Dear Roker Report,
Alreet, lads!
I just need to point out a few things to you lads. I know you’re all young ‘uns compared to this owld get, but you need to be put right on a few things.
- It’s Sunderland strip, NOT Sunderland kit.
- It’s Sunderland shirt, NOT Sunderland top, although lasses are allowed to call them tops.
- There should be no such thing as home strip, away strip or third strip. It should be red ‘n’ white stripes whenever possible, and CHANGE strip only when necessary. There is NEE NEED for a third strip.
- NO shirt is improved by having a sponsor’s logo emblazoned across the chest. The only thing that should be displayed there is the club badge.
OK? That’s all for now.
Oh, except for the new red ‘n’ white shirt is just about perfect (without the sponsor), but NEEBODY should have to pay sixty-five quid for a polyester T-shirt!
By the way,
love the podcast.
All the best… from the Bastard Son Of Toddo And Monty
Ed’s note [Martin]: Strip, kit, shirt, top, as long as they look good it’s fine by me! Away kits and third kits are commercial decisions these days, a proper away top wouldn’t clash with much, but hey – brings in the money. And, as far as your fourth point goes, I’ve got one word: VAUX!
Dear Roker Report,
There seems to have been a bit of criticism and worry from fans over our transfer business this summer. I don’t see the same issues as others.
We’ve kept everyone we wanted to keep and got very good money for Mayenda and Patto. At the same time, we’ve got a good number of fringe players off the books, presumably freeing up some headroom on the salary front.
Although not universally popular, the club has launched a subscription that is designed to generate cash, while launching three of the best kits we’ve ever had.
We’ve done all of the ‘boring admin’ jobs that needed to be done.
So, back to our transfer business. Reviews I’ve read of Methalie suggest he’ll be France’s starting left-back for years to come. We’re linked with a £50m winger who looks electric (never in my life did I think we would have the financial clout to be bidding fifty mil for a player), and Meunier looks like he’s calm, assured class.
I can see a couple of gaps in the squad – probably at centre-back, definitely at striker and maybe on the wing. Having said all that, the players we have are versatile and can cover many positions.
Let’s look to a bright and successful season instead of being pessimistic. We are Sunderland. ‘Til The End.
Steve, Washington
Ed’s note [Martin]: Thanks for the email Steve – the time to judge will be when the window shuts really, won’t it – if not the end of the year. We’ve got a good team, the players have an extra year’s experience, and I’ve got complete confidence in them. We’ve kept a hold of everyone we wanted to, which was the main thing. Yeah, there’s a couple of gaps but nothing major – it’s been the first summer in who knows how long that we’ve not needed to many changes. Hopefully the Methalie deal comes off, and the Catamo one, however the more they go on the more unlikely they look.
Dear Roker Report,
I’m writing from Portugal with a name I think Sunderland fans might find interesting during this transfer window.
With Sunderland reportedly considering a major investment in Geny Catamo, I would love to hear your thoughts on another young winger playing in Portugal: William Gomes.
He is only 20, Brazilian, left-footed and an exciting attacking player with excellent technical ability and real potential in one-on-one situations.
I’m not suggesting that Sunderland should simply sign him because a fan from Portugal says so.
Quite the opposite.
I’m asking whether Sunderland’s recruitment team should at least be scouting him before committing a €40m+ fee elsewhere.
William is at an age where, if he develops as expected, his value could increase dramatically. That seems particularly relevant to the recruitment model Sunderland have been building under Florent Ghisolfi.
I have no connection whatsoever with the player, his agent or his club. I’m simply someone in Portugal who watches Portuguese football and thinks William Gomes is a name Sunderland supporters should know.
If you have a spare few minutes on the podcast, I’d genuinely love to hear:
Have Sunderland scouted William Gomes?
And if not, should they?
Maybe you’ll watch him and completely disagree with me – that’s football!
But I thought he was worth putting on your radar.
Keep up the great work with Haway.
Rui, Portugal
Ed’s note [Martin]: Thanks for the email Rui – I’ve heard the name but I’ll do some more research and see what he looks like! The club’s got scouts everywhere, but who knows what goes on really. I do know the visa regulations are different now so work permits for a player like that could be an issue. Thanks for your comments on the podcast, glad to have you listening!
Dear Roker Report,
I’ve been reading quite a bit on social media about ‘fans’ complaining about the difficulty of getting match tickets. The general tone of season-ticket holders is, ‘Where were you when we were shit?’
This may be true in part, but I’m sure I speak for a lot of exiled supporters when I say that we are still very much there, just not in person.
This is a list of the games I’ve been to since Luke O’Nien joined the club seven years ago:
- Gillingham (A)
- AFC Wimbledon (A)
- Lincoln (H)
- Watford (H)
- Middlesbrough (H)
- Millwall (H)
So, not exactly glamour games. If I am able to jump on the bandwagon this season, it will be after clambering off the rag-and-bone cart.
For every other game, I’ve stayed up through the night, bought streaming passes, listened to Barnes and Benno or the various YouTube watchalongs.
I live and work in Japan, and it costs more than the price of a season ticket just to fly home. Yes, this is my choice. (A bad one, as I’m divorced and broke!)
By the way, I watched Jobe play last weekend: FC Tokyo v Borussia Dortmund. BVB won 1-0.
Chris Minton
Ed’s note [Martin]: I’m with you on this Chris, but I don’t think any comments like that are aimed at exiles who can’t go to games – more like people who live more locally who didn’t go along when we were in league one, but want to go now. The consequence of some success has been lifelong exiled supporters are going to find it incredibly difficult to get tickets for games when visiting home – unfortunately, I don’t really see much way round it.
Dear Roker Report,
Hello, mates.
I couldn’t believe my ears when I heard the email about Phillip in South Louisiana. What a great surprise.
I have been a Sunderland fan since May 2025. I happened to be in London and ran into a group of Sunderland fans celebrating the promotion, and I’ve been hooked since.
I made the trip to Sunderland for the Wolves game last season. I just got back from Nashville for the exhibition match against Liverpool, and I am going back to Sunderland for the Arsenal game.
I have also felt alone on an island in South Louisiana since I am the only Sunderland fan at the one soccer pub in Baton Rouge. But I represent HARD.
I am always wearing the kit, and I even gave the pub a Sunderland flag that now flies proudly (see picture).
I am currently recruiting new fans, so please tell Phillip to get a hold of me and get some strength in numbers!
HAWAY THE LADS!!
Juan Tanca
Ed’s note [Martin]: Phillip, meet Juan – Juan, meet Phillip! We’ll put the two of you in touch – hopefully you can keep the red flag flying high in South Louisiana!
