Monsieur Salut introduces another prize Guess the Score before embarking on a long trek through France, stopping for some disgusting but delicious andouillettes in Troyes on the way and arriving back in the UK on Wednesday night, ready for anything life throws at him (including tickets for Arsenal at home and Bournemouth away) …
Monsieur Salut writes: Genius in adversity or just Pete Sixsmith in tip-top form yet again? Read his terrific report from the Stoke City game and make up your own mind. And here’s another excellent piece, this time from Rob Hutchison, who argues passionately against yet more upheaval …
Malcolm Dawson writes……after another abject performance and the one result we didn’t want, it looks as if the writing is …
To many of us who, one way or the other, saw the 2-0 defeat at Stoke City, this was a Sunderland display that insulted those occupying another sell-out away end and suggested the record for the lowest number of Premier League points, currently 11 and held by Derby County, will be returning to Wearside. For David Moyes, however, it was a game we ought to have taken a point from. Mmm. Consider his post-match e-mail to Monsieur Salut and a few others ..
He uses words sparingly, does our Rob Hutchison. After today’s woeful display against – let’s face it – a not-very-good side, he said: ‘Well that was wretched. Gone backwards since Sam departed. Should we play the long game?’ …
Monsieur Salut writes: I had a good stream and watched a poor Stoke side made to look efficient by as inept a display as I can recall (well at least since the last inept display). Pete Sixsmith had a tougher day, up early to travel to the Potteries and see yet another abysmal performance which, he said as the last seconds of stoppage time ticked away, suggested a team that will be adrift without a hope at the bottom come Christmas …
Malcolm Clarke* is the latest in a long line of amiable, forthcoming Stoke City supporters to grace these pages. He is realistic enough a supporter, as well as being a passionate representative of fans generally as chairman of the Football Supporters’ Federation, to recognise the the odds are probably against his beloved Stoke winning the Premier League title any time soon. But he does believe they’ll survive this season, and – perhaps no surprise here – that Sunderland won’t. He also tells us about his association with Neil Baldwin, Stoke’s ‘marvellous’ (read on) but most implausible media star …
We’ve had far too many must-wins and crunchers and season-deciders. They usually they turn out to be nothing of the sort.
So let us just say the Guess the Score for Stoke City v Sunderland is open to all, Stokies included, and carries a prize.
Even a site that professes relatively little interest – on the part of its main contributors – in international football can stand back and applaud when England call up a player who is not only a Sunderland team member but “one of our own”.
Jordan Pickford therefore carries Salut! Sunderland‘s warmest congratulations into Tuesday’s World Cup qualifying game against Slovenia.
Following on from M Salut’s look at how Seasonal Adjustment Disorder (SAD) is affecting the Stadium of Light faithful, Malcolm …