Its a funny thing how nerves kick in, from nowhere they just appear, knotted stomach, irritable, unable to just relax, watching the clock, looking forward to it but dreading it, daft thing is, its only a bloody football match. Well, actually its a lot more than just a football match. After years of viewing success as getting promoted again, after being relegated in the first place, we sit one football match, well maybe two, away from a trip to Wembley and the semi finals of the FA Cup. A good day out, an occasion yes its all that but its a lot more, finance, Europe, prestige and pride all come into that one football match. Now you could say that considering where we were in October that just getting to the quarter finals is a reason for pride, and you would be right, but now we are here, well it would be a shame not to go that little bit further. I wish it was all over, I wish I knew the outcome, I wish I could relax, I wish, I wish, I wish.
NICKLAS Bendtner says he is prepared to be the man in the mask for as long as has to – after hearing the potential consequences of trying to play football without it! The face protector – designed by the same London specialist who helped Simon Mignolet with his facial injury – allows the Danish striker to get through games while his broken cheekbone and eye socket heals. However, he told the Echo it is awkward to wear during games, restricts his field of vision and he would prefer not to wear it. He said: “I’m told I have to wear it for a couple of weeks or more and to be honest, I was hoping to avoid wearing it as soon as possible before they warned me that under no circumstances must I do so until they tell me I can. “I don’t know all the technical stuff, but basically what they told me was that you have a whole in your skull behind your eye and if I get a knock in the face without the mask on, the eye could fall backwards into that hole. “They also told me that if I took a knock on the eye and it dropped even as much as a millimetre or two, I would have double-vision and not be able to play. “After they told me that? I said ‘Where’s the mask!’” The fallout, for want of a better of a word, from the initial injury in the game against Swansea in January has been the side-lining of Bendtner for weeks, even though the high challenge from Spaniard Rangel Angel did not appear malicious. “I don’t think it was,” said Bendtner. “He was stretching for the ball, but the toe of his boot hit me directly on the eye. “It was a horrible experience. I was blind in the eye for hours. I feared losing my sight and I had to have injections. “But hopefully that’s all in the past now. It’s great to be back playing again thanks to the mask and getting back to good form again. “The mask itself doesn’t really feel comfortable and it affects your peripheral vision. It means you cannot really see all around you and heading the ball isn’t great either. “But having heard the alternative risks of not wearing the mask, I have only one option. “With a bit of luck it will only be a few more weeks. “It was a great success for Simon and he’s out of his now, so fingers-crossed I won’t be too far behind.” Now Bendtner wants to keep up the good work that has seen him score in his last two games and help Sunderland take four points from their last six to maintain their place in the top half of the table. “It is very important that we finish the season strongly,” he said. “I want to finish the season strongly and I want Sunderland to finish the season strongly after all the good work that’s been done over the last few months.”
It's a funny thing Syd and lads But generally speaking I'd be with you in the knotted stomach and nail biting but for some strange reason I am absolutely relaxed and chilled about today, Maybe because 4 months ago I was fearing relegation and everything that has happened since has just been incredible. Today is a bonus day. If we win it gets better and if we don't, I'll get over it. I get the feeling there are many more days like today to come under Mon. Chilled out cest.
Sure Mig ditched his against the bin dippers mate seem to remember seeing footage of him without it on. Fair enough keep them on until the injury is healed but, if playing football is going to kill or blind you try something else or get on with it and stop being a soft arse. You take risks just walking the street these days live for today if tomorrow comes bonus.
well migs game has improved alot since he got his off he can actually catch crosses i wondering if bendtners game will imporve when he gets his off
Think this fella will have a big say in events........... Referee Andre Marriner will be the man in the middle when Sunderland make the trip to Everton. A veteran of eight seasons in the professional game, Marriner is now in his seventh campaign as a member of the PGMO Select Group. He last officiated a Sunderland game, back in December when the Black Cats defeated QPR in their midweek trip to Loftus Road. During that 3-2 victory he booked Lee Cattermole and Stephane Sessegnon. (not today cos the two nuggests are banned) Marriner last took charge of Everton during their 2-1 defeat against Newcastle at the Sports Direct Arena, in that game he showed yellw cards to Leighton Baines, Phil Jagielka and Roysten Drenthe. In total, Marriner has shown 66 yellow cards this term and made five dismissals.
In total, Marriner has shown 66 yellow cards this term and made five dismissals. So he's a soft touch then mate?
the worst ref in the PL imo.... he lets games get away from him and it boils over he has so many **** desisions he has got wrong over the years.... big desisions he has got wrong
I hope Bendy never takes his mask off, he seems to see the goal better through it if you look at his scoring record before and after mask
So true Cest. Mind you, we've not seen 5 teats all week. Now I'd bet my entire pension fund that if we get beat today he'll be all over us like a ****ing scabies rash. The ****.
Very, very strangely, I feel the same way too. I have no worries about the future of SAFC - as long as we have Marty that is!
