Always been my favourite too marra, I could tell stories all day about some of my journeys up and down the country. The football 'special' was the start of some of the greatest days ever
I made a point in wearing my Safc top at the gym this morn. You should have seen the looks i was getting. Youd think i was wearling a Leotard .
Theres Hull winning their first 2 games and under bigger dire straits than ourselves. It'll be interesting to see how we react in comparison. Not as well I'll bet!
The week of waiting for transfer news is over.... I for one am ready for tomorrow's game Let's get behind the lads and make the atmosphere unbelievable Come on !!!!!!!!
Burnley have started canny as well, we need a win to keep in touch with the leaders , away the lads, do us proud.
Years ago when we played at Roker Park a trainload of Smoggies missed the match as they got off the train at Seaham....rather than Seaburn...true story.
At least FIVE Changes Expected for Sunderland Against Middlesbrough Sunderland's preparation for our first home game of the season could not have been worse with many players now unavailable leaving David Moyes with surely the smallest squad in the league to chose from. A competent display against Manchester City should have bred confidence within the squad - but the starting eleven will no doubt look much different. Injuries rule out Lamine Kone (*cough* bollocks *cough*), Lee Cattermole, Jan Kirchhoff, Seb Larsson and Billy Jones. Moyes also expressed concerns regarding the fitness of Fabio Borini who suffered a toe injury. The Italian is expected to play some part in the match, though that might be from the bench. The untimely exit of Younes Kaboul means an all new centre back pairing will be named for the match against Middlesbrough. Moyes confirmed in his press conference that one half of the pairing will be a debut for new signing Papy Djilobodji, whilst it is expected John O'Shea will partner the Senegalese International for what will also be his first Premier League appearance. Vito Mannone will continue in goal as Sunderland's number one. We are unlikely to see any changes either side of the centre backs. Moyes conceded that Donald Love was signed as a back up right back, though, as Sunderland have failed to land any of their targets for the number one spot in that position, Love will start as he did against Manchester City. Despite his ridiculous challenge conceding a penalty last week, Patrick van Aanholt will be given the opportunity to replicate last season's form under Sam Allardyce. In front of the back four further changes are expected. No other players have been made available for the central position and Jack Rodwell will therefore start again. He did well against City, providing a cute assist for Jermain Defoe's leveller. With O'Shea expected to be moved into the centre of defence - Paddy McNair, who was unlucky to score an own goal during his debut as a substitute, is likely to start in midfield. Lynden Gooch was the surprise inclusion in Moyes' starting eleven against City. Though the American, who has come through our youth team, certainly made a good impression, he is expected to drop to the bench tomorrow in favour of Wahbi Khazri. Duncan Watmore might have found his spot under threat from the impressive Adnan Januzaj, however the Manchester United loanee may find himself more central tomorrow, replacing Borini who is a fitness concern. Defoe will, of course, start up top. Should Borini not be available, a start for Swedish hot shot Joel Asoro is not out of the question. Expected line up; Mannone, O'Shea, Djilobodji, Love, van Aanholt, McNair, Rodwell, Khazri, Watmore, Januzaj, Defoe. Whatever you make of our makeshift midfield and new defensive partnership - there is plenty of creativity further forward for Sunderland, and options on the bench regardless of the line up. Goals are pretty much a given in this one and if Djilobodji proves to be a shrewd buy we could have too much for Boro. I suspect we will score goals, the question is whether we can be organised enough in defence to limit Boro to less than we score. Let's hope we can and that we can have a productive end to the transfer window.
