Last week, I honestly thought someone, possibly a Bolton fan, had decided the FA Cup game had 2-2 written all over it. I could find no trace of such a prediction; did I just dream it? If anyone can point me in its direction, then the man, woman or child who made it is owed a mug.
You’ve seen the West Ham Who are You?; now see what we told them.
And not just us. Pete Sixsmith readily supplied the nitty gritty on all things Sunderland. But in the panic to locate a warm, witty or wise SAFC supporter in time – Salut! Sunderland knows that panic – the fan site WestHamOnline found that, like hailable London taxis driven by Hammers fans, they come alomg not at all or in pairs.
Apologies for earlier distortion on images – the posting had to be made in haste
The first thing to say about Peter Thorne*, our West Ham “Who are You?” volunteer, is that he is not Billy Bragg, the Bard of Barking and famous Hammer. He is, however, Billy Blagg, blogging under that nom de guerre at WestHamOnline. As Peter, he is another of Monsieur Salut’s fellow contributors to the ESPN FC pages. Late panic over – his replies initially went astray – here are his full, frank and entertaining thoughts as Sunderland prepare to face his team on Saturday …
Pete Sixsmith thought for 81+3 minutes that he might be watching a team that had learned at last how to hang on to or, better still, build on a lead. Alas, old habits returned and the Hammers got their deserved equaliser against a Sunderland defence once again playing – or made to play – far too deep …
Pete Sixsmith’s long journey resulted in a frustrating trip home. But it could have been so much better. Stephen Fletcher’s fourth goal in three games must surely be silencing those who questioned the size of his fee but once again a lead disappears as the clock ticks down…….
See the West Ham ‘Who are You?’ – https://safc.blog/2012/09/west-ham-v-sunderland-who-are-you/
Pete Sixsmith admits that his attendance at Upton Park tomorrow is perhaps more a case of duty than the pursuit of pleasure. He probably lets that 8-0 defeat in 1968 prey unduly on the mind …
See the West Ham ‘Who are You?’ here: https://safc.blog/2012/09/west-ham-v-sunderland-who-are-you/
Roll up for the latest instalment in Salut! Sunderland‘s jolly little competition designed to tease out of someone the correct scoreline for each forthcoming match.
In June last year, Salut! Sunderland put out a little appeal for knowledgeable supporters of QPR, Norwich City and Swansea to offer their services as interviewees in our Who are You? series.
Ken Gambles gets around. Sunderland support has taken him all over the country. Worst ground, offering grounds for divorce after a lifelong love affair with football? The old Den probably took the biscuit for Monsieur Salut – a demoralising experience that had you questioning your own sanity for being there – and if we are honest, some opposing fans will point fingers at Roker Park or the SoL. But Ken has a negative batch of medals to award to three other stadiums …
One week ago, we were worried that our depleted team we might be embarrassed at Upton Park, leaving us a place worse off than this time last season at lowly 14th. The 3-0 win made us eat our words, and very tasty they were too, at the start of a frantic week in which we ran three end-of-season reports, previewed the “Who are You?” awards and intruded on the higher ground of the Champions’ League. If you missed anything or want a reminder, read on …
The unmagical figure of £46 at one point raised the possibility that our final game of the season would be played out in the absence of the magical figure of Pete Sixsmith.
He swallowed his pride, overcame his anger with Sullivan and Gold and forgot pre-retirement impoverishment to opt for the day out anyway. And had a jolly good time. Click here to see his account of a good win which may have been against a thoroughly bad, demoralised side but lifted us to 10th place, two above Newcastle United (though the end-of-season reviews – see below – put that in perpective).
What else did we dream up in the hope of entertaining or stimulating supporters of Sunderland AFC – and the many others who stray in here because, well, because they do?