Until as recently as the weekend, no one could seriously fault the bookies’ belief that Sunderland were relegation probabilities. Now, Chris Coleman has made the sort of start after replcaing Simon Grayson as manager to encourage measured hope that a swift ascent of the Championship table is more likely. Here, William Sundin, a media production […]
End of season reviews: (5) left with a sense of foreboding

Like Pete Sixsmith, Malcolm Dawson gets to more matches than most people. He’s well placed to comment on skill, systems, strengths and weaknesses. He’s a regular at the Stadium of Light too, which means he’s well placed to comment on them in the context of SAFC. But that’s not all. He’s a keen observer of all […]
Crystal Palace who are you? “Big Sam was the man to take over”

John McCormick writes: I don’t often visit other fans’ websites. But in setting up this edition of “Who are you?”, which Colin organised before his departure, I visited The EaglesBeak and I have to say I was impressed. It’s everything a fan site should be, so it’s no surprise that we have another good set of […]
Allardyce: once Sunderland’s Messiah, now just a very naughty boy

We’ve already had Pete Sixsmith’s words of wisdom on the Sam Allardyce affair. Here, Salut! Sunderland’s deputy editor Malcolm Dawson considers the issues that arise but also what it means to us, supporters of Sunderland … “Being slightly paranoid is like being slightly pregnant. It tends to get worse.” Molly Ivens It would be easy […]
Allardyce’s broken England dream: dodgy entrapment or just deserts

Monsieur Salut writes: Despite far too many decades as a journalist (three of them with The Daily Telegraph), I have serious misgivings about sting operations. They may sometimes uncover genuine malpractice but, among a number of concerns, I wonder who polices the stinger, in this case the Telegraph. This newspaper has after all spent several […]
View from the NW Corner: Sunderland playing catch up before kick off

Malcolm Dawson writes….each year is the same or at least it seems to be. We end one season and I am convinced we will improve the next. Over the past few years new signings have created a feeling of optimism which has quickly dissipated as early season results brought home the reality that things weren’t […]
Emotional turmoil – Sunderland’s summer so far

It’s becoming a little repetitive on Wearside. A positive end to a season that at one time seemed doomed. Hopes for better things to come then disappointment as they fail to reach fruition. Managerless a year ago when Advocaat took the advice of his missus, the joy at his change of heart was short lived. […]
Sam Allardyce, formerly of Sunderland, now of England, Observed

Stop press: Sixer was at Rotherham, along with David Moyes, to see an efficient 2-1 win friendly win. His Sixer’s Sevens verdict: “Good workout in front of new boss” The Observer digs deep one again into its coffers to recruit our own Pete Sixsmith for a few words on Big Sam. How deep? Er, not […]
Off goes Big Sam and the Wearside air seems to have been chilly

As statements from football clubs about departing managers who have done a good job go, this is probably close to as churlish as it gets: Sunderland AFC confirms the departure of Sam Allardyce, who takes up the position of England manager with immediate effect. The focus of everyone at Sunderland AFC now is on moving […]
SAD sweet dreamer – it’s just one of those things you put down to experience
Following on from M Salut’s look at how Seasonal Adjustment Disorder (SAD) is affecting the Stadium of Light faithful, Malcolm Dawson sums up his own thoughts on why he is feeling SAD (season approaching disaster). Don’t expect anything fresh or remarkably insightful as we’ve been here more than once. As Sweet Sensation once said, not […]