Premier League - SAFC Blog

Everton vs Sunderland Guess the Score: can Moyes’s Goodison old boys shine?

February 25, 2017February 22, 2017 by Colin Randall

Everton away: will Jake’s snap verdict be a happy one?

Monsieur Salut interrupts the usual business of trying to get heating, hot water, internet and the rest working again in France to announce the return of Guess the Score after the recent, perhaps merciful break from premier League action. No Anichebe, sadly, but if Oviedo, Gibson, Pienaar and Rodwell are available, David Moyes’s faith in former Everton players may be about to be put to a stiff test …

The recent double-prize edition of Guess the Score attracted no correct entries, which is not surprising since few of us seriously hoped for a 4-0 win at Crystal Palace and even fewer feared we’d then surrender by the same margin at home to Southampton.

So as we launch the competition for the game at Everton, we can be excused for wondering which Sunderland to expect to turn up this time.

Bravo Lincoln, Ha’way Sutton, no sorrier for Burnley than for Leeds

February 18, 2017 by Colin Randall

OK, it’s just an excuse to revive an old classic from the pen of Pete Sixsmith, last heard of ‘having lunch in Easter Road prior to Edinburgh City vs Montrose at Meadowbank’ (completing his Groundhoppers’ Scottish set). But Monsieur Salut, while not disliking Burnley, is chuffed to bits by Lincoln’s win at Turf Moor and hopes – less likely and while acknowledging the points made by John McCormick in this piece – Sutton can do the same against Arsenal.

And this is how Pete introduced the FA Cup tie against Leeds United two seasons ago. We won 1-0 but it was not a gem of a match and we rode our luck. But the buildup to the occasion gave Pete a chance to reminisce …

The late Bill Richardson, exiled SAFC supporter: where there’s a will …

February 14, 2017 by Colin Randall

Jake: ''rest easy, Bill' — Jake: ”rest easy, Bill’

Only last June, Salut! Sunderland recorded the sad loss of Bill Richardson, a long-time Wearside exile who remained a passionate supporter of the club he left behind in a country he never revisited. He retired only in 2015 but died last summer apparently after suffering a stroke … the little piece that appeared at the time of his death is reproduced below, for its own sake and also in the hope of jogging someone’s memory.

We have just received the following message from Lilian Martin, Bill’s friend and colleague and – as you will see by scrolling down – a woman with her own historical connection to Sunderland:

“Here’s hoping you can possibly help with the following which I received via Facebook from a chap who used to work with Bill Richardson. Sadly, Tina (Bill’s wife) has also passed away. Bill’s daughter is the sole beneficiary in his will now and no one knows where she is. It is possible that she may be living in Sunderland again.”

This is the message:

We are urgently looking for Victoria Maria Richardson (maiden name?), daughter of William Graham Richardson, originally from the Sunderland area of the UK.

Could anyone who knows her or knows of her whereabouts please ask her to contact me via email at this address or by phone at +27823364357

Swearing loyalty: how Sunderland’s long-suffering fans give vent in gloomy times

February 13, 2017February 13, 2017 by Colin Randall

Join the Salut! Sunderland Facebook group – click anywhere along this line

And follow us on Twitter: @salutsunderland … click along this line

Monsieur Salut wrote: the old ones are not always the best, but our current plight – described with melancholy beauty in Pete Sixsmith’s report of Sunderland 0-4 Southampton – and the poor health suffered by a friend prompted me to dig out this piece, first published in November 2008.

The original article began with some references to racist behaviour, happily rare and irrelevant to today’s situation, so I will skip them here. The rest seems all too applicable now, though I have slightly edited it.

Fill in the gaps from your own experiences (mass walk-outs, instant social media responses etc have become features of some supporters’ lives since this posting first appeared) of following SAFC through thick, thin and thinner. And please get better Graham Noble, friend, former colleague and the subject of the final anecdote …

Was Crystal Palace another false dawn or proof Moyes can work miracles?

February 17, 2017February 13, 2017 by Colin Randall

Jermain Defoe warms up before a Premier League defeat at West Ham Image: Egghead06

After the great win at Crystal Palace was followed by a crushing home defeat to Southampton, Sunderland fans typically divided into two familiar camps: loyal belief in another great escape and, inevitably, grim resignation. Alex McMahon tries to see positives despite an underwhelming transfer window and the failure to build on the Palace result …

Sixer’s Southampton Soapbox: “for 25 minutes we looked good”

February 13, 2017February 12, 2017 by Colin Randall

Jake sent a message with the graphic on the left:

“Another false dawn is snuffed out.”

Is there any hope?

David Moyes suggests there is, other results suggest there may be.

But, for the real truth, there’s only one place to go. Pete Sixsmith – he’s seen it all, he knows what’s what.

Over to Pete:

The Lars word: memories are made of this

February 9, 2017February 8, 2017 by Colin Randall

Lars Knutsen – Wearside through and through

It was towards the end of last season that Lars Knutsen last appeared on these pages. I’ll let him bring you up to date with his thoughts and memories, some good, some bitter-sweet. All I’ll say is,

“Welcome back, Lars”

Sunderland, Palace, Hull, Swansea, Middlesbrough and Leicester – pick any three

February 9, 2017February 7, 2017 by Colin Randall

*John McCormick: We’re bottom but the gap’s closing*

When I last reported in with the Salut Sunderland relegation watch we had had some recent wins but were still in the relegation zone, along with Swansea and Hull. (Swansea weren’t one of the clubs chosen in our start-of season poll but I included them in December on the grounds that some people did vote for “another club” and they had begun to fit that bill after a decline).

That was just before Christmas, not long before the transfer window opened, and just around the time struggling clubs might decide a new manager might help them take advantage of it. Now, with all that business done (free agents notwithstanding) it’s time to take stock before we head to the end of season crunch games, six pointers and desperation sackings that define the struggle for 39 points.

Sixer’s Tottenham Soapbox: Plenty to like in a hard fought game

February 4, 2017February 1, 2017 by Colin Randall

*Pete Sixsmith: a man of myth and legend*

John McCormick writes: I didn’t see much of last night’s game. I did see Jack Rodwell’s foul and would have had him off at half time to prevent a potential second yellow. But David Moyes apparently didn’t think there was any need to worry; Rodwell stayed on and had a “quietly effective game”, according to Pete Sixsmith.

What else did Pete note?

Find out for yourself as he regales us with not only another fine match report but also a slight diversion down memory lane, past Roker Park and towards 1961, when Spurs used only 17 players, all from the UK, in doing the double.

Sixer’s Tottenham Sevens: Ndong and Kone stifle Spurs

February 2, 2017January 31, 2017 by Colin Randall

Jake: catch Sixer’s instant seven-word verdicts throughout the season

John McCormick writes:

I’ve been having a spot of bother with the website this evening. It has been loth to open pages for editing and very slow to load. So please bear with me as I try to put up pages today and tomorrow.

No problems with Pete Sixsmith, however. He’s right on the whistle with an instant post-match verdict, in seven words, no more, no less …