Stoke City - SAFC Blog

Sixer’s Soapbox: more positive, fewer negatives after Sunderland sink Stoke

December 1, 2015November 29, 2015 by Colin Randall

John McCormick writes: Pete Sixsmith is about to go out, may even have already gone out, to do his Christmas duty on the Polar Express. When he gets back, he’ll no doubt sit down with his rosy cheeks, slippers, pipe and his ho, ho, ho to see what comments our readers have left on his report. Will they agree with this summary of a game against a team with away form, one that’s tough to beat and with the kind of defence we’d like to emulate? Or will they say something different? For my part the word I’d use is encouraging. But did that sending off lead me to a false sense of optimism? Let’s see what Pete thinks

SA’s essay: Sam’s Happy, we’re happy. Out of the bottom three

November 30, 2015November 28, 2015 by Colin Randall

John McCormick writes: Ed posted on facebook that he was dressed for winter before he headed off for his normal …

Hutch’s Patch: Watmore floors Stoke, nearly tops the lot in one-word verdicts

November 29, 2015November 28, 2015 by Colin Randall

Rob Hutchison is quick off the mark with his one-word verdicts and marks out of 10 after the 2-0 win over Stoke City. Duncan Watmore’s his playing star but Big Sam collects an extra point for his tactical nous (Monsieur Salut agreed with Gary Bennett’s verdict: PVA was the man of the match).

Hutch says (referring to the Shawcross dismissal): ‘Never a red, but he should have gone in the first half so there can be no complaints can there? The great escape may have come early this season, one never knows.’

Sixer’s Sevens: Sunderland 2 Stoke City 0. Thrilling PVA and Watmore clinchers

November 28, 2015November 28, 2015 by Colin Randall

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

Monsieur Salut writes: we’ve been as critical as any others of Patrick van Aanholt this season. So let’s hear it for him after his second fine game in six days was capped by a matchwinning performance. His superb strike put us ahead and then, to Pete Sixmsith‘s delight, Duncan Watmore’s enthusiasm and appetite was rewarded with a brilliantly taken second to wrap up invaluable points.

Yes, the game changed with the dismissal early in the second half of Ryan Shawcross, lauded here in the Stoke City ‘Who are You?’ as the epitome of fair play, even the Premier’s “best defensive centre back”. But whose fault was that? He committed two clear yellow-card fouls on Watmore in the first half but was booked only once (mainly because Watmore sprinted away from the first illegal challenge instead of going down theatrically). The challenge that got him sent off was arguably not a foul, certainly – in my view – not worthy of a yellow card. But he’d ridden his luck and that luck ran out. Ultimately a terrific win and how important. Come back in due course for Sixer’s full assessment …

SAFC v Stoke Who Are You: ‘Sir Stan, Walters, Whelan, Bardo. Oops’

November 26, 2015November 26, 2015 by Colin Randall

Jake: 'three wins by November 28 cannot be too much to ask' — Jake: ‘three wins by November 28 cannot be too much to ask’

It’s been a while since we heard from Richard Hulme*, on his own account a veteran of more than half a century as a Stoke City supporter. The wait was worth it. These are cracking replies, rich in insight, history and anecdote – even if he does think our number may be up. He could even be a Potteries incarnation of own Pete Sixsmith, Malcolm Dawson or John McCormick. Richard’s seen and heard it all – Sir Stan, stories of a young Shilton stretching himself from the banister when he feared he’d be too short for a goalie .. even an angelic side to Ryan Shawcross. But if you ever rated Kenwyne or Phil Bardsley, you might want to skip the references to them …

Sunderland v Stoke City Guess the Score rollover: win while we’re singing

November 25, 2015November 25, 2015 by Colin Randall

Bravo to Sam and the Lads for a very committed display at Palace, with more decent football than the “ugly but effective” comments would have you believe. Three precious points won, the fans at Selhurst Park for once rewarded for singing their hearts out … but can we keep it going?

This, after all, is Sunderland – as the saying goes.

Diving for glory. Is blaming foreigners jingoistic piffle, or sadly spot-on?

September 16, 2015September 16, 2015 by Colin Randall

Salut! Sunderland has been banging on for years about diving, the feigning of injury, unprofessional attempts by players to get opponents booked or sent off and other forms of cheating. The issue is raised with every “Who are You?” interviewee and I can think of only one or two who said too much fuss was made of it.

But should we really accept that British players are largely blameless, or that they were until they caught the nasty habits of Johnny Foreigner?

Taylor Made: a BBC football version of This is Your Life

August 10, 2015 by Colin Randall

Bill Taylor came across a nifty new BBC tool allowing fans of all Premier League teams to calculate their clubs’ performance during their lifetimes. Fellow Sunderland supporters – and others – are invited to have a go and report back any interesting findings …

There’s no evidence to support this, but George Santayana, the Spanish/American writer and philosopher, COULD have been at Wembley in 1937 to see Sunderland clobber Preston North End 3-1 in the FA Cup. Santayana was certainly in Europe at the time.

And the saying he’s most famous for could well be applied to the Black Cats and their long-suffering fans: “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.”

For those of us who have trouble remembering what happened last week, let alone a few decades ago, the BBC’s football website has unveiled a magical new tool to jog our memories.

Thomas Sorensen, of Sunderland, Stoke, Villa and Denmark: a well-earned Sixsmith tribute

July 2, 2015July 2, 2015 by Colin Randall

Donate to the KidsAid charity supported by Thomas Sorensen at http://kidsaidacrossamerica.com/

Just as the players (Coates included) were due to report back Pete Sixsmith’s extended season came to an end. But, unlike those on international duty, he doesn’t get extra time off. No sooner has he put his pen down from his other job than he has to pick it up for M Salut and take us on a journey down memory lane:

HAWAY awards: (1) Newcastle United (2) Everton & Stoke City. Burnley runners-up

June 1, 2015May 29, 2015 by Colin Randall

As Jake put it, 'like two cheeks of the same a***' — Nick Donaldson: as Jake put it, ‘like two cheeks of the same a***’

So the HAWAYS are over for another season. Our judging panel has had its say and, heaven forbid, a Mag has emerged in first place with Everton and Stoke City supporters – the latter our former manager Denis Smith – in joint second. A Burnley fan collects the editor’s special award, having come fourth.