Those are some of the clubs whose supporters are picking up points as a team of judges deliberates on the best sets of answers given by opposing fans in our regular ‘Who are You?’ feature. But nothing is yet decided; others within reach of glory in the annual awards include supporters of Liverpool and Newcastle United. Oh, and our own Pete Sixsmith is on BBC Radio Newcastle’s Total Sport programme (6pm-7.30pm tonight, May 9) …
A familiar problem descended this week: a game just days away and no one to do the Who are You? No sooner had I started wondering how to fill the gap than not one but two came forward with a Monty-style double save. Roger Meloy, a visitor here last season, came up trumps again with answers from actross the Atlantic, including a memory long enough to recall a canny bet on Sunderland in 1973 …
We all know that but for the necessary evil of publicists, Lily Allen would be a regular on these pages, offering her bons mots each time Sunderland played Fulham. Next best thing given the obstacles placed in our path? Step forward Matty Deller, radio presenter, Fulham nut and star of the Ballsy Banter podcast. He
loves Lily; he also has a lot of time for Martin Jol, Clint Dempsey and Lee Clark and rather more than we have for one Asamoah Gyan. Here, then, is the first of our two Fulham ‘Who are You?s’ …
… and so are Wolves, QPR, Liverpool, Man City, Boro and Stoke. As I was saying somewhere else on these pages, Salut! Sunderland seems to be giving rather more than Sunderland AFC just now. Read on for news of a lot more, thanks to our friends at http://www.soccerpro.com/ and When Saturday Comes …
No sooner had ”Bob” supplied his answers for the Bolton Wanderers ”Who are You?” than our old friend Howard Page – doubtless fired by events at Villa Park – overcame pressure of work and did likewise. Salut! Sunderland policy is straightforward: if a supporter takes the trouble to answer our questions, we ensure the effort is not wasted. Howard was also perfectly happy to use his full name – his band The Menu can always use publicity …
They’re a cagey lot over and down a bit in Bolton. We’re hoping for a double on Saturday; they already have one. Just as before the game at the Reebok, we have a great set of replies – and a request for anonymity that survived even the euphoria of a mightily important win at Villa Park. Over, then, to Bob* from the Burnden Aces fans site aand writing just before last night’s game …
Stuart Jinks, Jinksy* to pals, has been this way before, standing his Villa fan corner with admirable resolve in the various Bent and Bigger Club spats we’ve had. I expected some harsh words about the way things have gone at his club. I wasn’t quite prepared for this …
Even before last night’s heavy home defeat, Wolves seemed long gone. Sunderland desperately need to bounce back from a woeful display at Goodison. So what will happen on Saturday? We haven’t exactly covered ourselves in glory in recent encounters but surely this one must be won if we serious about a top 10 finish. Salut! Sunderland turned to two familiar characters, Andy and Jo Nicholls*, for this week’s ”Who are You?”. He’s a Wolfie – and has a big input at the http://www.molineuxmix.co.uk/ fan site – but is married to a lass from Silksworth and knows Sunderland well. Both think we’ll win …
Well it has to happen sooner or later. After two draws and a defeat, we could do with beating Everton, praiseworthy a display as we mustered to hold Spurs. And Jogger, one of the Gang of Five behind the admirable Everton fan site, Blue Kipper, believes the time may have come. That, or another draw. Quesions posed and thoughtfully answered – including great candour on the inevitable Leon Osman question – before the weekend games …
Monsieur Salut’s Mac has just crashed, a long way from anywhere he can enforce the guarantee. Luckily he’d already found Tom Langton*, deep in Spain, to answer the Surs “Who are You?” questions. Tom runs the bar at his father Mark’s hotel and activity centre – get this: “the Sierra Espuna is a beautiful nature reserve in Southern Spain and probably the healthiest part of Europe”. Maybe our own Jake should book there to get over the trauma of new fatherhood. Exiled Spurs fans looking for a branch of the supporters’ club note: Mark’s your man in Spain. But he insists his son – who predicts a Spurs but a storming Sunderland finish – is the biggest Tottenham fan he knows …