Match Day Thread Southampton FC v Sunderland AFC – Saturday 9th March 2024 - KO 15:00

We'll still have a good support down there tbh but coming straight after Norwich it's a long trek and, no offence, not a great away day. The area round the ground is dreary and the decent pubs are half an hour's walk. Mind you, at least the away section is decent ...

... going to the Dell was like being put in a cage, where you could barely see the pitch, then praying it didn't rain

 

...by us

 

Just watched the conference there. Why is dodds just taking about himself. Like all the time. Never noticed it before but Jesus it's horrendous.

 

yeh he’s not been that bad with it before but that was almost like a parody wasn’t it

 

Another tough one. Can’t see us bothering them at all, totally different to the reverse fixture.

 

Wait until he starts talking in the third person, like Di Canio did at the end

 

Sunderland AFC news: Mike Dodds sends classy message to Southampton striker Ross Stewart after £10m move

https://www.sunderlandecho.com/spor...striker-ross-stewart-after-ps10m-move-4546736

By James Copley

Sunderland interim head coach Mike Dodds has delivered a classy message to Southampton striker Ross Stewart after his recent injury woes….

"I have a lot of love and respect for Ross Stewart," Dodds said when asked about the deal to take Stewart to Southampton from Sunderland and the player's recent injury issues.

"Not only was he a good footballer for this football club but he is a great lad. He turned up every day with a smile on his face. He worked really, really hard. I'll be honest, I am absolutely gutted and devastated for him."

"If he is listening to this, and I say this respectfully, I am not gutted or devastated that he is not available this weekend," Dodds added. "I know how much he will be hurting right now. He wants to play football and I know he has had a year or so of being out and not being in a great place.

"So I do really wish him all the best and I hope he is back on the grass playing as soon as possible, just not this weekend, but I have nothing but good things to say about Ross.”

Sunderland are currently on a five-game losing streak under interim head coach Dodds and face Southampton in the Championship at St Mary's on Saturday, with Stewart ruled out alongside two of his Saints teammates Juan Larios and Newcastle United loanee Ryan Fraser.

 

"He worked really, really hard."

Looks like a message to our young lads.

 

I feel a bit sorry for Dodds and I have the feeling of him being hung out to dry a bit. He is obviously giving everything to the cause but still too early to see if its enough or not. Hopefully this is the one where we turn the corner but still think we are a bit away from a complete performance due to missing personnel and fear the worst without Onein. My advice to Dodds is to keep his press conference a bit shorter as I think he is a bit ttoo open and honest for his own good.

 

Hopefully we see Aouchiche starting. Feel he deserves a run of games now…

 

Looked way out of his depth. Speaking in the third person loads.

 

I'm starting to struggle here, with this Dodds situation.

It appears everyone wanted Beale gone, so he's gone.

It's then clear we need someone to take the games and Dodds is the obvious, perhaps only choice.

What would people be saying now if he's said, 'Nah, not my job'.

What the hell does it matter how he talks ... ffs, this is like the Beale shiite all over again.

It's getting more like a gossip column every day on here.

 

I noticed that too! Worrying signs, I fear.

 

It's not like. Have you watched the conference. He seems completely different to when he was giving them before. He is not ready to be thrust into the situation and I think his comments to the press show worrying signs.

I personally think it's far too much of an ask for him and we could dent his confidence to a worrying level.

 

Mike Dodds is caretaker head coach, so he's not going to be the finished article.

I think we need to show a little patience with him.

 

Thanks for another fantastic thread RTB. For some reason I'm looking forward to this game although I can't really put my finger on why. Maybe the 2nd half on Tuesday when I thought we did pretty well has skewed my mind. Anyway to the game itself and I'd be happy with a decent performance and hopefully a share of the points or even all 3. Hopefully whoever plays does our magnificent travelling support proud. Keep the faith lads and lasses.

 

Agreed but he could help himself by just shortening his answers slightly and being a little more to the point.

 

Feck, missed that... was it Johnson who spoke similar?

As KLD asked of all fans. I'm willing to encourage him to the end of the season, see where we are then.

Hhhaaa'wwwwaaaaayyyyyy the lads