Sunderland

Wise Man Says: where has all the fun gone?

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Nic Wiseman
Nic Wiseman
Where has all the fun gone?

Nic Wiseman has been gazing into his navel at the current state of football in general and Sunderland in particular. Nothing he says alters the right of any individual to be presumed innocent until proven otherwise (and we shall be vigilant about comments left below) but it’s plain to anyone reading his words that here is a lifelong fan who is losing the will to support …

Football has been kicking its way down Skid Row for some years now, but events over the last couple of days have made me question if I really want to finance this increasingly rancid sport any more.

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Chapman Report: picking up points on the A1, not at Manchester United

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Robert Chapman on the soapbox from Old Trafford
Bob Chapman on the soapbox from Old Trafford

Colin Randall writes: I’m never sure whether to elevate Bob Chapman to Robert for these post-match essays in Sixer’s place. I always greet him as Bob at matches, but maybe it should be different for Chapman Reports. Robert or Bob, he once again steps boldly into Mr Sixsmith’s shoes to tell us how it really was at Old Trafford, as viewed from the noisy away end. Arrogant Man Utd fans, notably of the faraway-across-the-world variety, reacted with typical contempt to my own report at ESPN (Sunderland=garbage, Poyet’s tactics=very negative) and it was hard to quarrel. Bob sees things in rather less damning terms; for his commendable loyalty and stamina alone, this home-and-away regular really has a strong case for asking SAFC to reimburse his speeding fines …

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Hull City vs Sunderland Guess the Score: Things Can Only Get Better

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You could be the next No 12. A United winner would get a mug suited to his or her tastes
You could be the next No 12. A United winner would get a mug suited to his or her tastes

Well the headline gives you the hope. The reality comes at the KC when Gus Poyet once again tries to a) send out a team that can defend and score and b) avoids defeat against Hull City.

It is difficult to be optimistic after recent gormless displays but we have to keep the faith. Hull win more games than us but also lose more. We have players who should be bursting to prove themselves, a manager who ought to be raring to go for victory not just another goalless draw.

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Hull City ‘Who are You?’: brilliant Brucey, enigmatic Allam, dance icon Elmo

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Jake : 'we have ways of making them talk'
Jake : ‘we have ways of making them talk’

Here’s the place for some interesting thoughts on Hull City’s Sunderland connections. Brad Rial*, a Tiger with a platform (he’s a part-time trainee at the Hull Daily Mail), has a lot of time for Steve Bruce and a trio of ex-SAFC players at his club. He’s more than a little concerned about the deteriorating relationship between owner Assem Allam and the fans … oh, and he thinks we’ll lose at the KC but stay up …

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Sixer’s Sevens: Manchester United 2 SAFC 0. Joke dismissal but well beaten

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Jake pins Sixer to the wall
Jake pins Sixer to the wall

Colin Randall writes: Roger East sending off the wrong man was not the reason we lost this game. It was a penalty and a red card for someone – O’Shea being the real culprit – and the goal, plus the loss of one man, ended our resistance. The first half promised better but after a decent opening spell, even that was essentially a rearguard operation This was one of the games missed by Pete Sixsmith, usually the author of the seven-word instant verdicts. A supersub, who will eventually be Bob Chapman – perhaps after a couple of contingency versions – stepped in …

Jake: 'i didn't expect much - and got nothing'
Jake: ‘i didn’t expect much – and got nothing’

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Seagulls gather over the good ship Sunderland after collapse at Manchester United

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Rob: 'wishing I was stuck in a desert'
Rob: ‘wishing I was stuck in a desert’

In Rob Hutchison‘s latest set of one-word verdicts, after the 2-0 defeat at Old Trafford, he deviates from custom and practice. Instead of a single word and mark per player, he offers a 13-word sentence (14 if you include FFS), presented as – you guessed – one word per player. Plus the mark, a depressing mix of 4s and 5s. Their star? Januzaj surely … Roger East? Off to the Northern League . . .

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Pulis coins the word but we want more ‘Cattermoling’ at Manchester United

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Jake: 'here's one where 0-0 would just about do'
Jake: ‘here’s one where 0-0 would just about do’

As Sunderland prepare for what Seb Larsson admits will be a “very tough afternoon” at Old Trafford if players do not rise to the occasion, we must acknowledge Tony Pulis’s contribution to the evolution of the English language.

First we should forget the muscular approach to defending that saw, for example, Jermain Defoe flattened twice in the penalty box even before a corner kick was taken. That is Tony Pulis’s way and he has imported the approach he adopted at Stoke City to his new job at WBA.

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Manchester United v SAFC Who are You?: ‘we don’t do romps any more’

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Jake : 'we have ways of making them talk - even if it's the same one each time'
Jake : ‘we have ways of making them talk – even if it’s the same one each time’

As every schoolboy knows, there are trillions of Manchester United supporters around the world and it is a gross calumny to suggest no more than about five per cent of them know where Manchester is. Salut! Sunderland has not been successful in its search for one of them to do Who are You? who has not done it before. Fortunately, my old pal Keith Hoggins* is brilliant interviewee and has come up with lots of new thoughts on a whole range of United, Sunderland and other issues.

Keith initially thought the game would end 0-0 but now goes for a narrow United win. A glance at the William Hill betting site will show you what most people, and therefore the bookies too, expect to happen. Louis Van Gaal may be having problems but United-style problems tend to be on a different scale to those experienced by Sunderland. …

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