Starting with a disappointing draw at Fulham – we had a grip and surrendered it, and in the end it …
Praise from – how can we put this? – a CottagerAddick-tedKevin OK, let’s launch a new feature at Salut! Sunderland, …
See also: the Fulham “Who are You?” – Fulham v SAFC: Fayed, pictures of Lily and praise for our Steeeeeed
News from the London and Southern England branch of the SAFC Supporters’ Association – generous geographical boundaries: I was still eligible during my stint in Abu Dhabi and remain so now when in France – of special interest to fans attending the Fulham game.
We promised Fulham’s man of money in this week’s “Who are You?” slot, and while Steve Johnson* may not be Mohamed as Fayed, or have quite his fortune, he does work in money. He’s also a passionate Fulham fan with some great answers to our questions ahead of Fulham v Sunderland this Saturday. Sadly no photo – so we’ve just had to make do again with his club’s celebrity supporter Lily Allen, who we’re sure really, really wants to do this feature herself of only she can break free from the tyrants who do her PR …
Mohamed al Fayed: a good thing for Fulham FC or do you have reservations? Where would you be now without the support he’s given?
When “Mo” put his hand in his pocket in 1997 the club had just gone through the lowest point in its history. I must admit there was some nervousness about him initially but he put a lot of money into the grass roots of the club and it was clear he was in for the whole journey. The rest is history, as they say on the pitch, although not keen on the dodgy shirts and the occasional dodgy guest – Michael Jackson and Maradona !! Where would we be without him – probably Ryman Premier League!!
Salut! Sunderland believes there should be banter between Sunderland and Newcastle United fans, and that this is entirely healthy and human but should not descend into barbarian tribalism. When we write about the Mags – and why in heaven’s name should a football site not do so? – it is not surprising that United fans should come here to see what has been said, and perhaps to have a go back. Some responses are witty or intelligent, a few are humourless or neanderthal, and I imagine it would be the same the other way round. Here, our mysterious Birflatt Boy makes some telling points about goings-on up the road …
In the world of football it’s rare if not unprecedented for there to be unanimity and consensus about anything.
It might be the performance of a particular player last weekend or whether a penalty decision should have been given the other way, or something more trivial.
Anything Tash can do, Victoria can do – as well. To think Salut! Sunderland was moaning only a few weeks ago about the lack of female contributors, so much so that we issued a Calling All Mackemoiselles appeal. The re-appearance of Tash Scott’s admirable essay, written at 14, that helped her towards an A* grade in GCSE English prompted Ken Gambles – see comments to Tash’s piece – to draw our attention to Victoria Clare of Consett.
Ken, a prominent Sunderland supporter (N Yorks branch of SAFCSA) and author, praised Tash’s work. But he added that Victoria’s account of a vital game at West Ham in 2005 when she would have been about 15 was also “an excellent evocation of what it means to be a young female Sunderland supporter”.
He was right.
So here it is, with thanks to Ken; click here if you fancy buying a copy of Black Catalogue, the book edited by Ken where it first appeared.
And Salut! Sunderland‘s plaudits go to Victoria, or Vicky (pictured with a current hero, Darren Bent), for an impassioned and mightily impressive piece of writing. It is a long read, well worth setting aside 10 minutes and a mug of tea to savour …
Little more than a month after the sort of result that should have gained him the freedom of Newcastle, with rights to shepherd his flock of sheep over the Tyne Bridge, Chris Hughton has become the latest manager to find out what clubs mean when they deny dismissal rumours.
He’s been fired.
Not a great game. Pete Sixsmith‘s words, echoed by many, but he also sees reason to draw on such results, from largely uninspiring play, for hope that we may actually be on course in our loftier ambitions …
So, another three points in our relentless quest for a Europa League place and the delights of Sherif Tirana or Bangor City on a Thursday night. I am tingling with excitement at the prospect of playing such giants of the European game.
If we do make it to such exalted heights, games like this one are the ones that really count. This was a bread and butter fixture, against a side similar to what we were: one perennially struggling in the lower reaches of the Premier League.
Pete Sixsmith got his Christmas present early from Monsieur Salut: a Soviet-style hat from St Petersburg that may become a collectors’ item if the World Cup row leads to the English being banned from Russia.
For others: this continues the posting – first part here – which introduced some of the Amazon bargains available at their usual rock bottom prices and maybe ideal as Christmas gifts for Sunderland supporters:
Charlie Hurley: The Greatest Centre Half the World Has Ever Seen – that man Mark Metcalf again. Order here
Well, there are a few days of doing it – as Channel 4 found when SAFC-mad Ashley Hughes won the £1,000 Come Dine With Me prize (ages ago, but repeated last night). Three points in any game, or advancement in a cup competition (OK not for a long while), will also do the trick quite well. But with Christmas coming, here are some other ideas …
The build-up to this afternoon’s game is over (see our big Hammer preview by clicking here, or memories of a famous Sunderland win here.
But while wondering whether we can play as we did against Chelsea and halt West Ham’s little revival , why not consider choosing from these cut-price Christmas presents that don’t even involve having to go near the shops?
