Pre-Swansea ramble ...

... and a 12 hour round trip for our support, close to 2000 going down.

The new ground is decent enough but out of town and few decent pubs within walking distance, a retail park Harvester is the nearest from memory. There are plenty of pubs in town but a good thirty minutes walk to the ground. The away section has a nice big concourse and the bar was open which helped.

Still, it's better than the old days at the Vetch Field down by the docks, wedged in between terraced houses and a dodgy place to go in the 70s and 80s.

I remember one occassion when we'd arrived on an early train and found ourselves in the so called 'Swansea Supporters Club' near the ground. They were great with us until we were outnumbered then the anti-English cracks started. We were starting to worry when a coachload from Peterlee arrived and marched in past the doorman.

One of them was at the bar ordering a round and stuttering as he spoke. A Swansea hard man, who'd been getting lippy with us, thought it would be hilarious to mimic him ...

... we thought it was equally hilarious when he was punched so hard he almost did a full backwards somersault along the bar

The place started emptying, of Swansea, and we eventually had the place to ourselves, happy days.

So Ballard is playing, Rusyn will be in again and we have players like Cirkin, Pritchard and Dack available. Bobby Madley, who sent Collocini off in an SOL derby, is the ref and hopefully better than those we've recently had.

I definitely can't make this one, work issues, but hope all the travellers have a cracking day out and come home singing.

 

Ballard being available is massive, he has been an absolute rock all season. Fancy Rusyn to get off the mark in this one and another 1-3 win.

 

School hols here so day away in Chester first....before going down & staying overnight...i said to the wife ive found a nice waterfront hotel after we've been to Chester....she asked where.....Swansea....the reply i got was SWANSEA too.....while the youngest said "get in dad"

 

You shudda said The Mumbles mate ...

... always looks great when you Google it

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mumbles_(district)

please log in to view this image

 

One of only two teams to do the double over us last season, Sheff UTD the other. New manager but still play the same possession style. Be a hard game but they leave a lot of gaps at the back and we are at our best when teams come onto us. Rusyn will also hopefully exploit the spaces with his speed and I fancy him to get off the mark. 1-2.

 

She was mumbling for quite a while after

 

I've no idea if Brendan Rogers is a good manager or not ...

... like Jeremy Clarkson I'll mute the TV if his face appears, can't abide him.

But he managed to produce one of the most stupid football quotes in history ...

... despite competition from the likes of Holloway, Ainsworth and Barton.

For anyone who isn't aware of this post match TV interview, here's his quote. Bear in mind this is after Sunderland beat them, quite comfortably, despite Swansea having 99% possession, no attempts on goal and a keeper who made more passes than any other player on the pitch.

"It is great for the public here at Sunderland to see us,” said manager Brendan Rodgers.

“They must have been wondering what this team everyone is talking about are all about and now they have seen. We were wonderful."

Sunderland 2-0 Swansea

 

Was that the game Gardiner scored a 25 yarder?, if so Swansea that day knocked me out of £1300 on a Both Teams to Score accumulater didn’t realise when I was at the match but when i got home and checked I immediately thought they never looked like scoring for my bet to come up

 

Still a few left...


Safe travels to everyone going down

 

That prompted me to look at trains, aided and abetted by Mrs Smug's smile ...

... fck that, Amundsen had an easier time getting to the South Pole

 

Some bloody good battle cruisers in Chester.

 

What’s weird about Swansea is that I always just plain forget about them.

Like, they one of them clubs that just exist and don’t register a space in your mind until you about to play them.

There’s a few like that but they one of the main ones.

 

Just had a look on their site on here to see what they’re saying about the weekends game, sorry lads when I looked I got sidetracked with the “nev and matthews” thread.

 

You should never go there, Comfy

 

@JamesCopley_
️ Tony Mowbray says having a week’s preparation is much better in terms of getting to grips with opposition teams.

@JamesCopley_
️ Tony Mowbray on Swansea: Their philosophy is that they want to play with the ball. Says Sunderland will have to be organised.

@JamesCopley_
️ Tony Mowbray says the weather has impacted Sunderland’s prep. Rain has caused problems with pitches at the AoL. Have still played small sided games.

@JamesCopley_
️ Tony Mowbray on injuries: Says he doesn’t expect anyone back. Adds that Mayenda is with the group but had only played one 90 min bounce game.

Says he will travel to Swansea with the squad after his injury issues.

@JamesCopley_
️ Tony Mowbray says Sunderland will fly down to Swansea to give his team the best chance.

“We hope to go there and be aggressive and impose ourselves.”

@JamesCopley_
️ Tony Mowbray says he’s delighted for Chris Rigg. Calls it a “fantastic achievement”.

“This club would never deny a young guy playing for his country in the World Cup.”

#SAFC

 

The bloke was and still is, an absolute clown

 

I’ll know for the future

 

So that will be Aouchiche, Alese & Matete? Am I missing anyone?

Not really counting Evans or Pembele as they seem longer term than is worth talking about

Alese is a weird one - keeps getting "close" then we get told he's 2 weeks away. Whatever it was, sounds like a nasty injury

 

This is now closed 'cos RTB's proper (much better ) thread is here