Behind Enemy Lines - Part 3

SURELY NOT AGAIN?
Two toothless performances against Portsmouth & Aston Villa in successive home games, has us all asking the question...surely not another season of relegation battling misery? This time last year we had just lost 4-1 at home to Bolton in the beginning of the end of Roy Keane's reign. I remember that day well..we were terrible and we all felt very pessimistic. I didn't quite feel as bad after the Villa game on Tuesday but there were some worrying signs on show. Our passing was abysmal all night, Richardson, once again, despite appearing willing, was terrible. Andy Reid, is a shadow of the player he was at the beginning of the season, especially from dead balls and Steve Bruce is starting to baffle fans with his late substitutions. Where the early season positivity has gone I don't know as that has been our strength so far this season. Man City this week, who will be without a few regulars due to injury and suspension. We must be positive from the off, but I fear our current frailties in our defending could be our undoing.

Prediction: Man City 2 SAFC 0

NYRON AND ON AND ON
There are a lot of SAFC supporters who who hold grudges against a lot of our players. Daryl Murphy is one of them. For me this is to an extent understandable, as often he has looked lazy during games. Nyron Nosworthy is another player who regularly receives stick from fans. Yes he probably isn't anywhere near consistently good enough to be a Premier League regular but in my opinion doesn't deserve the stick he receives. Especially when he plays as well as he did against Portsmouth. Nuggsy was outstanding at right back, looking calm when defending and getting forward consistently. Nyron didn't perform quite as well against high flying Aston Villa, but was still the pick of the defenders on show on Tuesday night. Well done Nyron.

WORLD CUP JOY FOR SAFC
Niall Quinn, SAFC and the City of Sunderland should give themselves a massive pat on the back this week with the news that we have become a host City for England's bid for the 2018 World Cup. A lot of hard work has gone on behind the scenes on what will be a massive boost not just the football club but to the City and region as a whole. Once again the influence of 'Sir Niall' should not be underestimated!

GIGGS DESERVES AWARD
There have been a lot of people begrudging Ryan Giggs of first place in the Sports Personality of the Year last Sunday. Fully deserved for me, one of, if not the best British player I've seen play in my lifetime.

PINT OF BITTER?
I'll finish with a few quotes from our nearest and dearest this week..
'The Club say they definitely aren't going to sell Taylor to them, it's going to happen, how can we believe a word they say?' On Stephen Taylor being linked to Man Utd.
'Sunderland's honeymoon period is over, bottom of the form league and they are on the way down....We just need to get rid of Ashley and things can get back to normal again'
'We are consistently getting larger attendances than you lot home and away, and always have been. This is just a blip, we are and will always be the biggest club in the north east'

That's all for now,
PW
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