From our main sponsor soccerpro.com’s range. ‘If only I could have that,’ sighs the Man Utd candidate
Few outside Hull – apart, maybe, from Brian Kerrigan, a former colleague of mine in Abu Dhabi who is from Cape Breton and knows of Humberside only because it was the birthplace of his favourite guitarist (Mick Ronson, if memory serves) – expected them to beat Arsenal in the FA Cup final. They got close, but not close enough.
But what about the real honours of the 2013-2014 season, the WAYS, or Salut! SunderlandWho are You? awards for 2013-14?
Jake: ‘save yourself from a lifetime of misery, Keir’
John McCormick writes: Keir Bradwell’s very harsh on himself in comparing his lateness this week with the players’ performance. He’s doing it for love and without pay, they aren’t doing it at all and are getting a fortune. You might disagree with some of these judgements, in which case you’d probably be an American called Jozy or one of his friends. Without further ado, it’s over to Keir
John McCormick writes: M Salut is away from his desk this weekend so I’ll be doing what I can to keep you all up to speed, with help from Malcolm when he can. If you haven’t previously posted your comment will be held for moderation but as long as there are no profanities or foul language it will go up eventually. “Profanities and foul language on this site? surely not” you might think until, perhaps, you’ve read Pete Sixsmith‘s account of this crucial match and before that his seven word verdict, sent by text on the final whistle.
March 22 Norwich (2) 2 Sunderland (0) 0 Relegation beckons after yet another shocking performance
Jake: the gloom just got gloomier
March 15 Sunderland (0) 0 Crystal Palace (0) 0 Lack of creativity cost us yet again
March 9 FA Cup Sixth Round: Hull City 3 (0) SAFC (0) 0Errors like these will see us relegated
March 2 2014 Sunderland 1 (1) Manchester City (0) 3 A cruel result. Proud of the team
Feb 22nd 2014 Arsenal 4 (3) Sunderland 1 (0) Absolutely dreadful performance. No positives at all.
Feb 15th 2014 FA Cup Round 5 Sunderland (0) 1 Southampton (0) 0 Wembley twice? Why not? Deserved to win.
Feb 8 2014 Sunderland (0) 0 Hull City (1) 2 Brilliant at shooting ourselves in the foot.
Feb 1 2014 Newcastle United (0) Sunderland (2) 3#1 Wonderful performance from Mannone through to Borini #2 A bad night for Tyneside’s equine population
Jan 29 2014SAFC (1) 1 Stoke City (0) 0 Unconvincing and barely deserved against 10 men
Jan 25 2014 FA Cup 4th Round: SAFC (1) 1 Kidderminster Harriers (0) 0 Won – that’s all there is to say.
Jan 22 2014 Capital One Cup semifinal second leg. AET: Manchester United (1) 2 Sunderland (0) 1 SAFC WIN 2-1 ON PENALTIES: Oh Vito Mannone. Oh Vito Mannone. Hero.
This week, I have deliberately ignored any article, one line or in print, with a headline suggesting words by Gus Poyet or players about the game at Norwich City on Saturday.
Any expression of confidence, even hope, is meaningless. All that matters is the result. We know that without being told.
In the first part of this week’s ‘Who are You?’ feature – https://safc.blog/2014/03/norwich-city-v-safc-who-are-you-1-tribute-to-duncan-forbes/ – the Very Rev Christopher Dalliston*, the Norwich-supporting Dean of Newcastle Cathedral, spoke about a Canaries stalwart, Duncan ‘Six foot two, eyes of blue’ – Forbes, and the Alzheimer’s disease that afflicts him. Here are his answers to a few of the customary questions; Luis Suarez has little to do with either side, apart from scoring against us but it’s a lovely quote. We initially forgot to ask for his scoreline prediction which may well have been a Freudian slip, but he now reckons 1-1 – ‘no use to anyone except probably better for you!’ …
We all know how much may rest on Saturday’s game. It is not, mathematically speaking, make or break but with each match that passes without the result we need, there is a limit to how much longer we can keep making that point.
But some things are more important. Duncan Forbes served Norwich City, Saturday’s opponents, for more than 30 years as a robust centre-half and then way beyond his playing career. He played 295 times for the Canaries between 1968 and 1981 (and that may just be the league games) and is remembered with great affection by the fans. Last year he was diagnosed as suffering from Alzheimer’s disease and the worsening symptoms led to him being placed in a care home. The club is involved in various projects to help ensure his continuing care and support research into the disease.
As a mark of respect and solidarity, Salut! Sunderland presents a special, two-part edition of ‘Who are You?’, in which Duncan’s wife, Janette, talks in a YouTube clip (see below) about their life together and his illness and a passionate Norwich supporter, the Very Rev Christopher Dalliston**, Anglican Dean of St Nicholas’ Cathedral, Newcastle, returns to these pages to describe what he means to the Canaries. In the second part – https://safc.blog/2014/03/norwich-v-safc-who-are-you-2-wouldnt-invite-suarez-to-vicarage-but/ – he answers a few of the customary WAY questions. Over to Chris …
Jake: ‘let’s have a revolution – like winning some games’
M Salut writes: I find it slightly worrying that John McCormick has not yet produced one of his statistical projections showing how Sunderland will stay up. Silence speaks volumes? Ordinary Jon, aka Jon Adamson**, has been conducting an exercise of his own and finds reasons for hope as well as concern – concern that would rocket in the event of a bad outcome of Norwich vs SAFC on Saturday …
