. But Smoggie noticed that while Monsieur Salut had conscientiously chopped away at assorted references to ‘s**t’ and ‘p***’, he had overlooked a stray ‘f***ing’. That meant, as it does in the slightly odd world of the web, that prudishness on the part of A N Other stopped the otherwise excellent Q+A reaching much of an audience.
Which would have been shame as we received a great set of replies from Chas Banks*, a committee man with MUDSA, the Manchester United Disabled Supporters’ Association. He’s Old Trafford born, not remotely a Glazers man and even followed the breakaway FC United of Manchester for a year until he found the just couldn’t give up MUFC. His disability is a result of ‘a weird thing called Transverse Myelitis’ which he contracted in 1996 and is tricky to diagnose. In those days, waiting lists to see a neurologist were running at around 22 months. A ‘natural organiser’ with a history of pop music management – see the Teenage Fanclub above and the Pixies below – Chas has plenty to say, most of it spot-on (we’d part company on the cheating question).
Chas had us down for relegation in his initial response but changed his mind a little after watching Newcastle at Everton on the TV.
So here we are again with Chas Banks, and – promoted to greater prominence – the bands he’s been involved with …
Chas: ‘See if your readers can guess which trophy is the heaviest and which is the lightest’
Another Who are You?, another great set of replies. Step forward Chas Banks*, a committee man with MUDSA, the Manchester United Disabled Supporters’ Association. He’s Old Trafford born, not remotely a Glazers man and even followed the breakaway FC United of Manchester for a year until he found the just couldn’t give up MUFC. His disability is a result of ‘a weird thing called Transverse Myelitis’ which he contracted in 1996 and is tricky to diagnose. In those days, waiting lists to see a neurologist were running at around 22 months. A ‘natural organiser’ with a history of pop music management, Chas has plenty to say, most of it spot-on (we’d part company on the cheating question).
Chas had us down for relegation in his initial response but changed his mind a little after watching Newcastle at Everton on the TV …
OK, we usually offer a few random thoughts on the forthcoming game as we invite readers – whoever they support – to Guess the Score.
Cue a break with tradition.
For this week only, our illustrator Jake provides not only the image but the only four words that really concern Sunderland supporters. He repeats them many times, but there are still, essentially, just the four words.
Monsieur Salut writes: It is not often that Salut! Sunderland‘s parent (or should that be geriatric?) site Salut draws more hits.
It got close today because of the magic words in the headline (world-renowned managers of football clubs that have become global brands).
There wasn’t much chance of injecting a link to Sunderland in the Pep Guardiola profile I wrote for The National (decent, joined-up writing paper published in Abu Dhabi), though I considered mentioning his conversation with Boro’s Spanish manager Aitor Karaoke about life in England – though what would he know, being in Middlesbrough?.
But here it is, just in case anyone cares. My profile of Louis van Gaal, when he was appointed manager of Manchester United, still attracts loads of visitors to francesalut.com. Today, I expressed the hope that Pep is a little more mature in his dealings with the press because fabulously rewarded men and women in very public roles simply have to learn the law of rough and smooth …
Many readers will recall Martin Bates‘s welcome contributions in words and pictures from Toronto when the pre-season tour reached Canada. From pure Wearside stock, Martin is Sunderland daft and anyone befriending him on Facebook will have sensed his great excitement at starting a trip back home, picking up tickets for the Man City, Liverpool and Man Utd games and soaking up the atmosphere and beer of the city where his roots are found. This, we hope, is the first of at least two slices of his back-to-Sunderland diary …
Monsieur Salut writes: on Friday I found myself at a London event sitting next to one of the world’s least likely Newcastle United fans, Marwan J Al Sarkal, chief executive officer of the Sharjah Investment and Development Authority (Sharjah, as every schoolboy should know, being next door to Dubai and one of the the seven emirates of the UAE). That Geordie Nation of theirs clearly knows no bounds. Marwan was good company all the same and smiled, with a hint of envy, when I showed him my ticket for Sunday. I can honestly say I wish he had been there with me to see our resounding (at least by the scoreline) victory.
Pete Sixsmith was still beaming when he headed to Hetton for a big test for the Under 21s. Don’t be too hard on him about the slightly grainy photo of pals at the game (M Salut has only basic enhancement tools) – he insists he was ‘playing with a new phone’ …
