Sunderland Preview, No Jokin' 'Ere
Oct 3rd, 2008 by 'holic
I cannot believe it, nor can anybody else of my age I suspect. Joe Kinnear, once an arch enemy, is today being heralded by many of us for his attack on the vultures in the press box at Newcastle. Not just us either, even Arsene Wenger has come out in support of the poor bugger who has the thorniest of temporary appointments.
In the unlikely event that you haven’t heard the bleep-ridden clips of that press conference the Guardian mischievously carries the text in full, uncomfortably perhaps, but in the full knowledge that hacks from the Mirror and Express bear the brunt of Kinnear’s passionate outburst.
Now come on, admit it. Haven’t you spent today visualising the Arsene Wenger press conference when a similar message is conveyed? The cleaned up version of what has been running through my head begins with Le Boss asking, “Where is Mihir Bose? Ah, there you you are. Here is the bus fare back to Broadcasting House, now be away with you, and take that Crooks clown with you, and Lawrenson while you’re at it.”
Doesn’t work without the four-letter words, does it? Fair play to Kinnear and he got his targets about right I reckon. There are journalists I will make a point of reading. No surprise that the list is headed by Amy Lawrence and Philippe Auclair, both of whom have made no secret of their admiration for all things Arsenal. It hasn’t stopped them offering objective views off the party line on occasion.
There are others who do not share their affiliation that I also look for. Paddy Barclay is top of the list, but over the last year or so one James Lawton has turned round entirely my opinion of his work. Like Kinnear there was a time when I might have been slow in reaching for the brake pedal if I caught him on a pedestrian crossing, but he has produced a couple of fine pieces in the last year.
Anyway, I am in danger of missing a preview of the visit to the Stadium of Light. Funnily enough I have always had a bit of a soft spot for Sunderland, though goodness only knows why. Back in 1973 I was at Hillsborough when they, a second division side, turned us over in the FA Cup semi-final. My first visit to their old ground at Roker Park coincided with Malcolm Macdonald’s first return to the north-east since leaving Newcastle to join Arsenal and the atmosphere was pure evil.
Despite those bad memories we have generally got the better of our encounters with the Black Cats, and most I suspect will expect us to extend that record in a rare three o’clock kick-off on Saturday. There is not much in the way of team news. Alex Song is back in contention, but Diaby, Rosicky, and Eduardo remain unavailable.
This has been the type of game in the past where Wenger has been prepared to rotate a little. Looking at the fixture list he may consider that this is a contest which would provide an ideal introduction for Mikael Silvestre, not least because he will know the travelling support will not afford the French defender the sort of mixed reception he might anticipate at the Grove.
Song may be given the chance to strut his stuff in the midfield to give Denilson a well-earned breather. Sunderland will pose a direct threat when in possession, and the Cameroon international’s aerial ability may well be useful in the defensive third.
After they shared the four goals against Porto, Adebayor and van Persie may survive any rotation. I must confess I would be tempted to give Bendtner another start. Whilst he is not the finished article he is becoming more than just a target man, and should be encouraged I feel. It wouldn’t hurt Adebayor to sit out just this one game now that it would not be seen as a punishment for his poor showing against Hull.
The ‘holic pound has yet to strike gold, so those of you who read these previews just so you can discount one option should avoid 2-1 to the visitors, available at around eights.
If you are making the journey, wrap up warm. It’s cold in Sunderland in the middle of summer! Those of you who are hoping to catch a stream from a generous Setanta Ireland viewer, good luck to us.
Have a great weekend ‘holics.
15 Responses to “Sunderland Preview, No Jokin' 'Ere”
Pint please
Some crisps too. Got any Smokey Bacon?
Nuts…
holic, Wenger and Kinnear are buddies and next door neighbors:
http: // http://www.football365.com/story/0,17033,8652_4238322,00.html
Wrap up warm? Bollocks, I’m going shirtless.
pint of orange juice and red wine please
Dutch, you have natural insulation!
Wayne, get a taste bud transplant…
Come on someone, tell me you can picture Wenger walking into the weekly press conference and demanding ‘Right, where is the cunt from the Mail? Outside, now, you fucking wankstain’.
Just me then 😉
No sign of snaily 🙁
Good point. He is conspicuous by his absence. Do molluscs hibernate in the autumn?
I think Arsene would be a bit more subtle that Kinnear. It would be something like, where is that piece of dirt from the Mail? Then, when identified it would be right, “Willy, Kolo, fucking kick the shit out of the twat and just bring back his bones”.
It will be tricky tomorrow. I would like to see Bendtner start. I like the way he has improved and starts at places like this will only help his confidence. I also think that the likes of Theo and Vela can be very important at places like this. Their pace and skill can murder teams, especially late on.
Le Boss to get it spot on. 3 – 0 to the Gunners. Fuck the scum tabloid press……
The Mirror, bless them have published a fuller audio tape of the conference.
http://tinyurl.com/3jbxwo
Thanks Azza, on the arses.
I can’t help feeling there is a bit of foot shooting going on.
Good luck with the ‘holic pound today.
Cold Heineken please ‘holic, and one for yourself
Team news – Song’s in for Nasri
Phew….rescued from the jaws of death by a Fabulous Fabregas goal!!!!
Though robbed of all three points by the ref……by the disallowed goal? I think so!!!
🙁
Sunderland 1 – Arsenal 1
Thanks to Setanta USA and the friendliness of the barmaid at the Auld Shebeen (who opened one hour early for me) I was able to maintain my record of seeing every single kick made by Arsenal this season.
Some context and perspective before coming to judgement on whether today’s was a good or bad outcome today. The weather was lousy. The surface was difficult. Sunderland were wound up and determined not to let Arsenal play. IF (big if) we’d been unbeaten so far this season, Cesc’s last gasp equaliser and the draw would have been hailed as a very good result. The fact that Arsenal have already lost two “should have wons” clouds the picture. It’s difficult not to see this as another two points lost, rather than a good away draw.
Both teams made a lot of mistakes in the early minutes. Sunderland played as if the game was a cup tie. We played well until we reached their penalty box. From there, we created next to nothing in the first half save one header from Song from which he should have done better. We’ve got into the habit of punting hopeful, poor crosses from the full backs into crowded penalty boxes as our main route to goal. Theo had a poor first half and almost cost us a goal at one point. I was surprised that he started the second.
By 50 minutes I was sure that the team who scored first would win. We did! I was wrong! Sadly, Van Persie’s effort was wrongly disallowed, the ball being judged out of play before Theo’s cross. Then for the second time in two weeks the opposition scored a once in a lifetime (for Richardson) wonder goal. Cesc’s last minute equaliser was deserved, but frankly unexpected. I thought it was defeat three coming up.
I’m a big Adebayor fan. Today, he was almost a non-event. Partly because the service to him was poor, but particularly because he wasted many balls through poor first touch. Denilson and Song looked good coming forward but played too similar roles. I don’t think that pushing Cesc further upfield worked well. Denilson is better in that role and vice-versa.
The arrival of Bendtner, Nasri and Vela (Carlos much too late) gave us more edge. Bendtner’s through ball to Robin around 80 minutes was our best move of the game. A pass that Ade could only dream of making. Then there was Cesc from a corner, right at the death. Hope flickers.