Want to have your say on all things Sunderland? Drop us a line and we’ll publish your views! RokerReport@yahoo.co.uk
Dear Roker Report,
Is it just me or does anyone else have the distinct feeling that our season — in real terms — is about to begin this Saturday?
Please don’t get me wrong regarding our brilliant start to the season. I get that there are no easy games in this league, but I just feel the next five to six fixtures are going to be really defining for us going forward during this campaign.
We have as of now only really faced one of the so-called big guns in Manchester United and although we could’ve had something from the game,
we unfortunately came away empty-handed. As mentioned, we’ve done amazingly well up to now and one thing this team will not do is lie down for anyone.
Chelsea away is always the sort of fixture where we think there could be a three to four-goal difference in the game, but maybe we can showcase the talent we have against the so-called elite of this division, starting on Saturday.
Who’ll ever forget the famous corner flag dance when we thrashed them all those years ago under a certain manager? This place will erupt if we can produce anything similar come this Saturday, and even a draw will give this team a huge injection of self belief going forward.
Keep them out for the first twenty minutes and we’re certainly capable of hurting them on the break.
Peter Milton
Ed’s Note [Phil]: Hi, Peter. Thank you for your letter.
I must admit that I’m very excited about Saturday’s trip to Chelsea, as these are the sorts of games we should be relishing and that we spent all those years in lower-league exile hoping that one day, we’d have the chance to participate in once again.
In contrast to the disorganised and disheartened rabble who were given a 5-1 hiding during our last league trip to Stamford Bridge, I fully agree that this Sunderland side won’t go there, surrender meekly and collapse to a gutless defeat. The standards are higher; the team is more resilient and we have a head coach who’s fully in tune with the fans and the ambitions of the club.
Of course, Chelsea’s quality and attacking threats may win the day, and it could be another valuable learning experience for our youngsters, but I expect the Lads to play with real fighting spirit and determination, and who knows — perhaps an early Sunderland goal will give the hosts something to think about!
Dear Roker Report,
It’s with amusement to me that we Sunderland fans are telling Newcastle to “mind the gap” — as the only gap I’m interested in is the one to the eighteenth-placed club, which at present is a healthy nine points.
Our season thus far has been exciting and our home form exceptional, beating most teams put in front of us and achieving a few clean sheets to help the goal difference, but the realist in me says we’re yet to play a team you would say are a top six club at the start of the season.
We’re heading into an interesting run of fixtures between now and Christmas, which will give a true reflection of the table.
If by the turn of the year that gap is still nine points or better, happy days, and we can look forward to 2026 and a potential FA Cup run.
Haway the lads!
Mark
Ed’s Note [Phil]: Hi, Mark. Thank you for getting in touch.
Whilst the “mind the gap” banter between ourselves and Newcastle is all good fun, you’re absolutely right: the focus should be on ensuring that we keep ourselves as far away from the relegation zone as possible, and that no complacency is allowed to creep in.
We’ve done fantastically well so far but there are some tough fixtures appearing on the horizon, so let’s try and keep the momentum going, pick up as many points as we can, and continue to look forward instead of being distracted by what’s happening down at the foot of the table.
Dear Roker Report,
Firstly, I’d like to congratulate our lads on the fantastic start to the season — I’m certainly blown away by it.
However, in this league you can’t carry any passengers and as I see it, Bertrand Traoré is one, as against Manchester United, if he was concentrating, he would’ve scored very early on..
Against Wolves, he was very wasteful, giving the ball away easily, and he didn’t look fit.
I sincerely hope that this problem is addressed.
Michael Ohuigin
Ed’s Note [Phil]: Hi, Michael. Thank you for your letter.
I actually like Traoré as a player. He’s wholehearted and he certainly works hard, but as an attacking threat, his impact hasn’t been spectacular and he’s not retained the ball as well as he could’ve done on occasions.
Fortunately, we do have plenty of alternatives and it’ll be interesting to see who lines up on the wings at 3:00pm on Saturday!
