Sunderland - SAFC Blog

Sixer’s Sevens: Chelsea 3 SAFC 1. Competitive in defeat. Au revoir Hull

May 24, 2015 by Colin Randall

Pete Sixsmith‘s boycott of expensive trips to London was maintained for the final game of the season, though he was able to follow proceedings from afar and supply a seven-word verdict. The game at Chelsea went to script despite Steven Fletcher’s rediscovery of his goalscoring touch, before Costa’s penalty equaliser in the first half and two Loic Remy strikes in the second. Fletch could have done better with his own subsequent chances. Not a bad display – we were far from overwhelmed – but logic prevailed. Whatever we think of Steve Bruce – and he fully merits what we think of him – it is more than a little sad to see Hull City, a decent club with decent fans, go down ..

HAWAY awards update, Hull and Newcastle slug it out, Chelsea demand appreciation

May 23, 2015May 23, 2015 by Colin Randall

Jake: 'with thanks to all opposing fans who participate' — Jake: ‘with thanks to all opposing fans who participate’

We’ll look at tomorrow’s match at Chelsea – plus the relegation dogfight – but first, an update on the HAWAY awards …

The prizes are sorted for Salut! Sunderland‘s annual Haways – awards for Highly Articulate Who are You? interviews – so step forward our Guess the Score sponsors, Personalised football Gifts, and old friends from Campo Retro and When Saturday Comes.

There are 13 shortlisted interviews, to which you could easily add either of the two – Arsenal and, though there is dissent about this, Chelsea -to have appeared since the judging process began.

The Chelsea ‘Who are You?’: what Mourinho could do for a Sunderland

May 22, 2015May 22, 2015 by Colin Randall

Jake: 'one more question: could you see your way clear to giving us a point?' — Jake: ‘one more question: could you see your way clear to giving us a point?’

The pulsating sounds of Caribbean steel band music, childhood memories from south London, a decades-long affection for Chelsea… where else could Brian Wise* have ended up than Middlesbrough? An old colleague and pal of Pete Sixsmith’s, Brian has left his London roots only in geographical terms and passionately follows the entirely unassuming Mourinho and his team. As a schoolboy goalkeeper, he imagined himself to be Peter Bonetti. Didn’t we all, when not thinking we were Monty? But now sit back and enjoy Wise’s Words of Wisdom in the last Who are You? of the 2014-20-15 season, our own safety secured and nothing but pride riding on the game …

Chelsea Guess the Score: Terry shaking in his boots after Arsenal heroics?

May 21, 2015 by Colin Randall

Jake says: 'only a mug wouldn't enter, only a mug if you win' — Jake says: ‘only a mug wouldn’t enter, only a mug if you win’

The bullish tone of the headline should offend no one.

Monsieur Salut is notoriously unyielding on final games of the season where nothing is any longer at stake. They are, simply, more important than any England game, even ones that dictate qualification or otherwise for the Euros or World Cup. That goes for our reserves, too.

Another Sixer’s Arsenal Soapbox: ‘by golly it was effective’

May 21, 2015May 21, 2015 by Colin Randall

Jake: 'Is this going to be regular enough to warrant our own image, Michael?' — Jake: ‘Is this going to be regular enough to warrant our own image, Michael?’

The surname has a familiar ring. he signs himself: ‘Sixsmith Minimus. Emirates Stadium. Entirely happy.’
Minimus equals Michael, a worthy bearer of elder brother Pete’s name. Moreover, he’s not scared of the Smoke. Off he went with Pete’s ticket, sat beforehand in the same pub our Sixer would have chosen and suffered, first hand, the same emotional roller-coaster most of us experienced at home. Here’s his report …

Hutch’s Patch: post-Arsenal joy in The Land of the Rising Sunderland

May 21, 2015 by Colin Randall

Rob: 'what's Ha'way the Lads in Japanese?' — Rob: ‘what’s Ha’way the Lads in Japanese?’

Monsieur Salut writes: is there anything wrong with milking this for all it;s worth? There is not. Even Hull, Mag, Leicester, Boro friends/family have been on to congratulate me as if I’d done Dick’s job for him.

Rob Hutchison, it will be remembered, supplied all those punchy one-word ratings until he scarpered off on holiday to Japan, under a wifely thumb rather than fearful of sticking around for the climax to the season. He woke up to some welcome news …

After 2,000 Mackems silence Arsenal, Salut! is en fête. What now, Newcastle?

May 21, 2015May 21, 2015 by Colin Randall

Jake says "Where's me pipe and slippers?" — Jake says “Where’s me pipe and slippers?”

There’s a spring in our collective step after a stirring, gutsy display won us the point we needed and deserved. This was a night when we all wanted to be in north London to share the joy of the 2,000 souls who made it. At least I had the best, clearest internet stream I can remember in my Sky-free French bunker.

It was a magnificent team performance, Costel Pantilimon obliging those of us who had called for a man-of-the-match performance, John O’Shea playing a captain’s game with Seb Coates solid at his side, Billy Jones and Patrick van Aanholt contributing great shifts and Seb and Catts monumental in defensive midfield.

Sixer’s Sevens: Arsenal 0 SAFC 0 – all smiles at the Emirates

May 20, 2015May 20, 2015 by Colin Randall

Pete Sixsmith gave north London a miss and settled for the Sky coverage around at his mate’s – the other Peter…Horan’s. There are rumours that one of his brothers, Michael, no stranger to the Comments section of Salut! Sunderland may pop up at some stage with a report but for now Sixer minor comes up with a 7 word summary in place of the usual elder Sixsmith.

Jake says "Right - where's me pipe and slippers?" — Jake says “Right – where’s me pipe and slippers?”

Message of hope for SAFC Lads and Lasses heading to the Emirates

May 20, 2015May 20, 2015 by Colin Randall

Jake: 'soar like a bird and stop it gannin' in, Costel' — Jake: ‘soar like a bird and stop it gannin’ in, Costel’

We know, as I write, that the answer to the first question below is “not yet”. But this special article, in collaboration with Ryan James, may gives us all a lift ahead of tonight and Sunday’s battles. It’s for Sunderland fans everywhere, heading and hoping to Arsenal, or just planning how to keep tabs – and all in the knowledge this is one of several lifelines left open, one of them in our own hands on Sunday, the other beyond our control ….

Noroc Costel Pantilimon at Arsenal: cometh the hour, cometh the man

May 19, 2015May 19, 2015 by Colin Randall

Costel with the son of Nick March, a Man City-supporting former Who are You? interviewee — Costel with Robert, the son of Nick March, a Man City-supporting former Who are You? interviewee

Noroc means good luck in Romanian. It’s what Salut! Sunderland fervently wishes for our Costel at the Emirates…

Not many people give us much chance of snatching, at Arsenal, the point we may still need. Even Smoggie soured his recent charm offensive by putting us down for a 4-0 thumping tomorrow night, though he graciously added that we would survive all the same for what he hopes will be a couple of Premier, not Championship, derbies with Boro next season.