Watched Sunderland for the first time for a full 90 mins yesterday. It wasn't good, Graham.

You've got some good players there, but some who are just completely disinterested.  The ones who I struggle to what value they add are: Malbranque, Richardson and Anton Ferdinand - everything he (Ferdinand) did yesterday was appalling.

Jones and Cisse didn't look like much of a pairing. Considering a lot of the tactics was trying, with varying degrees of success, to pitch crosses and long balls over towards the pair of them, I often found that they were actually trying to fight for the same balls/space rather than dovetail a partnership.  Cisse, too, missed about three clear cut headed chances - and when I say missed, I mean that he didn't even get them on target, which probably more disappointing than not scoring.

You should have had a penalty, mind.   

I should reiterate that I meant it was the first full 90 this season that I'd seen them, not ever. Anyway, I thought you had some notable performers: Nosworthy looked a class apart from Ferdinand who had an absolute mare.

I liked Collins and Reid too, the latter especially looked as though he had a bit of (non-s*xual) cuteness who might have been your best outlet as provider.

Malbranque, I thought, was frighteningly wasteful. I can usually accept the odd poor pass, or awkward control, if there's a choice that something audacious was being attempted and there's an element of risk in being executed. But non of this was on his mind, it was almost as if he was paralysed by nerves and even the most simplest of tasks looked like he was asked to scale the Eiger in his football boots.

Richardson was way too safe, he looked like the type of player who was just playing to ensure they didn't do anything wrong, ie keep everything nice and safe.  You'd get a few nice bit of close ball control and shielding from oncoming players, but then he'd panic a bit, rotate and knock it square or behind, thus ondoing all his good work. Instead after the good work, he should get his head up and ping a pass to get Cisse out of the traps - lets face it, after Sunday's performance, heading isn't his strong point.

Looks like a confidence thing to me.  A few wins under the belt and I suspect there'll be more belief in each other's ability.

What's happened to Diouf?  I known there was the obligatory 'nightclub incident' but has he not worked his way back into Keane's good books?  I heard on the radio that in his first three games up there he was one of your best players.

As for my lot, well I was actually praying we'd get beat about 4 games ago. It was one of those games were Megson would have very easily get the boot (which is what I wanted) if we'd lost. Since then, including that game, we've played four and won three.

I'll definitely be keeping my 'Sack Megson' campaign going for a while yet.

ok, then see you in january

magic of the cup my arse......

We take the three points, and you get a bye to the next round?  Sound like a deal?

Oh dear...

Is this a job for Big Sam?  Or could it signal the return of Reid?

from an safc forum, re some reports on SSN


"Basically said that some players were complaining about a lack of man management and Keane being too distant, yet he shouted obscenities at them at half time during the Northampton game. Also not turning up for engagements etc while disciplining others for the same thing.

In other words, he'd lost the dressing room, or at least some of the players."

By helicopter?!!  What on earth?!

Anyway the names in the frame, as I believe it, are Sam Allardyce (former player), Phil Brown (Mackem fan, apparently) and Alan Curbishley.

I couldn't see Phil Brown leaving at the moment.  Curbs and Big Sam are the best bet, with Sam favourite on account of his playing past.  However, how would his stint at the Toon go down with fans. More fearfully though, I've heard Souness name mention, as is obligitory in these situations. The horror, oh, the horror.