I may be alone on this and the Bardo badge kissing and Sess moving on talk are what brought it to my mind. For many, many years I saw or players, in the main, as that, our players, the Rowels, Kerr's and Balls in my head were just like me, Sunderland fans who shared my love for the club. Each week I still watch Monty and Ashurst walk in, proud Sunderland men. Times slowly changed but my old head did not quite change in the same way and I truly fell for all the Bent stuff, he loved the club, the area and me the fan. I knew one day he would go, they all do, but when he did it would be with a heavy heart because he would always be one of us. Naive and foolish it seems now, looking back, I just lost touch with the real world for a time but my view of footballers changed and my respect now is with the Anton's, O'Shea's and Bardsley's, also the Richardson's. These are players who don't try to pretend they have the same love that I do, don't tell us how good the area is, the people are or even the club is, they don't try to con me. They are here because for whatever reason their last club no longer wanted them, we did, we gave them a contract they accepted. They respect the club and in some cases may have even falling a little in love with the club, it may not be their club, for Anton that's West Ham, the others probably Man U, but it is the club they belong to and they show respect and professionalism by giving their all to us. Its all I now ask, I believe they can like us but love their team, I will give them my all in return but when its time to move on, I will move on with them. Next Saturday I will be in my usual seat and for 90 mins we will have our usual love affair, like most affairs it will have highs and lows, some hot passionate bits and maybe some long boring bits, the boring has become a lot less of late. What it wont be is a long term for ever and ever relationship, we both know it will one day end and that I can handle, all I ask is that when it does they leave me in a nice gentle way, not a Bent or Gyan cant wait to get out of the door way. My comfort is that even though one more love dies, my real love, the long lasting for ever and ever love, the club, will remain, that's for life.
As long as it's a happy ending syd I'm not bothered who pulls on the shirt, we all know they will move on and for whatever reasons usually money in fact more than likely money, it's the timing they need to get right.
Nice little piece Syd. I still maintain to this day that Bent had a genuine bond and affinity for the club and fans, and something, which we may never find out, came along to change it. We all know he went to Villa for the money, but i'm utterly convinced that wasn't the be all. Bardo, he is a symbol of all I love about our club, to an extent our region. Not the most talented (the region not the most affluent), but works every day to make the best of what he was given (many a fella in the NE does 60hrs a week plus to provide for his family), the man has the heart of a lion. Added bonus, his improvement as a footballer the last 2.5 years has been incredible. If we had 11 Bardo's, we'd be alright, as it stands, we seem to have a good bunch of lads who have a great deal of affinity with the club, and that's wonderful to see.
I think you could be right. Sometimes its the worst when you have a bond with someone/something and that is broken by something that happens. Sometimes you just want out and end up hating them/it more because of the bond you had. I think this could be the case with Bent. As for Bardo, I love the guy. He gives 120% every game. When he scored the winner at Villa last year we all went mental in the stand and sang his name after the game. He came over and celebrated with us and was the last person to leave the pitch. I think Sess gives us his all as well, he gets kicked all the time but gets back up and chases the ball down. I know he has had the odd off par game but generally he works his socks off. I don't think he works like that because of Sunderland but he does because he knows he has a gift and is lucky to be in the position he is. I love both the above players attitudes even though they are possibly doing things for slightly different reasons. I just wish all footballers were like that.
Its why I wont call Richardson, is he the best, we all know he is not but he tries his best and that's all I ask.
The Bent Aftermath I'm sure that was the name of one of those pubs which I chose to avoid on my recent weekend trip to Manchester...
I've been saying this about Bardsley for 2 years. He nearly left the club and I was beside myself. He is straight out of the Kerr, Rowell, Bally, Quinny mould. Passion and fire burn deep within them all and they all wore the colours with pride. I have said on so many occasions that despite his failings (I know his distribution isn't world class at times) I'd build my team around him. He would be my captain for sure as he is a born leader of men. He is the new Kevin Ball figure head imo and I can't give a bigger accolade to anyone than that of our former playing hero. I love players like Bardsley and we are lucky imo to have still have him. If we are to beat Everton and go forward in this cup competition we will need his will to win attitude more than ever.
Bally remains my favourite SAFC player ever, so to even hold Bardo in comparison says it all for me. You'd want Bardo behind you in a bar room free-for-all, any day of the week.
You would win **** all with a team full of Lionel Messi's but with team of Bally's and Bardsley's you wouldn't lose many battles. What we need is a couple of the former and the rest made up of the latter and then we really will take the world by storm. Another Sessegnon type of player up front or in midfield in the summer will be just fine.
Yesterday as many will recall was Mothers Day, and my dear old Mum (85) who knows that I am Sunderland daft made the remark that players now are not local lads, she had watched the game Saturday, but preferred the Rugby later in the day when the big blokes bashed hell out of each other. The point I guess with big money you have to accept mercenaries. The one club player unless you are a big club paying big money is very rare now. So we just have to support who ever pulls the jersey on. Bent pretended to be something he was not and left as soon as more cash came his way, it was blatant!
Syd I did a thread about 12 months ago titled kissing the badge on this theme which u made a an article/blog; I completely agree with your sentiments
Have to agree with every word cest - Bardsley is the new Bally or Quinny - he appears to love the club - uif he didn't then he would've just let Bruce sell him and he knows we all love his passion, coimmitment and ability (which I think is undervalued by some fans) - imagine if we had Hutton at Right Back - he has been woeful for Villa most of the time! I also think his vision is underestimated as well - he plays some lovely passes - crossfield and over the top - OK so he may not hit all of them but he certainly hits a high percentage of targets - has a cracking shot on him as well. I personally think he loves this club - there are badge kissers who are simply kissing the wallet in their inside pocket behind the badge, and there's Bardsley - who, to me, is playing for the team and loves the side
