http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/29681235 Sunderland goalkeeper Vito Mannone wants to reimburse fans Vito Mannone has said he and his Sunderland team-mates should reimburse the fans who travelled to Southampton and watched their team lose 8-0. Manager Gus Poyet said Sunderland's heaviest Premier League loss was his "most embarrassing" moment in football. Sunderland scored two own goals, which included a calamitous 18-yard volley from Argentine Santiago Vergini. "I will personally talk to the team to see if it is possible to pay for their tickets and their trip," Mannone said. The defeat was Sunderland's biggest loss in 32 years and goalkeeper Mannone wanted to meet the costs of the 700-mile journey made by 2,500 "special" Sunderland fans. "I really mean that we should pay their tickets and travel," the 26-year-old Italian added. "We should do it because we didn't put a foot in, we didn't work hard. We started the game well but after we conceded we threw in the towel and I include myself. "It is difficult for us but it's very difficult for them as well. It is a difficult moment." He said the players would need to pick themselves up quickly before Saturday's home match against Arsenal in the league. "We will go through it during the week. We will have time. The Premier League is really difficult. We have a tough game again at home, so there is no time to feel sorry for ourselves. We need to react," Mannone said. "As I said, they are special fans. We are really lucky to be at this club and have these fans. If it was me, I would probably not react in the same way."
Refunding tickets and travel. I reckon that's £100 per person, roughly. 2,500 supporters there so £250,000 refunded. Players and Gus chipping in, will be about 17 grand approx that each one will pay. It will be a fantastic touch but not required, imo. It comes with the territory of being a supporter.
I think it is a daft idea to be honest...I just want to see them put things right on the pitch with a fighting display against Arsenal..
I didn't go to the game myself but my brother and old man did. I know for a fact that they'd prefer a reaction in terms of performance and results, rather than the cash. I think, had I been I'd have agreed with them. As 83 says it comes with being a football supporter, you take the good with the bad. They owe us some good after that mess.
All I ever ask for is 100% effort, which was not the case yesterday after that penalty decision wasn't given..
Well on that basis what about Wembley 1985,wembley again 1990 6 am start and I forgot what I forked out, mind you we had a worse team back then, then Derby away in the league cup 6-0 it goes on and on. The club would be bankrupt if they paid for all off their failings over the years.
I'd rather they donated a significant amount of money to a charity, boys club, local football club tbh. They should be invited to hand over the cheque is person & televised. They could give me £500 but it wouldn't reverse the result. We behaved with class, on Saturday, and I think holding our hands out would be right imo.
AN APOLOGETIC Vito Mannone thinks Sunderland’s players should group together and reimburse the cost of match tickets and travel expenses to the fans subjected to witnessing one of the worst results in the club’s 135-year history. Mannone feels such a gesture is required after Southampton smashed EIGHT goals without reply against the Black Cats, equalling the Wearsiders’ worst ever defeat which left manager Gus Poyet wondering what on earth went wrong. The Uruguayan boss’ post-match calls for his players to explain the result led to Mannone, and a number of his team-mates, carrying out interviews at St Mary’s to try to get their apologies across to supporters. More than 2,600 fans made the long trek to the south coast where a calamitous first half own goal from Santiago Vergini was followed by two more Saints strikes before the break from Graziano Pelle and Jack Cork. If three-nil was not bad enough, Sunderland then suffered the collapse of collapses after the restart when a further own goal from Liam Bridcutt was followed by four more from goals Pelle, Dusan Tadic, Vincent Wanyama and, finally, Saido Mane. Mannone, at fault for at least two but let down by those in front of him too, was left in no doubt about what should be done to make up for the disgraceful and embarrassing scoreline – knowing how many of the strong contingent of away fans actually applauded them off the pitch rather than over-reacted by hurling abuse. “I will personally talk to the team to see if it is possible to pay for their (fans) tickets and their trip,” said Mannone. “It is difficult for us on a day like this but it’s very difficult for them as well. It is a difficult moment. “They are special fans. We are really lucky to be at this club and have these fans. If it was me, I would probably not react in the same way as they did. I can only be proud to wear this shirt. I need to do my best and each one of us in the team should do our best to make them feel proud of this club and not have 8-0 defeats! “I really mean that we should pay their tickets and travel. I will do everything possible. We should do it because we didn’t put our foot in, we didn’t work hard. We started the game well but after we conceded we threw in the towel and I include myself. Let’s take it on the chin and go because we have another 30 games.” As Mannone stood under the main stand at St Mary’s trying to explain what went wrong, there was sincerity about his words. One by one the players walked through, clearly shell-shocked and affected by the performance they had just turned in. The defeat quickly erased the confidence built up from the victory over Stoke City in their last outing and leaves them just a point above third from bottom Newcastle ahead of Saturday’s visit of Arsenal to the Stadium of Light. Mannone said: “We have to remember how embarrassed we felt, feel embarrassed for ourselves and take some anger from this game in to the next one and produce a performance. “It was a low point for anyone and possibly the biggest embarrassment for the team since I’ve been here. It was a difficult afternoon but we need to react. We have to do it for ourselves, for the club and for our great fans as well that went all that way to Southampton. “I will keep my head up. I will go on the pitch and try to react and to try to do my best. These things happen in football but it is how you react to them. We have many opportunities in front of us and we can’t let ourselves down, or feel sorry for ourselves in the next game. “I can only really remember conceding that many goals in training, it happens. I take all the responsibility I can take for each goal. I will try to work on it and try to improve. Each one of us should do the same. Every one of us knows there were mistakes on the field.” BIGGEST DEFEATS Sunderland’s heaviest defeats Southampton 8 Sunderland 0, October 2014 Watford 8 Sunderland 0, September 1982 West Ham 8 Sunderland 0, October 1968 Sheffield Wednesday 8 Sunderland 0, December 1911 Premier League’s biggest wins Manchester United 9 Ipswich Town 0, March 1995 Newcastle United 8 Sheffield Wednesday 0, September 1999 Tottenham 9 Wigan 1, November 2009 Southampton 8 Sunderland 0, October 2014 Chelsea 8 Wigan 0, May 2010 Chelsea 8 Aston Villa 0, December 2012
I think he should be applauded for this. At least he has the balls to come out and say "We should do it because we didn't put a foot in, we didn't work hard. We started the game well but after we conceded we threw in the towel and I include myself. It shows he does care and if the rest of the team have the same mentality, then we should see a real improvement on Saturday.
I agree, after travelling such a distance and in such great numbers, and forking out their hard-earned cash, it's the least these overpaid players can do for the fans. The most important thing is a reaction against Arsenal though, just to restore some pride.
By the same token would we have to pay more if they exceeded expectations? Should they ask for money for beating chelsea at Stamford Bridge? You pay to go to the game, it doesnt effect the outcome. Just give it everything you've got against Arsenal and im sure eveyone will be happy
Nice words, but as mentioned it's hollow as ****. The only thing we want, that anyone wants, is a bit of pride back v Arsenal. Give the money to charity, and show us some pride in the badge.
It appears that is just what the players have come up with, well done to all concerned. A good showing and a result against Arsenal would be icing on the cake.
