Have you got something that you’d like to get off your chest about Sunderland? Drop us an email with your thoughts, and we’ll publish them here on the site in the next edition of Fan Letters – RokerReport@Yahoo.co.uk
Dear Roker Report,
I love it when the opposition leave a Sunderland game crying “we woz robbed”, so up front I will say Fulham deserved to win and on the day were the better team.
Having said that, am I the only one who thought the referee was a Fulham fan?
Time after time, Fulham free kicks for 50/50 challenges while allowing the Fulham players to barge our players to the ground without anything given. Just before the move that led to the only goal of the game, Mukiele was clearly pushed in the back. He only lost the ball
because of an obvious foul. Nothing was given, so they go down the other end and score the winning goal.
That referee was rubbish — this is supposed to be the best league in the world, so why are the refs crap?
Gerald Kearney
Ed’s Note [Gav]: That’s the eternal question, Gerald! I think what’s more disappointing is that with the technology available to them, they’re unable to correct bad decisions. I know that this isn’t how they use VAR, but had they gone back and checked the foul that led to the free kick they scored from, it wouldn’t have been given because it was never a foul. I might sound like a bitter mackem here, and I admit that I am, but I get annoyed that in a world where the officials are bad, we can’t even help them to correct bad calls with the expensive tech that is installed at all Premier League stadiums.
Their goal aside, you’re right — he was absolutely appalling, and I think it was clear that the manager and players felt the same given some of the comments made after the match.
That said, it doesn’t ultimately excuse how poor we were, because we can only really blame ourselves for that. We were probably as bad as we’ve been this season and some of the things that have been there all season — such as maximum effort and application – weren’t really on show throughout.
But, we can’t dwell on it too much. Hopefully we’ve already moved on from Fulham and are 100% focused on getting the three points on Saturday, which is all we can really do now.
Dear Roker Report,
I’d like to see Mundle getting a chance once he’s up and running. Fair to say that none of the wingers we signed in the summer have stood out, and that could be his chance to thrive. Or is it too soon?
Tom in SHERBURN
Ed’s Note [Gav]: I think you’re bang on when you say that none of our wingers have really stood out so far, which is a fair comment, even though I think they’ve all had their moments. It feels like Simon Adingra isn’t yet trusted fully by Le Bris to do the work off the ball that is required to get yourself onto the pitch in the top flight; Chemsdine Talbi has been used sparingly and more often than not, from the bench, and not in his best position; Bertrand Traore has been busy, but has not yet brought the goals that we hoped he would; and the best of the lot has probably been Enzo Le Fee, but is that really his best position? I’m not so sure.
That doesn’t mean they won’t come to the fore eventually, but that does mean there’s an opportunity for someone to come in and take their chance.
And why not Romaine Mundle? For me, when he’s fit (and that’s the key here – he’s struggled to stay on the pitch since he signed for us) he’s got Premier League potential. For a winger he’s a big lad, and he’s lightning quick. He can go off both feet, is capable inside and outside the full back, and is a goal threat at all times.
I’m praying that he takes his chance.
