This week's opposition view
comes from Michael Potts (MP) and George Shaw (GS), from the independent
Sunderland fanzine 'A Love Supreme'.
Why
Sunderland?
MP:
Being born and raised in
Sunderland, it was
the only choice.
GS:
Like many, supporting
Sunderland is a family thing. I was taken to my first match at 6 by my brother
in law. However, unlike many, I can’t remember anything about that first game.
Apart from running around a crowded, freezing Roker Park, desperate to see over
the millions of towering heads that stood before me. It felt like millions,
anyway. I’ve followed Sunderland ever since.
How long a fan?
MP: As long as I can remember. My first game
was a Worthington Cup tie against
York City in '98.
I was only five, but I can still remember some of it.
Highlight of supporting the club?
MP: Well...erm...hmm...that's a tough one being a Sunderland fan in the past
decade. The Phillips and Quinn era was fantastic but since then it's been a
struggle. A more recent highlight came when the club was in ruin. We'd just been
relegated. The finances were gone. And things were glum. Then came the return of
a legend. Niall Quinn. Only this time as owner, chairman and manager. The last
part of that only lasted five defeats, before turning to Roy Keane. Say what you
like about his managing style/competence, but he was the perfect man to bring
back the feel-good factor to the club and took us back to the top where we've
stayed since.
GS:
I could pick out one or two
particular games for this, the entire 1998/1999 season for example, or the 2-2
against Newcastle back in 2002, where the noise that came from our support after
Phillips made equalised blew the BBC’s microphone behind the goal , both spring
to mind. But for me, the real highlight was being able to sit beside my dad at
just about every home game for nearly 10 years. Whether we were celebrating
victory, wallowing in defeat, or just screaming at the referee, our time
together at the match made us closer than ever, and to me, that’s what
supporting a football club is about.
Low point of supporting the club?
MP: Low point(s). The 19 point relegation
season was horrendous. But now it looks relatively respectable compared to the
dire 11 point relegation season just a couple of years later. Other low-points
include our shocking record in the derbies. We've only won one home game against
Newcastle
at the Stadium of Light, and then there was the Halloween horror show. The 5-1.
Say no more.
GS:
How much room have you got?
Going down with a record points tally, specifically watching Michael Proctor
bundle in the third of his hattrick of own goals against Charlton, in 2003 was
bad enough, but for us to come and back better, for lack of a better word, that
record was chronic. 2004’s FA Cup semi final defeat to Millwall and last
season’s Quarter Final exit to Everton stung pretty badly too.
Favourite current
Sunderland
player?
MP: We haven't had too much to cheer this
season, but one player who has shone throughout is our goalkeeper Simon Mignolet.
He looked decent, without being spectacular, last year. Then in the summer, we
let Craig Gordon go. Controversial, but it was understandable due to his
injuries and high wages. We knew Kieron Westwood and Mignolet were solid but
could either excel? Definitely. Mignolet has made some world-class saves,
doesn't make mistakes (touch wood) and has worked hard on dominating his area.
He's become a complete player, and at 24, can only get better. Love the guy.
GS:
Difficult to pick really. The
whole Darren Bent and Asamoah Gyan sagas have left it difficult to take to
footballers in the way I may have in the past. However, Sebastian Larsson is a
good worker, Cattermole is an old fashioned tough midfielder and Sessegnon can
provide great pieces of magic. So, any of those. Saying that, I wouldn’t mind
Steed Malbranque back.
Favourite all-time
Sunderland
player?
MP: Kevin Phillips. Without a doubt. He's the
only Englishman ever to win the European golden boot with 30 league goals. And
that was in a newly promoted side. He's scored goals everywhere he's played and
is still going at 39. An all-time hero. Honourable mentions go to Niall Quinn,
Julio Arca and Steeeeeeed Malbranque.
GS:
Niall Quinn. It’s hard to
separate him and Quinn, considering I grew up watching the pair bang in goals on
a weekly basis, but for what he contributed after his playing spell was over, it
has to be the gentle Gaelic giant.
Thoughts on
Sunderland’s
season so far?
MP: I really don't know. At the time of
writing, we've won two, lost three and drawn the rest, leaving us in the bottom
half mire. We've only played well in one or two games but hopefully we can build
on our win down at Fulham and climb to our top half aim.
GS:
It hasn’t been great, but
then it hasn’t really been poor. We’ve only lost three games, one of those
defeats was at the home of the champions, and we’ve been picking up points in
tough games, so any talk of a crisis is wildly premature. We’ve played some okay
stuff at times, we just need that little bit of confidence that’s missing.
Accusations of us playing a brand of football that’s boring and unattractive are
probably fair, but it’s difficult to play the quick, counter attacking football
so often associated with Martin O’Neill’s sides with our chronic lack of pace in
the middle.
Happy with Martin O’Neill?
MP: The boost he gave us when he came in was
tremendous. Some of the best football we've ever played. He's the manager we've
wanted for years, so when he eventually signed on the dotted line, everyone was
buzzing. We got to an FA Cup quarter-final replay last season. It was chaos. One
game from Wembley. Everything to play for. We got beat. And since then we've
been flat. Especially since September. A tiny minority of fans have called for
him to go, but that would be madness. At the end of the day, he can only do so
much. The 11 players on the pitch have to do the business and quite frankly,
they haven't. It's a mixture of manager and his squad. He needs time but he can
guide us upwards.
GS:
Extremely. For the first time
in a very long time Sunderland have appointed an experienced manager with a
proven track record. Hopefully that means everything is now in place for the
club to push on and get the success, that I think, we deserve.
Where will you finish the season?
MP: We set out in August to finish in the top
half. And that hasn't changed. I'd say there are seven top sides. After that,
there's not a lot between anyone. I expect to see us, yourselves,
Newcastle, Fulham
and Swansea battling it out for the same places in the middle.
GS:
That depends on our January
transfer window, I think. If, in January, we can get a good, creative centre
midfielder with a bit of pace, who can provide the link between our defence and
forward we so desperately need, I reckon we’ll be a good, solid side, hopefully
pushing on for a top 10 place.
What were your summer transfer dealings
like? How have your signings settled in?
MP: The day we signed Adam Johnson and Steven
Fletcher for a combined £24million was incredible! It was a frustrating summer,
and we didn't sign anybody for ages. So to get those two in was brilliant. But
it hasn't been plain sailing. Johnson has looked very poor until recently.
Fletcher needs service to perform well and has managed an impressive goal tally
considering the lack of service from the
Man City man,
Stephane Sessegnon and James McClean combined. He's finally replaced Darr£n
B£nt.
GS:
Very pleasing. We desperately
needed a goal scorer and in Steven Fletcher we got an excellent one. People may
have complained about the price tag, but so far this season he’s proved his
worth. Adam Johnson, who excited us all, has been good in spells, but injury has
hampered him settling in. Carlos Cueller could become a fan favourite, while
Louis Saha could be a smart acquisition.
Who's been your best player so far?
MP: Like I say, Fletcher has been an
outstanding poacher. Mignolet, the immovable object between the sticks. But
another mention has to go to on-loan left back Danny Rose. Kieran Richardson was
coming good when we sold him to Fulham, and Rose was an underwhelming stop-gap.
Reports from Spurs fans weren't good. How wrong we all were. He's a seriously
good fullback. Rapid and incisive going forward. Solid and intelligent at the
back. Future
England
left back. You heard it here first.
GS:
Simon Mignolet, without a
doubt. So far this season Mignolet has been in inspired form, often earning us
points single, and at times, double handily. His technical ability has been
second to none, pulling off numerous acrobatic stops, whilst his bravery,
despite taking an elbow to the face from Emile Heskey last season, has been
admirable.
Anyone been a let-down, anyone been particularly poor?
MP: The combined trio of Johnson, Sessegnon and
McClean. The latter in particular. They just haven't clicked. When they do it'll
be a sight to behold. Sessegnon was tremendous last season but it hasn't worked
out for him yet.
GS:
Stephane Sessegnon. The
creative spark that drove a lot of our play towards last season has rarely even
flickered thus far. Whether it be from a lack of fitness after missing
pre-season, or if his head has been turned, Sess’s performances haven’t really
been up to scratch so far and we’ve really suffered for it. His goal against
Fulham, however, will hopefully see an upturn in his, and our, form.
Your take on the James McClean poppy controversy?
MP: It's a tough one. The abuse/threats are
ridiculous. Unnecessary in any situation. Apparently he didn't wear the poppy
due to the deaths of innocent people in his hometown, caused by the British
Army. On the other hand, maybe he could have came out and explained his
decision. He hasn't done it to cause a stir on purpose.
GS:
It’s ridiculous. A total non
issue made into a massive problem by people determined to prove they’re more
outraged than anyone else.
Are there any youngsters coming through the
Sunderland set-up
you are particularly excited about?
MP: Sad news came through recently that
promising defender John Egan broke his leg while playing for
Bradford on loan.
But he's rated highly. After that, Blair Adams is already impressing at Coventry
after being sent there recently. But our biggest prospect, quite literally, is
Connor Wickham. He's been unlucky not to get in the first team picture more
often since his mega-millions move. He's banging them in for our U21s and
England U21s. Hopefulyl he continues to impress and can fulfill his obvious
potential.
Any particular memories of
Albion v
Sunderland games that stand out?
MP: I remember coming from 2-0 down to win 3-2
a long time ago. Lee Hughes and Kevin Kilbane lined up for your lot. Another one
that stood out was last year's game. I can't get to many away games, so when I
got a ticket for our clash at the Hawthorns I was well up for it. We watched the
big screen highlights of your thrashing of Wolves and you almost did the same to
us. 4-0. Thanks for that...
GS:
A couple. Roy Keane was an
onlooker for the first, as we claimed our first win of the season, and only win
of Niall Quinn’s managerial career. The second, a 4-0 in 2008, marked our first
win since Keane’s departure. You returned the score line last season, thanks for
that.
Thoughts on
Albion's season
so far?
MP: Very impressive. Solid at the back. With a
definite attacking threat. It's a perfect combination. Sometimes a team goes on
a run and ends up flagging.
Blackpool,
Hull etc but with West Brom I get that feeling you could keep most of that
momentum. I think most would agree Europe could be a long-shot. But why not aim
for it? A comfy, top half finish is likely.
GS:
Put it this way, it’s much
nicer to see you lot up there, breaking up the big boys, than it was the Mags, I
can tell you.
Albion
player you admire?
MP: I've been impressed with Shane Long. Had a
fairly quiet season last year, but he seems to showing what he's all about this
time around. I also like the look of Romelu Lukaku. He's scored a couple of
goals, shown flashes of his obvious "next-Drogba" tag but most importantly...he
single-handedly won the league for my team on Football Manager so he'll always
be a legend to me!
GS:
I’ve always liked, and
secretly wished we could sign, Chris Brunt. Him and Zoltán Gera. Purely because
of his name.
Premier League Champs?
MP: If Rafa can turn
Chelsea's fortunes
around and get Torres firing, I really think they could capitalise on the
Manchester clubs' shakiness. It'll be another very close one though.
GS:
Manchester United.
Three teams for the drop?
MP: Newc...nah.
Southampton and
Reading leak a load of goals which will always cause problems. So I'll say those
two along with Villa, as I think QPR will scrape out of it. Both very poor
sides, but QPR have the potential to kick on with the players they've got.
GS:
QPR (hopefully), Southampton
(sadly), Newcastle (wishfully).
Prediction for Saturday's
game?
MP: An optimistic 1-0 home win. Fletcher the obvious choice.
GS:
97 - 6 to us. Realistically
though, West Brom are looking great this season, we are not. Sadly, for us, I
think you might nick it by the odd goal. It was definitely offside though.
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