Dear ALS
Tony Mowbray after West Brom's 2-1 defeat to us back in the Champo a few years back: "I want to be gracious in defeat but I know who was the better side on the day - the team with more control and trying to force the game. But over the next 10 games I would suggest we will end up with more points than them because of the way we play."
Tony Mowbray before the game yesterday: “My message to my team was, you can compete against them. Stephane Sessegnon can do bits and pieces of course, but there is no Ronaldo or Lionel Messi." Probably best to keep your mouth shut next time eh Tone?
Ian Bendelow
Dear ALS
Just wanted to add my contribution to the Lee Ford/Paul Dunn debate about Pulis' comments.
I watched the game on Sky's Football First and the shorter highlights on MOTD. In 'normal time' Huth's tackle looked shocking. I agree that Meyler's attempts to avoid another very nasty injury possibly made the tackle look even worse than it was but the referee didn't have access to the replay and like me, based on what he first saw, must have thought it was over the top in more ways than one, so he issued a red. Anyone who thinks Meyler rolled around on the floor to make it look even worse wants their bumps feeling. I saw Meyler curled into a ball - none of the 10 yard tumbling that someone like Nani does. I suspect Meyler was simply laid there checking if he was still alive and was relieved that he hadn't soiled himself in fright. Meyler didn't 'do' anything apart from try to avoid getting another potentially career threatening injury. He didn't 'cheat'.
Who gives a toss what Pulis thinks anyway? The man's a potential waste of DNA. Look at how much money he's been able to spend in recent years. Look at how many strikers he's got. Perhaps he was gobbing off to deflect people from wondering why his strike force couldn't score or why his team are slipping nicely down the league?
In the Stoke game there was another nasty tackle after the Huth incident. I can't remember who the Stoke perpetrator was but I think he didn't even get booked and even one of the commentators thought the tackle was worse than Huth's. Our Tony didn't offer his words of wisdom on that one did he?
Listen to MON. His comments are considered, thought out and reasoned. When Pulis opens his mouth, do yourself a favour and turn the TV off - or at least turn over to say, one of the wildlife programmes and watch some more intelligent life forms (like the ones that live at the bottom of ponds).
GDB
Dear ALS
At the moment it appears to be 30 all in the tense match between Lee Ford and myself, and at the risk of boring your readership I will have to make a decent serve to take the lead.
A bigot is a person who's intolerant of other's views differing from their own. I think I gave him leeway in my earlier reply by assuming his comments were based on hindsight rather than a real time decision and to repeat ex Stoke player Macari, 'I'd have sent Huth off' With action replay facilities MON hasn't changed his mind and neither have I. Intent was there even if he did have a last millisecond change of heart.
Ford must, in my opinion, be a seasoned watcher rather than a player to come to conclusion that the tackle was OK and Meyler was merely feigning injury to achieve the sending off. Having played the game from 1961 until 1994, starting at Dene House Juniors and retiring after achieving my aim of playing in the same team as my son, I can recall being on the receiving end of many a tackle similar to Huth's. These however were in the days when no protection was afforded by referees. It was after all a man's game as Ford says. Those days have gone due to the FA's directive. They haven't made that decision lightly. They've used video technology and injury records, unavailable in my days, and have seen how dangerous these type of tackles are/were.
I lost too many shifts at work due to players using thuggery as a tool to mask their footballing inadequacies. In Meyler's case he could have been looking at a career ending injury if Huth had made full contact. We all wish to see blood and thunder football with meaty tackles that are an intrinsic part of the game and they still exist but I'm afraid the tackles made by Huth, Robson and Hoyte in the last two games come nowhere near legal while bordering on malicious with intent to injure. If I'm not mistaken isn't David Vaughan our for a few weeks based on one of these tackles which caught him square on the shin?
I've been a fan since the Dead Sea was only poorly and watched the likes of Hurley, Irwin, Sharkey, Mulhall and Fogarty in my first games and while that doesn't give me superiority over his opinions it allows me comment on how football has changed and the tackling issue changes are for the better IMHO. Then again I speak as an ex forward who probably only made two tackles a game.
In the words of Voltaire, 'I disagree with what you say but will defend to the death your right to say it', hardly makes me a bigot does it Lee?
Regards
Paul Dunn
PS. If Lee Ford respects the views of the MOTD panel I rest my case as he doesn't understand the meaning of the word 'Biased'.
Dear ALS
In reply to Diane Ellison's letter which is addressed to Tony Pulis, again we have another one of our supporters more interested in another club and the way it plays.
Stoke to be fair are a club that have proved so many wrong, but to try and suggest by writing this letter that our club are in some way superior is complete and utter trash backed up with no facts what so ever. To try and imply that the ball when launched by Delap is met by and I quote "7 foot giants fouling, pushing and kicking the defence" is incorrect and extremely narrow minded. When we scrutinise our own free kicks, corners and throws in distance of the box we also send up our biggest players to cajole and win the ball with aerial presence, in and attempt to pressurize and dominate the opposition.
Again tactics are not the same for any team and we have witnessed this first hand ourselves with the changes at the top in our own club but the facts remain that diving and feigning injury is cheating and pushing to a degree while challenging for the ball is not as Diane believes (read the FA rules and interpretation). To suggest also that players go out onto the field of play to intentionally kick and harm other fellow professionals is an absolutely disgraceful comment, yes I admit in some occasions during games tempers rise and bad tackles will happen. But it becomes increasingly difficult for officials to separate between those that are genuine and those that play act and roll round to achieve a red card for what would be normally just a bookable offence.
I accept a difference of opinion, but again it is possible that due to the author of the letter being a women and the game is predominantly played and supported by men that the views on what is seen as a fair challenge and a reckless one is a matter of debate. This isn't the ideology of some Neanderthal just a supporter who wants blatant cheating - whether diving or feigning injury- out of our game like the majority of supporters and maybe if we achieve this utopia, then maybe Diane's gripes over physicality can be addressed and all other minor misdemeanours which occur due to this being a contact sport can be tackled by the FA. Paradoxically in hindsight maybe, this will appease the "crown green bowling brigade" who by eradicating all enjoyment from football games can sit under their tartan throws whilst sipping from a flask cup, knowingly smug in what they've achieved while the rest of the footballing population suffer from this single minded rationale of the few.
Lee Ford
Dear Tony Pullis
Up to now I always had a lot of respect as to how you have taken stoke from being an average Championship club to a stable Premiership side with the bonus of Europe
In the process you have taken directly or indirectly ex Sunderland players and moulded them into a very difficult to beat side . But please don’t bleat on about David Meyler cheating your boys. The kid has nearly had his career finished twice before it started and on a surface fit for dancing on ice he is supposed to know that Huth is going to slide through and "pull back" bloody impossible to do anyway.
Much of your success is based on cheating. Every high ball from fee kick corner or Delap is met by five 7 foot giants fouling, pushing and kicking the defence in the (not vain) hope that the ref is watching the ball and not looking at the rest of the box and yes I was behind the goal for last year’s 3-2 defeat which should never have been (fouls on two goals).
So shut the @@@@ up and take defeat like a man and personally if you don’t think Jonesy is up to it send him back and MON will get the best out of him . It’s like a long lovely dream
Diane Ellison
PS: I noticed the absence of letters from those loyal to Brucie at end not having the balls to say maybe the growing majority weren’t deluded ungrateful and wrong-funny that .
Dear ALS
In reply to the views expressed with regards to my earlier email regarding players cheating and feigning injury.
The bigoted views of Paul Dunn clearly show how fans like him believe that their opinion is so vastly superior to any one else's contrary to the evidence that is presented to them in the cold light of day. Yes Huth's red card has been upheld today by the FA but we should not be surprised by this when we look at their track record either in the past or more recently.
Dunn quotes the remarks of Lou Macari and how he would of also removed Huth from the field of play this still doesn't mean that the decision was right when faced with the fact that Meyler once Huth had been sent off got up like and continued to run like a Gazelle. If the injury that he pretended to have sustained had happened he would of been stretched off this shows the actions of a cheat and we are seeing it all to often in the game either here or abroad. (No one on the panel at MOTD believed the challenge warranted a red card).
Another assertion which is made in the same email and previous email by Dunn is that the game should be played in a certain way and any way other than what he perceives to be correct is derided and scorned upon as rough house tactics. If I remember rightly the game is played by men and is a contact and physically challenging sport which will result in tussles and fouls, maybe he has already forgotten some of the tactics dished out by former managers of our club (namely -Steve Bruce).
It would seem to me that Dunn is so blinkered by his views with the game that if they become to common place with the masses then the last one in the stadium please turn of the light (good pun eh Paul at least I have a sense of humour).
Lee Ford
Dear ALS
I applaud the fact that you allow contrary opinions on football.
I do question whether Lee Ford is speaking with the hindsight of action replays. Much has been made of Kompany's dismissal and most would argue that it was a wrong decision but at the time it looked nailed on. Referees don't however have that facility and just as Howard Webb saw Osman get hoofed in the air by Cattermole (wrongly), Martin Atkinson saw Huth clatter into Meyler on the deck with both legs extended until the last millisecond in real time. Who's to say Atkinson wouldn't have reversed the decision with the hindsight Lee Ford is using. I'm damn sure if he (Ford) was at the game (also assuming he's a Potter) he'd have been baying for the dismissal if it had been the other way round, especially if it had been Cattermole making the challenge. Lou Macari has since stated that if he was referee, he'd have binned Huth in real time, but changed his mind with an action replay. Sums it all up though doesn't it.
I do also question his accusation of play acting/simulation/cheating, whatever you call it. Meyler did no such thing. I think Lee Ford should read the rest of my comments. They focused on the rough house tactics and constant whinging of Pulis and his team. A charge he is most certainly guilty of.
Regards
Paul Dunn
Dear ALS
For any football fan to believe that this challenge merited a sending off is completely ridiculous and I think that Tony Pulis is absolutely correct in his frustrations that the player in question did make the most out of the tackle and in doing so he attempted to fool the ref (Atkinson) into producing a red card. By play acting in this manner the player did act in the most un-gentlemanly of ways and any professional footballer doing so should be ashamed of themselves for getting another fellow professional sent off.
Other players, pundits, spectators and fellow football fans alike would have applauded this player and his actions if he had just stood up and got on with the game instead of feigning an injury which resulted in this now debacle and shows players from Sunderland to be cheats in our proud national sport.
I can understand the comments of injury problems in the past but surely you risk more injury by diving in this way and landing in the way in which he did, I would think that the only injury he sustained on Saturday was the bruises to the palms of his hands and side.
Also why do managers come out in the press to defend this or any other type of play acting when the next game they are the ones ridiculing such decisions and bemoaning a referee for the same reasons. I hope that the red card in question to this debate is rescinded and the FA finally see sense and start banning players who attempt to get others sent off for the most innocuous of challenges.
Lee Ford
Dear ALS
Suppose I have to jump on the Aussie Bandwagon.(Lota Brisbane)
Tony Pullis you are a halfwit with a team of thugs.(say no more it would be a waste) . MON you have again given me the confidence to stay up on a Sunday morning to watch the lads on TV and have that feeling that we may win. Has anyone else got the feeling that under SB we would have been scrapping with Wigan at this point for bottom place?
Is our football brilliant no of course not but by god the lads are fighting like hell and this alone is at least a point which is now being turned into wins. Also a wry smile was present on my face on watching Blackburn v Arsenal when i thought i heard Eric Blacks name mentioned helping Steve Keane he really used all his vast experience learnt from SB to help guide them to a 1-7 defeat.
My only half if not quarter complaint of MON was that he did not take charge for the Wolves game and we would have been 3 points closer to the skunks that play out of the Giants.Potty.com. A Burnopfield lad myself and a proud Geordie I am glad all the issues have been addressed regarding loyalties.
My last 7 years spent in Sedgefield before coming to here I hope Clive and the lads are still running the 3 buses going up the A19 to the best stadium on the planet. Take care all and i am envious I’m not there for the games and the banter.
Martin Cairns (doon unda) FTM
Dear ALS
The brand new hype of Twitter which many people have started to use to find out the latest information and latest rumours of players being tipped in and out of clubs. However Twitter helped me to appear on TV for the sports program called ‘Sports Tonight Live’ I was contacted and asked if I would like to appear on the show and represent Sunderland A.F.C for the FA cup 4th round vs. Middlesbrough. I was thrilled and really excited about the chance to appear live on TV!
The studios are situated not too far from London Euston station, so I had a rough idea about how to get there. Thankfully I didn’t get lost and I walked into the studio’s 30minutes before kickoff. Surprisingly I wasn’t nervous and the people working in the studios at the time made me feel really at ease asking me lots of questions and making me feel really welcome. When I walked through into the recording area I was greeted by Nigel Spackman and Chris Cohen who were presenting the show.
My job was to watch the game and give feedback about how both sides were doing in terms of chances, possession and any key incidents to report. It was really enjoyable and a great laugh with Chrissy Cohen and Spackers who were a great laugh to be alongside.
I wouldn’t say it was better than actually being at the game yourself because that can’t be beaten! However I would definitely recommend it as it is a great opportunity to get you on TV!
The one downside was the result as we didn’t win although I was asked back to do commentary on the Norwich game three days later which was really good! Plus with the three points and up to 8th in the league that gave me something to shout about!
This just proves that Twitter isn’t all bad and the likes of Joey Barton are few and far between!
Sam Lightle
Dear ALS
Am I the only person who sees Tony Pulis on TV and could comfortably stroke his face with the back of a shovel? I could say the same about Roy Hodgson and 'Arry Redknapp but they'll have to wait.
He has never endeared himself to football fans with his style of football. Neither I imagine to many footballers with a stature of less than 6 feet. In fact he's a dinosaur from the days when club scouts and coaches wouldn't consider trials for lads under 5 feet 10inches as they weren't considered strong enough for the game. Thankfully some sensible football people could see skill as an asset and the likes of Bobby Kerr were allowed to join the party. However, I digress.
My ire is aimed at Pulis for his accusation of "cheat" aimed at Meyler. This is a lad who's just recovered from many months out with an injury that 30 years ago wrecked a player's career. I'm not saying Huth intended to take either ball or man and didn't care which he got but the fact is he went sliding on the deck and without the evasion tactics deployed by Meyler he could have sustained a nasty injury, whether a studded boot was used or not.
Of course football is a physical game and contact is a guarantee, in fact it enhances it but there are limits. Players should expect a bit of protection from thugs and I'm afraid the Stoke team contains a few that fit the bill. After all, Pulis buys six footers for that purpose while complementing his aerial tactics.
If, last Sunday, Boro had been playing Stoke instead of us, I'd stake my wages Pulis would have been dancing in his techno box berating the 4th official after some of the tackles our lads had to contend with.
The guy is a hypocrite. His players pull, push and wrestle opposition players at corners, which has been highlighted on a few occasions on MOTD or Sky, so they must be following the coach's instructions.
He also should mind his own bloody business when commenting on who should be next England manager. We all know the next man must be English as the fans have said so and MON is not English. Well that's my defence to prevent the theft of our MON.
Onwards and upwards
Regards
Paul Dunn
Dear ALS
Hi from an awful summer from Christchurch New Zealand, Aussie Bob and Aussie Simmo summed it up quite nicely, as an ex pat from Silksworth, Sunderland and an avid supporter it has been so frustrating waking up on a Sunday morning to look at the gloom, however since MON Sunday morning has become a joy, even our run of earthquakes now isn’t as depressing. Looking forward to the Stoke game, live on Sky in NZ.
Reading in the Press reports MON ready for a top four club, why not at Sunderland, I know football today has changed over the years but when Brian Clough first went to Forrest who would have thought they would have lifted the Euro Cup.
Keep the Dream
Kiwi Mackem
Dear ALS
I agree with Aussie Simmo and Aussie Bob, life surely has changed under MON. I do not live in Aussie, I live in Southern California (mostly sunny. 360 days, the rest of the year sucks); however, the feelings are the same.
Often times getting up at 4am to catch the match; often wondering why after the first five minutes. Lived through the bad days of 15 and 19 point seasons; trying to find a superstition that actually worked.
Coffee first, give up the coffee, Tea, forgo the sausage, leave out the fried eggs, leave out the wife, sell the kids, fry the dog, pray to the lord (I’ll give up the fags), make a deal with the devil (I’m yours… anything). The list was endless.
The humour of Sobs, even in our bad days, and the fair comments of ALS, do go some way to alleve the pain of defeat. However, living in England the defeat is at 5pm in the afternoon (lasts for days though); Overseas, the defeat is at 8 or 9am in the morning. Poor kids and dog, plus the wife, have to put up with me all day (all week). They know when SAFC have been beat.
New superstition put a great manager in the dugout. Why didn't we think of that before? That might work. Prayers answered. Under MON, even the 2 defeats have been bearable, the lads gave their all and should be applauded. What a difference.
Now some silly individuals are saying that we can beat the teams above us; oh we did, Swansea, and Norwich (never would have happened under SB. Actually it did not). Now they are saying we can beat the few remaining teams above us ie Arsenal, Liverpool, and some team punching above their weight.
Jackie White
Dear ALS
I made reference to the Stoke game in an earlier letter following a humbling (Steve Bruce's only good game in charge) which resulted in Stoke going on since the 4-0 at the Stadium of Light to play Tottenham in the Carling Cup, Manchester United in the Premiership and then Besiktas in the Europa League.
I made mention of the fact that Stoke continue to play the same style of football in each game (they have a plan), they work very hard (they were committed to the plan and the coaching staff's instructions to carry it out) and create goal scoring opportunities whilst being resolute at the back (acting like the top 10 team they are supposed to be these days).
30 September was a bright day in a very dark period when I wrote the letter. But since 11 December Sunderland have achieved, over achieved and surpassed everything anyone could have imagined.
Firstly they acquired MON. MON is a great judge of players and personalities. He too realised that the Stoke team were not a better collection of individuals than we had at Sunderland?
Secondly MON set his standards high. He doesn't want to play football like Stoke, but just like Tony Pulis, MON wants and gets everything from his players each game (unlike what Steve Bruce used to get from the same collection of individuals).
Thirdly MON recognises that Sunderland and Stoke are possibly very similar types of football cities; both want commitment and effort and a sense that the team gave its all whatever the outcome. He delivers and so do the players for themselves, each other, MON and the fans.
Stoke supporters leaving the Britannia Stadium this evening after the loss to Sunderland were not euphoric (like they were in September) and as for looking forward to remainder of the season all they have to look forward to is a trip to Valencia in the Europa Cup.
However, each and every one of the Sunderland supporters leaving the Britannia Stadium has so much to look forward to -maybe we can begin to dream that if MON continues to succeed we can all have a trip to Valencia or similar very soon?
"Be Honest (back in September when I wrote my letter) you didn't expect Sunderland to be doing that today did you?"
Chris Cummings
Dear ALS
Tony Pulis does himself and his team no favours. He sounds more and more like Neil Warnock. Refs have a bad enough job, instant decisions versus criticism at leisure in the studio, etc.
But to deny that his man touched Meyler is ridiculous; he should have watched the video before he opened his mouth, again. He can question the refs decision i.e. red or yellow or warning, but he cannot willy nilly accuse someone of acting, when they clearly were not is not on. The wheels are falling off his bus so he is lashing out at others rather than look at himself. We've seen it all before, Neil Warnock is the role model. Clough, Busby, Nicholson, Stokoe etc never whinged in this manner.
Rants like this can affect player’s career. Poor Meyler unable to defend himself, but hopefully he knows exactly what happened
Regards
Smiddums
Dear ALS
No, not in Sydney – about 2 hours’ drive N from the Sydney city centre - in Lake Macquarie – on the NE corner of Lake Macquarie in Eleebana, a mile to the lake on one side and about 4 to the beach on the other. Some would say we are one of the southern suburbs of an unmentionable big city about half an hour’s drive north but I wouldn’t!
We are also about a couple of miles West of Gateshead, about 10 miles east of Ryhope, and there’s a few other NE (Tynemouth / N Shields / Cullercoats) connections, Wallsend, Killingworth, Morpeth etc all within a few miles, in total I think there’s about 40 place names lifted from the NE plus a few that seem to have got misplaced, Cardiff is a few miles away and Swansea just down the road and Birmingham gardens as a suburb of the aforementioned unmentionable town.
Bleak looking game with little in the way of football this morning, I was really worried the ref was going to abandon the game towards the end but he didn’t and we ground out the result, doesn’t seem to matter who’s in the team at the moment, we do the job and long may it continue!
Cheers
Aussiebob
Dear ALS
This is a great time, however, the great oracle MON has warned against high expectations this year. Let us listen to the man, take a step back, accept 40 points to be safe, and look forward to next year. We may suffer one or two setbacks on the way.
Secretly, I'm expecting 5th place... MON is like me, doesn't want to jinx it. Leave it to the MON, let him pick the team, don't complain.
Also, I forgot, was my last promise to God or was it to the devil. I'm sure I'll find out. If it was to the latter, I'm surely enjoying the ride to hell. The wife is also loving the MON era.
As a gesture of good faith toward Mr. Short and Sir Niall for freezing ticket prices next season, I will purchase two season passes and donate them to someone local who can attend the games.
Let's stick together and enjoy Niall's magic carpet ride.
Surely, A Love Supreme
Dear ALS
I can only assume that Aussie Bob is here in Sydney? The coldest and wettest December since the 50's and the coldest and wettest January since the 60's. Third day into Feb, and its cold and wet.
One of the benefits of living so far away from my beloved SAFC (an avid home and away supporter as a younger man) is that I could wake up in the morning, dread looking at the results, see the result, and feel really disappointed with the way things are going. Then make a coffee, sit outside, let the morning summer sun take away the bad feeling from another bad result. The kids and missus would wake up soon after and I would sort of forget about the bad result.
Since MON has taken over the realm, and it's the worst summer for a long time in Sydney, my Sunday morning ritual is reversed. I wake up, make a coffee, stand outside and watch the rain come down, feeling a little short changed. But then I look at the results, see that we have either won, had a draw, or played really well and were unlucky. I start to feel better. I start to not worry how the weather is. The kids and missus get up and all is well in the world.
I can’t wait for next summer. The weather back to normal and Sir Martin guiding our team around the park again. You won’t be able to wipe the smile of my face on a Sunday or Monday morning.
Aussie Simmo
Dear ALS
Hi from a wet (about 3 inches in the last 2 or 3 days) and cold (19 degrees) Australian summer, which is why I’m stuck in front of the computer with little to do but a few sums about possible / likely finishing positions.
Another great win last night – watched it live this morning our time.
I read somewhere on the net that this is the best start by a Sunderland manager in over 100 years, but I can’t find it again so if anyone has the stats I’d love to have it confirmed.
I wrote a few weeks ago that a continuation of the form we had up til then under MON (5 games in the Premiership) would see us on 60 points by the end of the season, now at 8 games in we’re looking at 65 points for the end the season (which would have got us in fifth last season) - if we keep collecting them at the same rate as the last 8 games, and if I do the same calculation on the Scum based on their whole season they end up on… 64 points and they are currently lying in fifth.
So hopefully onwards and upwards and here’s to our best finish since the 1954-5 season – when I was 4 and MON was 2!
Cheers
Aussie Bob
Dear ALS
Just read your editorial piece regarding the so called Geordie nation. You have it spot on.
I was born in Jarra and have supported SAFC since 1958. There used to be a saying in Jarra that when you were born the first time you went out of your front door – if you turned right you supported SAFC, but if you turned left you supported the Mags. How true that is I don’t know but I do know that my father took me to Roker Park in those days and I was hooked.
Being born in Jarra I am officially a Geordie (ie someone born on either bank of the River Tyne, between Scumcastle and Shields). I am proud to be a Geordie, but not a Mag, and there is a big difference.
As you quite rightly state there are thousands of Geordies who support SAFC and always will no matter where they come from or live. I don’t mind being called a Mackem by my Mag mates and relatives (yes there are some), and in fact when I am on holiday if anyone asks me I say I am a Mackem, just because of my football allegiance.
I now live up in Consett (Castleside) and being a member of the local SAFCSA Consett branch can confirm that Sunderland supporters up here are thriving (over 150 in our branch) despite the fact that since the Keegan era this area is majority black n white scum, most of whom have never even seen the inside of the Sports direct arena. Deluded barcodes the lot of them.
Anyway thanks for the good article – and Mackems please remember we are all SAFC fans together and it should stay that way – KEEP THE FAITH!!
Oh and I nearly forgot… BRUCE OUT !!
Ken the Consett Mackem!
Dear ALS
Thanks John. I was there behind the goal at Posh with my lad Lloyd – and the atmosphere was electric from start to finish.
We started singing half an hour before kick-off – and were still at it pouring out into the car park afterwards! I’ve just got my voice back two days later. It was the best non-stop singing I’ve taken part in since the Fullwell circa 1976 – and Lloyd who’s 21, was totally blown away. He’s seen and heard nothing like it. The retro chants for legends like King Charlie, Quinninho and Super Kev helped cap an unforgettable afternoon at London Road which raised the hairs on the back of my neck…
Maybe next time we’ll salute Jimmy Monty too – a true Roker giant. As for the blessed Martin – he should be renamed Merlin O’Neill after the sublime magic he’s conjured. Every SAFC fan I know has wanted MON since he left Leicester for Celtic – and all our dreams, at last, have come true.
Working with the lads Brucie brought in – and let’s be honest SB added real quality – he’s made us the most in-form team in the country.
Five wins out of seven, three victories in a week, the likes of Man City humbled. And as well as being the best man motivator in the 4 leagues – and son and heir to the magnificent Brian Clough – Martin’s a genuine gent, a proper football man and a genuine human being.
I’m convinced Sunderland was the job he always wanted, he’s got red and white blood running through his veins. Thank God Quinny and Ellis Short did their bit, sacked Bruce and snapped up Martin just in time – it’s a marriage made in heaven and now the sky really is the limit.
The club that we all love and cherish is being reborn and resurrected before our very eyes. Martin O’Neill’s Red and White Army has struck camp and is well and truly on the march!
Keep the Faith
Red Williams
Market Harborough
Dear ALS
Just a note to thank everyone who stood behind the goal at Peterborough yesterday…
The non stop singing of everything from 'Who's the greatest centre half' to 'We thought you were dead' generated one of the best atmospheres at any Sunderland game since the seventies and if we can replicate it back at The SOL we will be a goal up before we even kicked off. Absolutely brilliant, best support bar none in the Premier League.
John Robson
Sedgefield
Dear ALS
I am absolutely disgusted at what is happening to our once great club, if this does not stop soon we could be looking at finishing quite high up in the league.
As a regular moaner on this page I have not one thing to moan about. Players showing passion, commitment and playing as a team, what is going on at our club? Quite simply they have employed a really good manager in MON and there will be more to come once he gets his head around who stays and who goes. I don’t want to tempt fate but I think we can look forward to some really decent games coming up and having a right go at the skunks next month.
Regards
Mark Liddle
Dear ALS
Anyone who reads the letters page will know how much I wanted rid off our last manager, nothing to do with where he came from, but the fact that the life was being drained from the club.
The belief that MON has returned to the club is superb, we now see passion, commitment, desire and players knowing what they are supposed to be doing. There are many examples of players being given a new lease of life, but the change in Sess is brilliant. Under our last manager he was in danger of becoming a new Steeeed, beats loads of players but no end product either in goals or assists, what a difference now.
To me though not only is my belief back but I go to the match now with the same enthusiasm as I did as a young kid, dreaming of cup runs and Sunderland winning against the so called big teams. That is what MON has brought back to Sunderland.
Eddie Kenyon
Dear ALS
My mother always said that we all have a Guardian Angel looking after us. If that is true then MON must have a host of them and the good thing is they are all Sunderland supporters.
What can you say about this man. I wrote to you a few weeks ago saying that he can motivate, but I didn't think he could perform miracles. It just goes to show what a bit of belief, desire, passion and commitment can do. Long may it go on because we long suffering supporters deserve it. One thing I will say is please get off Bendner’s back because he is a decent footballer used to a different type of play and criticism will only make things worse.
Happy new year to all Sunderland supporters
William Howd
Dear ALS
I wrote in a short while ago about hoping that Cattermole wouldn’t get back in the team after missing MON’s first game but he has and while its early days yet he does seem to be a different player under MON – who has been very supportive of him in his comments so far (as he has of all the players).
So I’ll take back what I said about Cattermole – let’s hope the new version remains as he has been in the last few matches – he absolutely worked his socks off against Man City – and let’s hope MON can really build him up into the sort of tough, hard but not dirty player we need at the heart of our midfield.
We have 10 points from 15 under MON with the same players – in fact arguably we fielded (on paper) a much inferior team against Man City - as against 11 from 45 before that, almost 3 times the return.
If we’d matched MON’s rate all season we’d be on 40 points or so now which would put us in 3 rd place, (yeah I know I’m only dreaming but why shouldn’t I after some of the dreadful stuff I’ve seen over the last 45 or so years). Still 60 points at the end of the season sounds quite possible if we can maintain that rate – particularly if we do strengthen during the current transfer window.
As for the long ball game, frankly at the moment I’ll settle for anything MON likes as long as it gets results, in time hopefully he’ll get in the players he wants and we may (or may not) get more attractive football but for now I’ll settle for effective football.
Aussie Bob
Dear ALS
Well we have the choice of manager we wanted, although I seem to remember someone saying if the heard MON’s name again he would be sick!
If anyone thinks that under Mr Bruce we might even have got a draw today, well we wouldn’t have! Man City’s players looked totally frustrated by the tackles coming in by our boys; I have to say, even by Cattermole. What a change in attitude, watched the match in South Africa, the pre match bollocks said that if Sunderland were offered twelfth place they would take it now, well, we will not!
What great defending, not just by us but also WBA, no goals against either of us in three hours of play against probably the most expensive team in the world, we should both be proud.
Enjoying it again, very happy
Chris Moffatt
PS: I wouldn’t want to be a Wigan supporter, here we go
Dear ALS
I’m not one for knee-jerking or getting on the team or manager but I’m getting rather frustrated at the long-ball.
I’m not one them guys who says the long ball is shit because it’s not. It can be quite effective. Just look at Mourinho’s Chelsea or Big Sam’s Bolton. With the right players, it is a damaging tactic that teams struggle to live with.
Unfortunatley, Sunderland currently don’t have the correct players. All due respect to Connor Wickham, and very little to Nicklas Bendtner, they are never going to consistently win headers, making our game plan nul and void.
I know it is unfair to blame O’Neill for this as he hasn’t had a chance to bring anybody in or move anybody on. However, even I can see that with our current strikers it just will not work. Samba cut everything out when we played Blackburn and Distin and Jagielka were just as dominant.
Fair play to MON. The system worked for him at Aston Villa, Celtic and Leicester but look at the players he had. People like Heskey, Sutton, Hartson and Carew. These are very dominant forwards who win more or less everything in the air.
I know O’Neill will probably go after a similar player in January, but until then, surely we need to change the game plan and play to our strengths. We kept the ball on the floor in little spells against Everton and we killed them, but then we reverted to lumping the ball toward Bendtner and we were so ineffective.
Joe Fairclough
Dear ALS
Ah well, here we go again, complaints about team selection already. Maybe we just start Bruce's 11? Closest thing to Brian Clough we can get and already some people are questioning team choices and substitutions. Name me one player in this squad MON bought? MON has been nothing but positive. Seven points out of four games is probably six points more than we would have had under the old regime.
I think all SAFC supporters should thank Mr. Bruce for his solid work; MON has not knocked the previous management, everyone must progress, I wish him luck. Back to MON. Give him free range and the money Keane and Bruce spent and we will be in the Europa Cup within two years, CL after that if the support is still there.
Remember, Quinny, Short, and MON can only give so much support; we the supporters need to provide 99% of it; vocal, gate money, etc. This season may be saved by MON (relegation under Bruce? or was the rhetoric we were too good to go down to be believed? Next season improvement; season after here we go.
Short and Quinny have shown their faith; it is our turn to show MON our faith. Be patient; remember where he found us, suffering. Give him the backing he deserves.
Jackie White
Dear ALS
Complaining about decisions is a fruitless exercise but that doesn't prevent discussion or debate. Monday's penalty decision by Howard Webb has apparently been accepted with a laissez faire (let things alone) attitude by MON and many other fans.
I however, think his decision had another factor. That being, who was the player in close proximity to Osman? Webb took a while to make the call after stooping low to get a different angle on the situation. What the hell was that about? Maybe it was theatrics, after all referees are so important to the spectacle of a game of football today aren't they? My take is that he took the extra look and saw that a certain Lee Cattermole was the player behind Osman and that influenced his decision. No doubt in my mind.
Compare Webb's decision with Lee Mason's in the Citeh v WBA game the same day. Having previously booked Yaya Toure in the game, Mason then gave a free kick against Toure, who in a petulant display thumped the ball in frustration which caused it to balloon away from the spot. Now ask yourself if that had been Catts in the same situation would it have been ignored by the ref? No, of course it wouldn't and Catts would have seen a second yellow with the red following immediately. What I thought was even commented on by Lawrenson on the (2nd last, 5 minute, this game doesn't matter) MOTD highlights. He thought the fact that Catts was there made Webb's mind up.
What I'm saying is what many of us either think or know. Refs will make decisions based on who it affects. How many times have we as fans thought that tackle or that comment by any other player would have been a free kick/penalty and subsequent booking for many a SAFC player but especially for our #6.
To conclude, I'd also suggest that knowing he'd kicked the turf and then led the appeals for a penno would put Osman in the simulation/cheating bracket that the FA insist must be eradicated. What will happen about it? Nowt of course, as anything the ref decides in a game is sacrosanct and only missed incidents can be penalised under FA laws. So does that mean Webb deserves a punishment for incompetency or that he is not an honest ref as I've heard no comment about his "mistake" from his mouth.
Onwards and upwards with MON
P Dunn
Dear Howard Webb,
I was sat in Durham, watching a blurry internet stream, from a country 3000 miles away (sorry Niall but I’m skint).
You were 8 fucking yards away and still managed to miss the fact that he kicked a trench so deep in the turf; it wouldn't have looked out of place in the Somme.
A PENALTY???????
If you spent less time waxing and more time in Specsavers you would probably get the admiration you so obviously crave. You ruined my Christmas, like a big smooth baldy Grinch. I hope you're proud.
FTM
Gary Winship
Durham
Dear ALS
Just wanted to say ALS has been grim reading for quite a while. This is no reflection on your lyrical writing, but the succession of disappointments consistently provided by SAFC. However I wanted to say that the MON editorial was perfect and well over due read. You summed up the significance of getting a manager of O’Neill’s calibre, but also handled the legacy of Bruce well. I particularly agreed with your synopsis of the media reaction to Bruce’s departure.
The optimism and celebration in the bars of Sheppard’s Bush after the QPR victory were something special. I can't help but feel it would have been a depressing pint after a 3-2 defeat with Bruce still at the helm, predictably followed by "unlucky Sunderland".
Anyway MON is here and everyone at SAFC is happy.
Thanks for the great read and have a great Christmas.
All the best,
Steffan
Dear ALS
There can be no doubt that luck, good or bad, is a factor for every Premier League club, sometimes it's obvious, like the good luck NUFC have had for their first 11 games, and the bad luck SAFC had during our first 14 games with Steve Bruce.
Other times it's not immediately apparent, probably the best example of this was when Manchester United signed Eric Cantona. A casual off hand enquiry to Leeds United regarding his availability, resulted in the speedy transfer of a maverick player who found his spiritual home at Old Trafford, there he became the catalyst for the start of an amazingly successful run which continues still. Up to the arrival of Cantona, Alex Ferguson was struggling with a struggling team, Cantona lifted team performance but luck had no part with the following years of success, that has to be credited to Ferguson and the MUFC owners desire to improve.
It's a stroke of luck that Martin O'Neill was available: he has created impressive performances (Ala Cantona) from the squad he inherited, an ample demonstration of his motivational skills. For longer term success he will need his power of persuasion when dealing with Ellis Short, if players are sold let it be the Managers decision rather than the owner making a financial call.
For the first time ever! SAFC have everything in position, the SOL, the AOL, the Manager and the supporters. Having only one of these as "the best" would be quite an achievement, but from the top to the bottom we now have the best of all these things, even the squad, when long term injuries are resolved (and Gyan returns), will be capable of surprising the top teams. For too long we have been at the mercy of luck, good (Nial Quinn) and bad (take your pick), there will never be a better time for SAFC to start to compete with the best.
Like many others I suppose, I have developed a "lucky" routine when attending the SOL, lucky sweater, lucky shirt, lucky scarf, the list is endless, all desperate attempts to influence the team performance. Now that Martin O'Neil is here I don`t think is will be necessary anymore, so I shall be relying on the Manager and the team to produce the goods without my bringing tokens and charms, indeed such is my confidence in having a Happy New Year, I won`t even be taking my lucky contraceptives.
Confident? I should say so.
Mike Thompson
Dear ALS
After an encouraging performance yesterday I can’t wait for the transfer window to see what and if an experienced striker or two turns up in January, plus a recognised left back. Hopefully it will be a man who plays for the shirt and not some money grabber. Personally I'd like to see Noble get a chance, but maybe some loan time in championship for a decent side and a shed load of goals will give him his chance next season. Unfortunately, all the strikers we have are injured (Campbell) or don’t look up to the job (Ji), or don’t seem bothered (Bendtner), or inexperienced (Wickham), although in Wickham's case I reckon he will be a great striker for Sunderland in the future.
The rest of the team seems to be ok. Rico (finally in his best position), Vaughan (best passing mid in team), Colback (young and full of life, sometimes misplaced) and Seb (the free kick and crossing king) look good across midfield. Westwood in goal has been class, and the defence when Brown's not been taking a nap has one of the best defensive records in league. Sess also has been class. (I just hope he gets his life settled and stays).
For a team in the position we are in the league maybe our luck is about to change. I don’t think I can ever remember a team who by Mid December has lost games by one goal in all the games they have lost in the league that season. I can’t remember us having much luck with decisions by the referee, or even saying we deserved that thrashing, cos we have not been thrashed by any one. The only thing I can say is this is the season I have been most frustrated with the lack of chances taken. Hopefully with an experienced striker (who stays fit) those half chances will be goals. But we will have to wait and see. It’s up to Martin to find that man!
Jonathan
Chester
Dear ALS
It just goes to show how a favourable media spin can sway the outcome to a game. Referees are only human and can't help but be affected by the opinions in the papers and airwaves. A couple of decisions go your way and you're 3-0 up at half-time cruising against ten men. Bramble could easily have been sent off for his foul in the box. With the ensuing penalty despatched plus the disallowed Samba/Westwood goal, the game would have over.
However, it wasn't. And I'm sure that Steve Kean will feel a little aggrieved watching the MotD2 last night, wondering how he had the misfortune to be cast as the villain in this little Pantomime.
The BBC Love In was there for all to see. It was laid on with a trowel. Boyhood supporter...twinkle in his eye...kicks every ball...one of the great Characters. Still, the Media has its story and we have our Man. There's an expectancy about the club I've not felt since Reidy and SuperKev; a feeling that, perhaps, it's 'Our Turn Now'.
Hopefully, MON's honeymoon with the BBC will last long enough for him to shape a promising bunch of talented, under-achievers, desperately lacking in confidence into a coherent team capable of putting away some chances. We'd better hope he can do it before the Mee-jah Circus rolls out of town again (as it surely shall) then we might start making our way through this still very tight pack. T here's really nothing separating 20 th and 8 th position. (back to back wins will ensure an almost miraculous ascent.)
Fortunately we seem to have a decent squad with players coming back from injury, cautious but happy fans, willing to show their support and, most importantly, a lucky Gaffer. A Gaffer for whom the Players seem willing to play. I wouldn't expect a huge amount of traffic in January. What's the point? There'd only be yet another 'bedding in' process with no real certainty about getting better quality than what we have now. A few faces will be allowed to leave quietly, (there's a couple of Fergie's rejects might find it tough to pull down the wool over Irish eyes) and we may acquire a loanee striker for cover.
Personally I'm very optimistic cos my Granddad told me all about lucky little Irish fellas; if you catch them, they can grant your wishes.
Andy Munro
Dear ALS
I only ever seem to write in when I have something to moan about, so thought I would when I don't.
Really pleased after today, and while there are still the obvious signs of frailty which has hampered our season so far, now there is real optimism in the air. I'm really proud to have O'Neill as our manager - he knows the game inside out, and when he talks, you listen. I wish that his post match interview could have gone on for a lot longer than three minutes today, because he really knows his stuff.
MON: What a hero. Just don't lose a couple of games or I'll start moaning again!
Ian Bendelow
Dear ALS
As with every Sunderland supporter I'm very excited about the appointment of MON, he brings yet another chapter to which was created when Niall Quinn stepped up to take the club forward and by no means has Niall took a step back, I believe he will have been instrumental in the appointment and persuading the chairmen that MON was the right man for the job. He will bring a depth of experience in management in which we haven't experienced in the club for a lot of years.
Sundays result was typical of the Bruce era, a team that was lead by Bruce’s backroom staff, he may not have been on the bench but the dent he has made was there for everyone to see and that will take a while for MON to iron out and get what potentially is a very strong team playing how he wants. As we all know we need a top quality striker this has been evident since January and I don't hold anything against Asamoah Gyan potentially coming back to the club, people may say he left for the money and so did Darren Bent, however to lose two top strikers in a 6 month period says something about the management at the time, players don't just become unsettled over night and there was a lot of circumstances leading up to the two departures, these top quality strikers were never getting the service they required due to Bruce's defensive football. We don't know how Bruce dealt with these to strikers but to lose them was not solely to money, as these two strikers would get exceptional payouts if they left were ever, so let’s not blame Gyan for leaving for money, and if he does come back welcome him back so he can begin to play at his best again!
Let’s hope for a bumper crowd on Sunday your Xmas wishes have been granted and the new team is in place.
Always Sunderland through and through
The Bootneck Mackem
Dear ALS
Like most others I am full of optimism about the arrival of MON, but as has been mentioned I remember the coming of the great Laurie Mc, which was greeted with great optimism and ultimately lead to our brief stay in Div 3!
Having said that MON has been a success at the three clubs he’s managed whereas LM had only been at one. One good thing is that Clattermole is suspended for this weekend’s match so we can only hope we get off to a good start and that Clattermole isn’t able to get back into the team and then gets signed by Brucey at his new club (rumours of Ipswich?) in the January window.
Aussie Bob
Dear ALS
So old big nose was given an early festive prezzie. I have heard of goodwill to all men but against what was a bad Wolves team we went off the scale and showed why Bruce and his sidekicks had to go. No cohesion and leadership and a strike force that couldn’t score in a Mackem brothel with a £50 note hanging off it. Oh to see that show pony Bendtner get a horse whipping when the new boss gets hold of him.
If Martin O’Neill was under any illusions he was dutifully reminded why he is now in the hot seat. He is just the man for the job right now. We will now get proper player selection, tactics, team shape and players who will know what their role is when they step out onto the pitch. All of which is a prerequisite for any team at any level, missing for most of SB’s tenure. Of course do not expect flowing football but teams prepped to win as has been evident in previous O’Neill teams.
Now in the New Year I hope that Ellis does not come up, Short and lays out the readies for a class striker capable of 15-20 goals a season (Bent anyone?) and a creative midfielder that is so badly needed. Come on Martin be the legend we know you are!
Jeff Davison
Dear ALS
I might be being a bit picky here but does anyone else feel a little bit let down that Eric Black was allowed to take charge of the team on Sunday? Would it have been too much to ask for MON to sit on the bench and at least shout at a few of the players every now and again?
Wolves could and should have been three points, but because he decided to start work on a Monday, we were left with Brucey's monkey in charge. Personally, if Martin didn't want to be there, I would have liked Ellis Short sat in the dugout, just to put the shits up some of our 'star' buys. Like I said, maybe I’m being picky.
We are fully behind Martin and in a show of support we are taking a bus of 14 to the game on Sunday, full of former 'stay a ways'. No more excuses.
FTM
Gary Winship
Durham
PS: The next player who say's "we need time to gel" should be sacked. You don't need to gel; you need to get your heads out of your arses.
Dear ALS
Very pleased we have at last got a decent manager; his record of winning matches is something we want to continue.
My only concern is as a lifelong supporter, I remember when we appointed Lawrie McMenemy and the hopes and dreams I had with that. But then how I suffered under his stewardship. I am almost certain this will not happen again but there is always the fear that it could, optimism is not a quality you get the opportunity to experience as a Sunderland supporter.
Norman (Hopeful)
Dear ALS
We all thought, didn’t we, that as they would be playing for their position with the new manager, that they would treat this like a cup final and go out and give their all, otherwise risk getting in his bad books from the start. And what happened. Capitulation. Yet again.
Another first half where Sunderland are the better team but couldn’t put the ball away in order to make the game safe. Richardson scores one of his cracking goals (which he does about once every three seasons) and we are justifiably in the lead but then cannot capitalise on some woeful Wolves defending. Wolves and Wigan are not even Championship quality in my book (see the likes of Huddersfield and Notts County for some spirited play way beyond the capability of these so called Premiership teams) and yet they both walk past our lot as if we weren’t there.
Don’t they call the FGB (Fat Geordie Bastard) Agent Bruce because he is really a secret agent for Newcastle? Well I can believe that. He has really made O’Neil’s task massive now. This was Bruce’s swan song and it was a classic Bruce game. As soon as we got to one nil Black’s mind was on defence with Ji increasingly disappearing into a midfield five instead of being twin striker and then we go one further for this striker to be substituted by a mid fielder Elmohammady so that Bruce’s favourite 4-5-1 formation can finish off his reign as so called manager of our team.
I have two theories about Bruce. One is that as a defender of some great note for Manchester he knows enough about how to organise a back four but has not got a clue about attacking. That entails recruiting strikers as well as organising them and then most importantly arranging for service to them. The second is that for his entire tenure at Sunderland he relied upon his fortuitous purchase of Darren Bent and if that had not happened then he would have been sacked a very long time ago. All of the best bits of the two and a half seasons with him in charge relate to Bent’s goals and without Bent pulling us out of the mire Bruce’s record has been dire. This has echoes of what Hutchison did for us in the second seventh place season under Peter Reid, where Don Hutchison’s massively important goals (which came at crucial times in crucial games) masked what was becoming a threadbare Sunderland team massively in need of investment and which revealed itself in its full horror when Hutchison (and now Bent) was gone.
Another (third) theory could be that Bruce is a not a big club manager. OK at Wigan and Birmingham but massively out of his depth with us where a big club fan base obviously fazed him so much he had to resort to insulting us when things went beyond the pale.
Good bye FGB no one will shed a tear except in the frustrations of the next weeks and months when O’Neill has to work miracles to recover us from your disastrous period in charge.
Alan Fenwick
Dear ALS
Thank God for Mr Short. Can you imagine that display and Bruce still in charge next week, Black should dedicate that result to SB, same team, same tactics, same result. Now let us see what a real manager can do, looking forward to next week have not said that for a while.
Eddie Kenyon
Dear ALS
First the Good news - didn't have to hear from SB whinging as usual about the "rub of the green" or the bounce of the ball" at the end of the game.
Second the bad news - may as well have interviewed him afterwards because the team played like he was still the manager.
Just in case we think MON does not have a tough job ahead just watch the Wolves game again especially after the penalty miss. Not one player was able to take control and try to steer the team and be its leader. We are rudderless and MON's first job is to find a captain from somewhere to give this team a "core". Without a leader all of the bad SB habits show through very clearly when we are asked to play as if the game and result matters.
Finally the best news - my comments are just the thoughts of one person who supports the club. Thank our lucky stars we have now got a manager who will know what I have written makes sense and more besides. God only knows what SB would be saying or doing now!
Let’s hope that 7 days is enough for MON and against Blackburn the first signs of his influence begin to take root!
Chris Cummings
Dear ALS
So end the death throes of Bruce's regime with his second in command taking charge for today's game. Sorry but I'm not sad to see the back of either of you. Black's one opportunity at showing his own skill or talents only proved he was a clone of Bruce. Starting with Ji could have been seen as enterprising in some quarters but by his own admission the change was forced on him by the withdrawal of Turner. Ji was clearly off the pace all through and it would normally have been a surprise to see him come out for the start of the second half but this was Bruce's team, Bruce's squad and Bruce's sidekick. This was typical Bruce stuff - enough chances to have won the game before Larsson's pathetic penalty but no - why do it the easy way when you can make it as hard as possible for yourselves?
Too many of Bruce’s buys (or loans) weren't at the races. Bendtner made Kenwynne Jones look energetic. O'Shea and Brown no longer look the great acquisitions they were deemed in the summer and as for the substitutions, well... After 30 minutes of the first half my other half said we should take Ji off, bring on Bramble put O'Shea to right back, Bardsley to left back, Richardson to left midfield and push Sess up with Bendtner. That's tactical nous from someone with no experience. Black couldn't think like that so we get Elmo who yet again does nothing and eventually Noble for a token 5 minutes or less.
Good riddance to bad stuff. We were beaten by, let's face it, a very poor Wolves side. Let's hope O'Neill can see us for what we are - relegation candidates hand crafted by Bruce but let's also hope he can start working immediate magic. Today's game summed it all up nicely. I'm praying for a miracle and waiting for a sign.
GDB
Dear ALS
Whilst I agree that this is possibly the greatest managerial appointment in my lifetime of supporting Sunderland, I still have faint memories of the excitement over the appointment of a Mr McMenemy and we all know what followed.
As we have never been able to get our hopes up too much, I fear that everyone will be expecting overnight success. We need to have patience and whatever happens let Mr O'Neill see out his three year contract. However after watching MoTD tonight, please, please, please don't sign your favourite forward Emile Heskey in January or you'll be gone in February.
Neil
Mansfield
Dear ALS
One week ago, after the Wigan debacle, I wrote to you and suggested that Mr Bruce's time was up. It seems that Mr Short was of the same opinion and it seems also that he had the same replacement in mind that I did too. I cannot think of anyone at all that I would rather see as manager of Sunderland, and I mean nobody else, not even Mourinho or Guardiola. Martin O'Neill is the best choice for us and I am absolutely delighted that he is now in charge at the SOL.
I am looking forward now to a much better future for the club I love. I will always keep the faith.
Alan Haile
Dear ALS
At long last we have a manager with the calibre and experience our wonderful football club deserves. I would like to congratulate Ellis Short on his choice and wish him and the club every success in the future.
Over recent weeks we have reached a real nadir in our recent history and I am sure that this will now be a new dawn with everything for the fans to look forward to. Let's make sure we kick-start our season with a win tomorrow at Wolves and following that with MON at the helm I feel we can only improve and really achieve success in the future.
Haway the lads
Regards
Rich
Dear ALS
I'd like to comment on the auspicious start to the Martin O'Neil era as having not yet kicked a ball we've already gained two places on the Mags!
Andy Munro
Dear ALS
Fantastic letter from Woodpecker, I couldn’t agree more. Martin O’Neill has the ability, charisma, intelligence, force of personality and sheer magic to become the best SAFC boss since we were born.
As an exiled Mackem in south Leicestershire and football reporter I was on the spot when MoN took over at Leicester in the mid 90s – and totally rocked the place. It’s never been the same since and I know for a fact their new Thai owners begged him to return after sacking Sven Goran Eriksson just weeks ago. Leicester fans begged him to go back. But MoN instinctively had the sense and know how to bide his time and wait for that much bigger, much better job to pop up – and lo and behold he’s turned up at the Stadium of Light!
Ellis Short and King Quinny have done brilliantly to lure the Irish alchemist to Wearside. O’Neill’s blown in like a hurricane breath of fresh air after Bruce’s bleatings and whinges about fans’ unrealistic expectations and too much pressure. You were a decent fella, Brucie, but you never struck a red and white chord and too many performances and results were rubbish. That was then this is now.
Happy days are here again… just in time for Christmas, the New Year and the January window! Irish eyes and Sunderland eyes are smiling.
All the best,
Red
Market Harborough
Dear ALS
I have been looking for a Sunderland site to pass my comments about the likelihood of MON becoming the next Sunderland manager. As a Celtic supporter, I can assure you that MON will bring a lot of things to your club:
Success
Passion
Excitement
Dignity
Pride
Commitment
Belief
Positivity
I promise you, and your elderly mother, he will revolutionise the place. Without the Big, Big money he won't challenge for a Champions League place, but give him 2/3 years and you will not know yourselves.
I wish Martin every success at the Stadium of Light. I am certain that he will turn any counters round and bring respect back to a proud club. Check out his record. He has done it wherever he has been. He had Celtic Park rocking!
Good luck and Watch this space
Yours in envy
Woodpecker
Dear ALS
I’ve just been speaking to my Ma about the change in manager. She has supported the lads for over 40 odd years, she went to every home game at Roker Park from the late 60s, all the way through the 70s and early 80s, until a combination of finances and ill health meant she had to listen happily to the lads via the radio.
She stuck with them through all the dark times, like the relegation to the old Third Division. But this is the first season ever where she has been disheartened enough that she found it hard to care what has been happening this season, she has still listened to all the games, but not with the same passion and enthusiasm from previous years. She is keeping her fingers crossed that Martin O'Neill can bring some much needed stability to our games. As she says time and again. "I'm Sunderland til I die, but why do they have to make it so damned hard!?!"
David Bayles
Langley Park
Dear ALS
It looks like a fantastic week for the majority of SAFC supporters helping to end Bruce’s reign and getting their first choice replacement. Whilst I welcome the appointment of a manager who will get results, move us up the table and perhaps even provide a cup run a word of caution is perhaps needed.
Do not expect to be entertained. Martin’s style of football is more similar to Stoke or Bolton than Spurs or Man City .I am happy to accept this as a price to pay to see us winning football games again, however probably the first player to suffer will be fan’s favourite Sess as he is simply not Martin’s type of player don’t forget Martin once thought Heskey was the best striker in Europe. I just hope the fans are realistic and not expect Martin to have a magic wand, though I feel the future is now much brighter it will still take time to put everything right.
John (Consett)
Dear ALS
Christmas has come early as I have just been informed that Martin O’Neill has accepted the manager’s job.
This man can motivate and help us to move forward to where we ought to be. Let’s not look back but forward to a better future. Happy Christmas to all our supporters.
BH
Dear ALS
Just thought I'd pen you an email to say it how I see it. I have never been part of the 'Bruce-Out' crowd and I am not one for booing as I think it does nothing to the moral or the players or change what is happening on the pitch. I also do not think that the team has been performing too badly so far this season, but we have not taken enough points from teams we should (on paper) beat or from games were we have performed well but ended up walking away with nothing.
That having been said, Steve Bruce had to go. He had 8 months to find and sign a replacement for Bent (up to the close of the last transfer window) which he failed to do. We too often start games flatly, which suggests that his team talks are flat. We too often end games limply, suggesting that our fitness is not good enough. We too often seem to have little or no attacking shape (lose our heads in the last third) suggesting that our training in this area is lacking. We suffer a disproportionate amount of injuries; see the above point about fitness. Yes Bruce was let down by some of the players, but others were just not given a chance.
Ultimately he had the biggest budget of any Sunderland manager ever and we are in exactly the same position where we started when he took over, with our prospects looking glummer by the week. Outsiders might think that the boo boys forced Ellis Short's hand, but I believe that he saw we are a team that have taken less than 30 points in a 10 months, that is just not good enough and for that reason Bruce had to go.
I genuinely hope that we get one of our top two targets, as I think both Martin O'Neill or Mark Hughes would both perform a good job at the club and push us to the top ten place we covet. Roll on Sunday and a reunion with Mick.
Rory
Learn from the past, but don't dwell on it. Live for the future, but don't depend on it.
Dear ALS
Am I alone in wondering about the business principles of a club which historically and consistently achieves one of the highest home game attendances, yet changes the manager with such regularity?
Good luck to the new manager, he will have the privilege of becoming the tenth appointment in the last ten years and the fourth since Ellis Short arrived, it’s strange but I can’t quite shake off this funny feeling that somehow there must be a better way. That said, I don’t suppose I’m qualified to pass comment as I have never owned a football club or managed a soccer club, amateur or professional. My soccer experience is limited to attending Roker Park and the SOL with a few Lancashire away games thrown in. Like every Sunderland supporter, I’ve had those regular doses of hope with the arrival of each new manager, hope that in the main dissipates like smoke in the wind revealing the stark normality of expectations unfulfilled.
I do a bit of retail shopping though! And just now I can’t get rid of a thought that keeps popping into my head, it’s of an owner of a retail store who stocks his shelves with inferior goods, and when sales fall, he decides the best solution is to sack the manager and bring in a new one. For years I have accepted that regular management changes are the way things are, and have to be for our club, you know the sort of thing, the darkest hour is just before the dawn, it will be better in the morning, a new brush sweeps clean, that sort of stuff. Too easily convincing myself that each manager change must be for the best, well, perhaps they were, perhaps it is and perhaps I’m being a bit too cynical, but, for the first time ever, I don’t have high hopes that the a new manager alone will change the course of Sunderland’s history.
That said, you have no idea how much I hope I’m wrong.
Les Thompson
Dear ALS
Firstly, it is worth noting how far the club has come in that we can now attract managers such as Martin O’Neill and Mark Hughes. Sure they are both available, but Black Cat supporters have in the past only dreamt we might get Martin O’Neill.
Whilst both O’Neill and Hughes have their strengths, I think personally I think that the club should go with MON. This is in part because the fans have flirted for so long with wanting him, it is a footballing marriage we would do well to get out of our systems, and see if it works. There is a caveat of course – he is noted for sensitivity when fans get upset with issues, and I doubt he would hang on to sort out club if he got the sort of abuse Bruce has received.
In many ways, living in Sussex, I cannot go to many matches, and being out of work that number is lower too. However, I attended the Brighton Vs Sunderland Littlewoods match and was shocked to see a team without strikers. In many ways Bruce can be sympathised with, for injuries and transfers beyond his immediate control. However, his tactics were sometimes too safe, and at others, just strange. For me, it was as if he bought players without any real idea how he wanted to use them, but just thought we might need them sometime. That is surely not a way to run a premiership squad on any sort of budget (short of Man City, or Liverpool).
It looks clear to me that the rivalry between Sunderland and Newcastle has become too poisonous for us to consider any player or manager with more than a passing history with the other club. I applaud the ALS comments on Geordie-dom, and fervently wish that we can retain the friendly rivalry which is its strength, without the bitterness.
I for one applaud Ellis Short. He is clearly a direct, successful business man, and has decisively given a new manager up to a month to appraise the squad and do what is required. The squad may not need too much tweaking (but at least one recognised striker, please) but he has weeks, not days. I do however wonder whether behind the scenes how far Short has intruded, and whether this has been an issue. Did Quinn for example get fed up and side-line himself? Alternatively, is Quinn scouring the middle and Far East for major investment? Is that really why the Gyan deal went ahead?
Overall then, I am sort of sad to see Steve Bruce go, and sort of relieved. I always thought he handled his media dealings with dignity, and honesty, and wish him well. However, perhaps he had done the final spadework in creating a generally good squad, ready now to be motivated by a better tactical manager to take Sunderland Association Football Club to success.
Ian Johnston
Dear ALS
I loved Steve Bruce as a person, but a manager no. Bruce has had plenty of time and money. He's also had a lot of bad luck with certain greedy individuals, quite a few injuries, but even from the start off the season the tactics have all been wrong.
The home wins from New Year speak for themselves. Something needed to be done and Bruce only has himself to blame.
Keeping the faith
Dean Davison
Dear ALS
It has come to pass what should have happened months ago. Ellis appears to have found a grow bag and done the correct thing at last. It is better late than never. We should, however, be grateful for the work Bruce has done. We were in a sorry state when he took over and then the club was stabilised. As said in previous postings he was not the man to take us forward and was best for all concerned that he left with a record intact. It has to be said that the scenes at the end of the Wigan game were shameful, distasteful, and shamed the good name of the club. Where he comes from is utterly meaningless unless you are knuckle dragging Neanderthal with no Scooby Doo of a clue. Many fans including myself are Geordies and proud of it. Enough said.
What is now beyond doubt is that it is critical that the club get the decision right. It cannot be emphasised enough that this is a pivotal point in the clubs future. Be bold positive and go for a proven winner. I only ask that the odds lengthen on Lee Clark. Martin O’Neil is the best of the home grown bunch. If however it means going for someone not from these shores then so be it.
FTM
Jeff Davison
Dear ALS
Thank you Ellis Short. As I held my 12 day old son in my arms, I clicked on the BBC website and read the news. Instantly my hopes and dreams were re-kindled, 'He's gone' Rejoice!
My five year old daughter, was once the youngest registered SAFC fan, she was signed up to the 24/7 club the moment she was extracted from mummies tummy. She had a Safc teddy, dressing gown, hat, bib, shirt, the list was endless. She too would one day know the highs and lows of following the lads. My boy however has none of these things. Not because of the expenditure or that I don't like him, but because his dad was so disillusioned, I thought I’d save him from the heartache and let him decide his allegiance. I joked that I would get him a Man City shirt or send him to ballet, anything to stop him from joining our red and white band of brothers. But now, hope is restored. We had the balls to cut our losses and look to the future. Sorry son, but first thing in the morning, I’m off to the shops and you too will become one of us. After all, the one thing we can always be sure of having is hope.
FTM
Gary Winship
Durham
Dear ALS
I was about to reply to Dave Carr that the players were the ones that SB bought, but I then realised that he is a Mag winding us up, at least I hope it is!
Eddie Kenyon
Dear ALS
Well the mob has its way and we will soon have a new manager. Let's hope they go for Lee Clark eh? Whoever gets the job is irrelevant to me; today is a black day. You see I have a 10 year old son just starting to get the bug. He is Surrey boy with his pick of any local team from Chelsea to Fulham to Palace; but he saw the Lads only twice before deciding to embrace them as his own. His first home match was against Middlesbrough - you know the one when Darryl Murphy scored in Sunderland Time and 40,000 fans jumped as one. Two weeks earlier he was at Fulham to see 3000 SAFC fans' non-stop support.
But at home? Fans - really? Now, thanks to Saturday, the so called best fans in England have lost all credit and dignity in the eyes of the rest. Bruce was right, the chanting was abuse and frankly I have no idea how to tell a 10 year old son that this is the way it is and the way it will be. Guess what home fans - you only sing when you're winning. Shame on you all.
David Johnston
Dear ALS
I feel sorry for Steve Bruce, he tried his best working with players who lacked commitment, talent and ambition, Ellis Short said "don't panic" yet he did exactly that in sacking Steve, The fans should have cut Steve a bit of slack, it's still November with over four months of league fixtures to play, with a bit of luck a top ten position is possible.
Who will take on this challenging task of manager, with a chairman who panics in the first instance and fans who are never satisfied?
Dave Carr
Dear ALS
I didn’t think Ellis Short had it in him for a while.
He took so long to make the decision on what has been the obvious thing to do; I thought that he wanted to let Bruce see out the year. I even thought he might have wanted to minimize the financial impact, because for sure what he has done is going to cost him. But now the famously tough Texan has done the deed and good on him. Now we will have a period of great speculation and debate about who will replace Brucey. Optimism will flood back into our lives.
H’way the Lads
Alan Fenwick
Dear ALS
Just reading that Bruce has been sacked, thank you Ellis Short, I feel invigorated already.
Mr Bruce, I have nothing against your roots, my issue was with your management of our club, you had (unknowingly) sucked the life out of it, as well as me as a supporter for 20 years, never have I wanted somebody to leave this club as much as you. As a club we are geared to go in one direction, sadly that’s not the direction you were taking us Steve.
Regards
Jon
RAF
Dear ALS
Now it's time to get Moyes but it appears Hughes is all but in place.
Regards
Paul
|
