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Dear Roker Report,
For the second week running, Granit Xhaka has apologised to the fans for yet another woeful performance. We need action, Granit, not words.
The body language of several players — including and especially our captain — is a major concern.
When Xhaka joined the club last season, he said he wanted to experience something different; a challenge. Well, that’s exactly what you’ve got now, bonny lad. Be careful what you wish for!
Fortunately, it’s October and not March, so hopefully things will improve.
Buckle
up, everyone. We might be in for a bumpy ride.
Wayne Talbot
Ed’s Note [Phil]: Hi, Wayne. Thank you for your letter.
It’s been abundantly clear all season that Xhaka — the inspirational on-pitch figurehead and driving force behind last season’s European push — hasn’t hit the heights of 2025/2026 thus far, and naturally, theories are swirling as to why.
Perhaps Chelsea is on his mind.
He could still be suffering post-World Cup fatigue, or is there something else going on? Whatever it is, I fully agree that we need our captain to rally his men and begin to up his game if we’re to emerge from this worrying slump in league form and begin to climb the table. To that end, I wouldn’t dream of starting him against Lech Poznan tomorrow — he should see twenty minutes’ worth of action at the most.
When he got on the microphone at the end of last season and made that memorable speech in which he gave us all cause for optimism ahead of 2026/2027, I doubt whether a season of struggle is what he had in mind. Let’s hope that he can rediscover his best form soon.
Dear Roker Report,
Although I’m not a supporter who attends away games now, I can’t believe the decision to make it compulsory for fans to use dedicated coaches to transport them to St James’ Park.
Many fans live in the west side of County Durham. Others live near Teesside, and others north of the Tyne. Are these fans expected to travel to the Stadium of Light to use the official transport, or will the coaches travel around the outlying areas to various pick-up points?
It seems ridiculous that those fans who live in those areas have to make a detour into Sunderland in order to get to Newcastle — particularly those who live north of the Tyne.
Stuart Lathan
Ed’s Note [Phil]: Hi, Stuart. Thank you for getting in touch.
After last season’s pre-match trouble, during which amped-up Newcastle fans aimed missiles at the Sunderland team coach, it does seem somewhat overzealous to force our supporters to make their way to St James’ by official means only this time around.
Are the authorities convinced that there’ll be trouble caused by travelling Lads’ fans when we head there? That feels somewhat fanciful to me.
Either way, it seems very dubious to me, and as you rightly highlight, it’s going to potentially make the travel arrangements even more complex for people who live further afield.
