Paolo Di Canio - SAFC Blog

Sixer’s Soapbox: Arsenal, Altidore and Atkinson

September 16, 2013September 15, 2013 by malcolm

There was a bevvy of Salut! Sunderland contributors in the Kings Arms on Saturday lunchtime – a bevvy being the …

Arsenal, Spurs, Everton, Man Utd, Sunderland and the window of opportunity

September 7, 2013September 6, 2013 by malcolm

Salut! Sunderland’s Pete Sixsmith can remember the time when the transfer window was just an empty space covered in an old potato sack. Now the latest window has been closed, Peter gives his thoughts on the last minute activity that brought a further three players into the club …

The great day has gone and Sky Sports can put Jim White back in the cupboard until the end of January. The gossip columns go quiet for a couple of weeks before the next batch of rumours start, while the Football League loan market opens next week. And to think that I once thought that the transfer window was a good idea!

As Others See Us: top six dreams, or down and out nightmares?

September 5, 2013September 5, 2013 by Colin Randall

Every so often, agencies or businesses with no Salut! Sunderland connection invite us to publish guest articles. Most of the time, we politely decline. Jack Butler*‘s first item was accepted and drew a healthy if robust response; his second covers familiar ground but may once again provide a starting point for debate…

Hopeful or in despair as PDC’s new broom finishes sweeping for now?

September 4, 2013September 4, 2013 by Colin Randall

Jake wonders whether Things will Go Better with PDC's new brew... — Jake wonders whether Things will Go Better with PDC’s new brew…

We can now put out a full team of players bought or borrowed by Paolo Di Canio, with some to spare for the bench. It might involve a little flexibility on positioning, and PDC needs to draw on the inherited squad for his substitute goalie, but here’s how it could look:

Vito Mannone

Andrea Dossena, Valentin Roberge, Mobido Diakite, Ondrej Celustka

Charis Mauvrias, Ki Sung-Yeung, Cabral, Emanuele Giaccherini

Jozy Altidore, Fabio Borini

Subs: Keiren Westwood, David Moberg Karlsson, El Hadji-Ba, Duncan Watmore

Paolo Di Canio versus the players, his own choices included

September 2, 2013September 2, 2013 by Colin Randall

One day we'll find it possible to be positive, thinks Jake ... — One day we’ll find it possible to be positive, thinks Jake …

Andrea Dossena, a left-sided defender from Napoli, and Liverpool’s out-of-favour striker Fabio Borini are all but signed on season-long loans, according to reports. But Paolo Di Canio has still to convince us that anyone he brings in, or has brought in, will be an improvement on the most gifted, if also most erratic, member of his squad, Stephane Sessegnon, seemingly bound for WBA (assuming the Qatar deal is really off). ButMonsieur Salut has something else on his mind ….

Sixer’s Palace Soapbox: it’s grim down south!

September 1, 2013 by malcolm

A trip to South Norwood was a trip too far for the intrepid Sixer. Having had a few days in the deep south before the Southampton game, followed by three days watching Durham revive their County Championship hopes at Scarborough, Salut’s Pete Sixsmith chose to watch his local Northern League team take another step along the road that leads to Wembley followed by Sky’s coverage of the latest counter revolutionary action at Selhurst Park. It had the makings of a good afternoon but alas the real ale bars of Darlington took a hammering on Saturday night. At least Durham CCC won!

Le Parole di Paolo – Palace 3 Sunderland 1: PDC puts on a brave face

August 31, 2013 by malcolm

Malcolm Dawson writes….Is PDC’s hard line approach to discipline making life tough for himself? Few of us have been overawed …

Le Parole di Paolo: punished late, hardly robbed, by Southampton

August 24, 2013August 24, 2013 by Colin Randall

Paolo Di Canio was honest enough after the Southampton game to admit in his post-match e-mail, exclusive to us and probably 35,000 others, that a win for Sunderland would have been fortunate. He did not explain why he finished a game with three strikers when we were desperately trying to defend a narrow lead …

Sixer’s Fulham Soapbox: false dawn or just a blip? Let the readers decide

August 21, 2013August 18, 2013 by malcolm

Malcolm Dawson writes: to me yesterday was a microcosm of life as a Sunderland supporter. The mood around the ground was one of excitement and anticipation of a new season ahead. The early signs were positive. It was apparent that the new players had qualities their replacements lacked and the attack minded approach was refreshing after the dross of recent seasons. As the half time whistle blew there was nothing to dampen the optimism, except perhaps that despite the pressure and dominance the Fulham goal was rarely threatened. That those hopes were dashed by an opposition snatch and grab and that the subsequent resignation of those around me that defeat was on the cards summed up my 49 years of following The Lads. But I was encouraged by the approach and what is undoubtedly a stronger squad than the one that finished last season. Peter Sixsmith can appreciate my view but asks the readership whether this is justified or just more false optimism …

Le parole di Paolo: Fulham display lacked ferocity

August 18, 2013August 17, 2013 by Colin Randall

In his post match e-mail to M Salut, PDC refuses to follow the Bruce/O’Neill approach in picking out the positives from defeat. Instead he highlights the obvious, that this is a new team playing together for the first time but also calls for more fire from his team.