Who Are You?

Bolton Who are You?: ‘isn’t he a bit like Bale?’

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Who can they possibly mean? Are there lots of Egyptians in Bolton?

So Sunderland, our own El Bale and all, take on the high-flying Wanderers on Saturday. But this is an emergency “Who are You?”. It always seems tough, for some reason, to find Bolton fans to do this feature, and the search hasn’t been helped by illness, at their end and ours. We haven’t quite given up, but this may have to do …

Teams of highly trained Salut! Sunderland sleuths scoured Lancashire, indeed the world, for someone answering the description “warm, witty or wise supporter of Bolton Wanderers.

Mindful of our great tradition of getting an opposing supporter to preview each match (except when every Stoke City fan seemed to be saying “rearrange off and f*** into a well-known phrase or saying”), we kept going until the very end. And then the end came. Sadly, our intrepid search party had drawn a blank.

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Tony Gallagher, Daily Telegraph editor, on his beloved West Ham

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This week’s “Who are You?” feature – ahead of Sunderland v West Ham tomorrow (fingers crossed) – richly deserved another outing, in modified form, especially after the distractions of Zurich.

Tony Gallagher*, editor of The Daily Telegraph and Hammers fan par excellence, probably said more to Salut! Sunderland about his footballing passion, and indeed about himself, than he has done in any other public forum in his life. Or so we’ve heard it said. We are delighted he gave such time and energy to the exercise. Go back to Thursday’s original appearance of the interview to see the comments already posted by SAFC and Hammers fans (and Tony himself, in response to points made), or start afresh here.

By way of reminder: even before he became the editor of Telegraph, Tony had made his mark as deputy editor (effectively running the paper in the long absence on other business of the then editor Will Lewis, another Hammer). It was on Tony’s watch that the paper revealed the scandal of MPs’ expenses, and he is credited with masterminding the coverage. At a guess, he is not on the Christmas card list of the former Labour MP David Chaytor, pictured above, now in a spot of bother as a result.

Some MPs, it is fair to say, had visions of pots, kettles and a very dark colour at the thought of journalists lecturing anyone about expenses. But that’s another matter, as is Tony’s lifelong support for West Ham United. Sunderland fans have been jittery all week, some even hoping for a postponement; we’re glad to say Tony takes a gloomy view of his club, too, despite impressive wins over Wigan and Manchester United …

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SAFC v West Ham: the Hammer who still fears the worst

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Even before he became the editor of The Daily Telegraph, Tony Gallagher* had played a blinder as deputy editor (and acting editor) when the paper put MPs through the mill for their outrageous expenses. Some MPs, it is fair to say, questioned the notion of journalists lecturing anyone on expenses. But that’s another matter, as is Tony’s lifelong support for – and, despite two good results, gloomy outlook on – West Ham United, Sunderland’s opponents on Sunday if snow permits …


Read an updated version by clicking here

Salut! Sunderland: (Before this mini-revival), a Hammers-supporting pal declared himself lost for words. What the devil went wrong, and did you not share the excitement of some fans when Sullivan/Gold moved in?

Notwithstanding our amazing result against Man United, we’re paying the price for undermining a series of decent managers. Pardew was sacked peremptorily a few months after taking us to the FA Cup final; Curbishley steered us to mid-table safety and then he was sacrificed; Zola was obviously an outstanding coach – it was no accident that Carlton Cole, Scott Parker and Robert Green were playing the best football of their careers under him – but he was destabilised the moment Gold and Sullivan arrived and never recovered. Grant, demonstrably, lacks the motivational powers required to effect a change.
The Sullivan/Gold era has been pock-marked by one ugly dispute in the press after another which is extremely undignified. Personally, I have never warmed to them, assuming their passion is really for the Olympic Stadium, which I guess would generate huge revenue.

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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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Sunderland v Aston Villa: the Villa fans predicting Toon gloom

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Image: Ben Sutherland

So, we put the same questions Gordon Nicoll answered yesterday to a younger Villa fan, 15-year-old karate star Andy Summers*, whose dad, Colin, couldn’t resist chipping in too. Highlights include fond words for the Ace Diver Gary McAllister (sorry lads, but he was with Liverpool anyway then), transfer bids for Bent and Cattermole and two more Villa votes for Toon Doon …

Salut! Sunderland: How could you go to St James’ Park and lose 6-0 and how do we avoid it when we go there a week on Sunday?

Unfortunately we played the Magpies too soon. First home game back in the Premiership they were obviously high on adrenaline and still had some momentum from their promotion. We think
it’ s best to play newly promoted sides a little more into the season
when they have had a few chunks knocked out of them and begin
to feel the pace a little bit. Having said that, Villa pressed the self
destruct button after missing a penalty. They lost their shape and
in some areas commitment was sadly lacking. Only one result after
that. For the Black Cats to avoid a similar result it shouldn’ t be too
difficult. North-east rivalry will have all players “ pumped up” and
this usually ends up with sides cancelling out each other. Steve
Bruce is a canny manager and we are sure he has firm ideas on
how to suppress Newcastle’ s flair players and exploit their lack of
pace at the back.

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Who are you? We’re Aston Villa

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Gordon Nicoll*, (in the white shorts), who runs the Studley and Redditch branch of the Villa fan club, is welcome back to Salut! Sunderland and also to the Stadium of Light. He’ll be at the game on Saturday after stopping off for a drink at Osmotherley where he has vowed not to make the mistake of Monsieur Salut many, many years ago of following that/those drink/s with the Lyke Wake Walk over the moors to Ravenscar …

NB: Click here for a younger Villa view …

Salut! Sunderland: How could you go to St James’ Park and lose 6-0 and how do we avoid it when we go there a week on Sunday?

Can’t see it happening to anyone else this season so you should be fine. Derbies are always tight affairs so always difficult to predict! Just think that 6-0 was a freak result, especially against such a poor side- we should have been one up with the penalty miss, and Ashley Young was running through at 1-0 down and got pulled up for Lord knows what so could have been a different story completely if the footballing Gods had been kinder to us.

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The Blackburn Rovers ‘Who Are You?’: no man of Straw

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At last, the Premier is back. Readers have drifted off in droves during the international break -though I know a few people who would dearly like to visit Salut! Sunderland but come up against cyberspace brick walls – and we face an almighty task in bringing them back.

Meanwhile …

Blackburn Rovers v Sunderland: another chance to do the business on the road.

Not for the first time, we approached the former Foreign Secretary Jack Straw to be the Rovers fan to preview the game. That’s mentioned only because, again, he – or his office -felt no need to offer the courtesy of a reply. So off we went Down Under, where we unearthed Tony Sassine*, a fan since very early boyhood and owner of a willing pair of hands at the Vital Blackburn site …

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Sunderland v Manchester United: the Republik of Mancunia speaks

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Abject apologies yet again to the growing number of people I hear about, from Canada to the North East, who cannot currently visit Salut! Sunderland – and may therefore not even see this apology – or can gain access only intermittently. Arrangements are in hand to shoot the techies.

For those who are still with us, here is our second “Who Are You?” preview from Old Trafford ahead of tomorrow’s game at the Stadium of Light. We turned to our old friend and sparring partner Scott the Red, who runs the mighty Republik of Mancunia fan site. Scott you may recall, was horrified by the incident in which Phil Bardsley was judged to have dived in hope of a sneaking a penalty equaliser in last season’s game. My initial thought was that Bardsley had simply fallen clumsily. Whatever the truth, he was booked for cheating and slagged off unmercifully at RoM for being a Salford lad who ought to have known better when United were still just about in contention for the title. Scott talks more fondly of other Sunderland folk with United links …

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Manchester United: the gods – and divers – of Old Trafford

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Who are You? That’s the question we ask before each Sunderland game. Paul Eccleston*, our first visitor this season from the ranks of Manchester United followers, is that rarity: an unblinkered football fan. His lifelong support for the club does not stop him recognising Nani as a diver who has effortlessly inherited Ronaldo’s crown. Leaving aside that aspect of their play, how do such men compare with top Red Devils of the past? Paul, whose self-description – “Fleet Street journeyman” – does scant justice to an exemplary career as reporter and news editor, reflects on the flawed giants of Old Trafford …

To read part two of this week’s edition of “Who Are You?”, click on The Republik of Mancunia speaks

Salut! Sunderland (question posed before last night’s United win in Valencia): Let’s start below the belt: are Manchester United already out of the title race and has Sir Alex, great a manager as he’s been, gone past his use-by date?

I think it will have crossed the mind of most United fans that we have to start thinking about life after SAF. We’ve already had some very dodgy draws against teams we should have beaten – Fulham and Everton in the Premiership and Rangers in the Champions League. Does this have anything to do with our failure to make any headline signings for the second successive season? Does SAF genuinely see no value in the market or is he being denied funds by the Glazers? Another failure in the Champions League and finishing behind a rampant Chelsea in the Premiership this season will inevitably lead to claims that Ferguson is past his sell by date – but how many times has he confounded the critics before?

I suspect that he has already decided when he will go – possibly at the end of next season – and has already played an active role in deciding who his successor will be – probably Jose Mourinho who by then will have completed two seasons at Real and is really the only manager with the track record and the arrogance to think he can take over from Ferguson.

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The Liverpool ‘Who are You?’: Anfield so good, so far

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In view of technical problems affecting this, the original posting, a slightly modified matchday version now appears as Liverpool v SAFC: the voice of America


Ah, to be a Liverpool fan. Memories of standing on the Kop as a lad, that overpowering emotion as Gerry Marsden sings the first words of You’ll Never Walk Alone with every home fan raising scarf aloft, a pint or two in the Ship & Mitre after the match. Ed* – our latest “Who Are You?” contributor to seek semi-anonymity (good reason) – can only take our word for it. He’s a keen supporter and edits the fan site, Liverpool Offside, but lives on the other side of the Atlantic, has never set foot in Liverpool and knows nothing of the Anfield experience at first hand. From the American Mid West, he offers his thoughts on the Reds’ slow start to the season, the Anfield hero who has been known to cheat and the corporate chaos engulfing his adopted club. Maybe just as a well he did so before last night’s load of old Cobblers … …

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