Mrs Logic

Another review of the week gone by for the busy reader who appreciates a regular digest of what’s been going on here (and ps: see our FA Cup wishlist) …

Among Salut! Sunderland‘s pet hates, a weekend without football ranks high.

There are FA Cup 6th round ties this weekend, and important FA Youth Cup games (the FA’s own site originally had Liverpool and Man Utd having to play their 6th round tie before the winners beetled off down the M6 to London for the first leg of a semi final at Chelsea three hours later: the semi has now been put back to Wednesday).

And Sunderland’s ladies’ team carry our best wishes in their FA Women’s Cup 5th round game against Lincoln City.

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Anything Tash can do, Victoria can do – as well. To think Salut! Sunderland was moaning only a few weeks ago about the lack of female contributors, so much so that we issued a Calling All Mackemoiselles appeal. The re-appearance of Tash Scott’s admirable essay, written at 14, that helped her towards an A* grade in GCSE English prompted Ken Gambles – see comments to Tash’s piece – to draw our attention to Victoria Clare of Consett.

Ken, a prominent Sunderland supporter (N Yorks branch of SAFCSA) and author, praised Tash’s work. But he added that Victoria’s account of a vital game at West Ham in 2005 when she would have been about 15 was also “an excellent evocation of what it means to be a young female Sunderland supporter”.

He was right.

So here it is, with thanks to Ken; click here if you fancy buying a copy of Black Catalogue, the book edited by Ken where it first appeared.

And Salut! Sunderland‘s plaudits go to Victoria, or Vicky (pictured with a current hero, Darren Bent), for an impassioned and mightily impressive piece of writing. It is a long read, well worth setting aside 10 minutes and a mug of tea to savour …

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Not a great game. Pete Sixsmith‘s words, echoed by many, but he also sees reason to draw on such results, from largely uninspiring play, for hope that we may actually be on course in our loftier ambitions …

So, another three points in our relentless quest for a Europa League place and the delights of Sherif Tirana or Bangor City on a Thursday night. I am tingling with excitement at the prospect of playing such giants of the European game.

If we do make it to such exalted heights, games like this one are the ones that really count. This was a bread and butter fixture, against a side similar to what we were: one perennially struggling in the lower reaches of the Premier League.
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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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Some of us can remember it as if it happened yesterday and we still played at Roker Park.

But it didn’t, and we don’t. Just as Hammers of a certain vintage hark back to a certain date in October 1968, we think of May 12 1980.

There was a difference in the scorelines – 8-0 against 2-0 – but our win was over newly honoured FA Cup winners and, though they started strongly and might easily have gone ahead, our victory secured promotion.

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Image: addict_tedKevin

Always look on the bright side of life – even when hubcap thieves in Liverpool are casing the joint, intent on stealing our star striker, and our next opponents suddenly start winning. Monsieur Salut, off to Zurich to report (but not for the British media) on the Fifa decision on 2018/2022 World Cup venues, tries to keep smiling …

The Reserves’ great win at Chelsea aside – and we’re still waiting to hear from the much-praised Louis Laing with a photo we can post – it has not been a week for good news.
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Tonight sees a great chance for Sunderland to make further progress in a winnable competition. Having seen off mighty Colchester, we face Premier League opposition in the form of a team needing a morale-boosting win from anywhere. Not starting with Darren Bent would not seem to do much good to our chances of stopping that win coming tonight – unless Asamoah Gyan is now fully matchfit and raring to get at them. Sam the Hammer (aka Sam H) is our Hammers previewer and this is a repeat of his interview for those who missed it (we are beset with technical problems just now).
Sam is a regular enough visitor to Salut! Sunderland. He’s a techie wizard, genial company over a pint and lord of the manor over at the West Ham Process, one our constant rivals for top spot among the FootballUnited.com hit parade of footie sites. Sam is also one of life optimists, a condition that helps when you support certain clubs (don’t we know it?), but feels this is one Sunderland will win. So, Sam, Who Are You? …

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Image: Mrs Logic

Did I speak too soon in welcoming Steve Bruce’s promise to put out a full strength side? (*See the quotes below).

It may be part of the psychological build-up but he’s now talking of the possibility of Asamoah Gyan’s starting debut occurring without Darren Bent alongside him. In which case it would cease to be a full strength team.

But on to more serious matters. Where to have a pre or post-match pint. Especially if you’re an away fan.

The question was raised by Sam the Hammer, initially in his excellent responses – click here to see – to the Who Are You? questionnaire.

As I admitted on the Blackcats list, to which I appealed for ideas to help Sam, I have never been an away fan in Sunderland so felt a bit stumped.

I suggested the Harbour View – location self-explanatory – for the simple reason that it’s where I go most often.

Because supporters sometimes stay there, the Marriott often has a sprinkling of away fans. But it’s too far and too posh. The Bay used to be friendly and fun, but that didn’t save it from demolition (or from being even farther from the ground that the Marriott).

So here, for Hammers fans making the trip, are the responses I received from fellow Blackcats subscribers:

* (Jeremy) I once got talking to a Chelsea supporter who was lost and looking for directions. I took him in the Fort with a load of my mates. He wrote to the club programme chuffed to bits with the welcome he got. Friendly as owt me. He was on his own. Not sure what the reaction would be in there if a busload showed up.

* (Gordon) There’s often an away contingent in/outside the Colliery Tavern, right next to the ground.  To be honest, I don’t think there’s too many that aren’t friendly in Sunderland but, as you say, never having been an away supporter ……

* (Nic) the Lambton Worm opposite the Empire had a few West ham fans in last season.

Other readers may come up with different recommendations.

It’s all a far cry from Wolverhampton, where every town centre pub barred Sunderland supporters on a sunny Sunday, last game of the season, with everyone in relegation-free party mood.

There were ways round it (and Wolves fans later came hear to suggest away-friendly boozers nearer Molyneux), but unless Salut! Sunderland readers have different experiences, Gordon’s view above – “to be honest, I don’t think there’s too many that aren’t friendly” – should have Sam and his fellow Hammers blowing bubbles of joy.

* And when is a rest not a rest?

Steve Bruce on the possibility of leaving Darren Bent out:
I don’t think it’s a rest – cotton wool comes to mind. I don’t think it’s a rest at this part of the season. Make no mistake, we have some people who need games – Bolo Zenden, for instance, is one, Asamoah Gyan is another, it might be a game to have a look at young Jack Colback – those type of people need a game.

Darren wants to play in every game, but you want him playing against Manchester United and Liverpool. That’s my fear, not resting him at this particular moment. He wants to be involved in every game, he wants to be involved and score a goal, that’s Darren.

Colin Randall

Image: addick-tedKevin

The world has gone mad. A Hammer comes to Salut! Sunderland and promises to buy drinks for all our readers (later modified, wisely, to “a select few of our favourite commenters”) and a Premier manager talks about the importance of the Carling Cup. Luckily, it was our manager and some drinks, at least, are still on Sam the Hammer …

Hammers fans: go straight here

We must welcome Steve Bruce’s promise to put out a strong side to play West Ham in the Carling Cup tonight/tomorrow night (depending on when and where you’re reading this). And news that Asamoah Gyan will make his first start since arriving for £13m from Rennes, should give all Sunderland fans a great buzz.

SAFC, it is safe to predict, will not win the Premier League title just yet. We have every right to expect a distinct improvement on last season’s 13th place finish, but 12 places higher may still be out of our reach.
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Yet another failure to build on a good home performance as we visit the tackiest stadium in the Premier League – at least until SJP makes an unwelcome return. Pete Sixsmith accepts that Zola’s Boys wanted it more than we did and is entertained by Neil Warnock on a long journey home.

The old maxim goes “After the Lord Mayor’s Show comes the dustcarts”. Presumably the dustcarts are there to pick up the rubbish left – and there was plenty to pick up after this apology of a Premier League game.

Last Saturday, we warmed to two teams who appeared to be able to make passes, create chances and right royally entertain a big crowd.

This Saturday we had to endure two teams who had difficulty in making accurate passes, created a handful of chances and drove a full house at Mockney Castle Park to frustration and boredom.

West Ham deserved to win the game because they wanted it a lot more than we did. Never mind the fact that Sunderland had sold their ticket allocation and that fans had had to make early starts to get there, there was the feeling amongst the travelling support that our players knew they were safe from relegation and that the gravy train would continue to call at their stations next year.

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