Sunderland

Mighty Wolves, shameful Wolverhampton

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wolves1Do not enter


If you want to know why this piece is necessary, click here to see an account of how a grand day out for fans of both Wolves and Sunderland was marred by petty-minded officialdom of the sort that gives petty-minded officialdom a bad name …

After the last game of last season. I wrote a sour little description, under the heading “Mighty club, petty-minded city”, of the wooden-topped approach of police, local authorities and, unless they are acting under duress, publicans towards ordinary, decent visiting supporters. It was an appalling example of attitudes that were understandable 25 years ago but now bring shame on the city.

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Wolves at our door: they want Gyan, Turner, Zenden and Gordon

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If you had the misfortune to be anywhere near Molineux as an away fan for our last game of the 2009-2010 season, you could be forgiven for hoping a blast of snow will force the postponement of Saturday’s match. Not only were we rubbish on the field; West Midlands police combined with the city’s licensed trade to make it a snarling, unwelcoming experience for anyone in red and white or sounding as if they might be shouting for Sunderland. The Wolves fans are different, though, and many sympathised (as well as suggesting the few pubs we could head for). We extend an unsnarling welcome back to Andy Nicholls*, from the Molineuxmix fan site. Andy, an award-winner in last season’s Who Are You? series, is a man with serious Mackem connections …


Salut! Sunderland: Too close to the bottom for comfort, I imagine. A long way to go but how disappointed are you with the start

In a word – very. However, I am a Wolves fan and nothing surprises me any more! Money was spent before the season started- most fans would have agreed that at the time all buys seemed like good ones but for what ever reason not all of them have worked out. Now be that MM panic buying or not and then not liking what he sees – I’m not sure but something has gone wrong and it’s time to put it right – I still believe that we can but it needs to be some sooner rather than later.

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Whoever you support in the Premier, make the team

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Here is a chance for Salut! Sunderland readers to get themselves, or younger relatives/acquaintances, involved in an project that could see them coaching kids, running teams for youngsters with learning disabilities … and maybe getting free Premier tickets from a prize draw. The Sky Sports commentators Chris Kamara – seen in the clip – Martin Taylor and Andy Gray, along with football figures such as Kieran Gibbs, Stuart Pearce and David Seaman, have given their blessing to the idea. Read on …


Almost every week, Salut! Sunderland is asked to plug something. The list ranges from football-related social networking sites to betting organisations.

If there is clear mutual benefit, which often there is not, no objection is raised here.

And when charities and other good causes – the Billingham SAFC fans’ sponsored walks are a great example – come calling, we’re pretty much an open door provided there is some relevance to what this site is about.

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For Spurs, Forest and Blades fans too: another side of Andy Reid

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With more space, Charlton and Irish fans could have been added to that list. They may also know that Andy Reid has varied gifts and interests. Guitar thieves permitting, he does a decent job on his Gibson. He also plays banjo, writes songs and knows a little about history and politics. This interview supplied to Salut! Sunderland gives a flavour of a man with a life beyond football …

So if Bob Dylan and Michel Platini walked through the door and extended right hands to Andy Reid, which would he shake first?

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Luke’s World: an Everton postscript

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In which Luke Harvey sticks up for his fellow youngster Jordan Henderson, whose performance against Everton has been sharply criticised by a number of longer-in-the-tooth supporters. But then Luke still cannot quite get Chelsea out of his mind …

Monday night’s match against Everton showed that you don’t have to be the best teams in the league to produce football of high entertainment value.

Nor do you need the best players in the world, for they are all dodging high tax bands and competing in that duopoly that is La Liga. While Real and Barcelona thump even the better teams in the league by four or five goals, it’s a continuous battle here in England.

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Everton Soapbox: the absolute certainties of taxes, death and Cahill

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Pete Sixsmith offers his measured assessment of a game that Sunderland might have won, but will feel satisfied not to have lost – and also remembers a true Stadium of Light character, one year on from his untimely death …

The 18th century American polymath Ben Franklin is widely accepted as being the man who said that there are “only two things certain in life and that’s death and taxes”. Were Mr Franklin still on this mortal coil, he could add: “And Tim Cahill will score against Sunderland.”

When he headed home in the sixth minute of this frenetic but not particularly skillful game, I feared the worst. Fortunately, Everton had an attack that was even more toothless than Old Mother Riley after a visit to the dentist, with Louis Saha doing a very passable impersonation of Jonathan Stead.

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Danny Welbeck: the difference Darren’s hamstring made (updated)

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Even before his two-goal exploits against Everton last night – and how frustrating that he couldn’t quite make it three and secure the win – Danny Welbeck was transforming himself from underperforming, out-of-position passenger into exciting, goalhungry potential matchwinner.

Scott the Red, our pal at the Republik of Mancunia site*, had asked a few days before the game how we thought Welbeck, on loan from Scott’s beloved Manchester United, was getting on with us. Rather better, was the gist of Pete Sixsmith‘s reply, given without knowing Danny would grab another two goals last night, than some of us were willing to give him credit for. What a tragedy, then, that his exceptional recent displays, at Spurs and Chelsea and against Everton, may make it all the less likely that Sir Alex will let him come permanently – or that he may even demand Welbeck’s recall to Old Trafford.

Or will the player, as has already been suggested here, become part of the haggling if/when SAF comes calling for Jordan Henderson? This was Pete’s view, as expressed pre-Everton, to the United fan site. …

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Ha’way, haway the flags – in time for the Mags

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Today, we draw attention to an intriguing new project with the clear target of having something to show for its efforts before noon on Jan 16, when Sunderland AFC must address the small matter of avenging the 5-1 defeat at St James’ Park ….

Still we can’t beat Everton. A good game, in which we had an excellent spell after their opening goal but could hardly complain about the final result. Pete Sixsmith’s considered view will doubtless appear before too long.

But to what extent can the fervour of the crowd spur on a team to greater things? The correct answer, probably, is not always but sometimes.

Pre-match build-ups, with entertainment on the pitch and distraction to be had in the pub or concourse, have certainly produced a more subdued atmosphere in the half-hour before kickoff at the Stadium of Light than I recall from Roker Park.

Last night, our crowd seemed from TV coverage to be in good heart and voice. It’s a two-way process. The players were doing pretty well, challenging seriously good opponents and showing themselves capable of winning; the fans responded as you’d hope.

But anything that lifts the levels of passion and enthusiasm even further – and has the potential to give the players that extra psychological boost that makes the difference between 2-2 and 3-2 – is to be welcomed, and that is why Salut! Sunderland is giving a bit of plug to the Haway the Flags project.

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