Fan Letters: Sunderland need time and patience to get things right - let’s give it to them!

Dear Roker Report,

I’m going against the grain here.

Give the board some time to get investment not takeover.

Give the recruitment time signings so far make sense in areas we need, and releasing players into better other roles, e.g. Luke O’Nien, and more will come in but they have to be right for Sunderland... so patience, please.

Jack Ross deserves another chance but I wouldn’t muck about - if after ten games we’re not in the top three then “bye bye”.

Stewart Donald deleting his twitter account is warning to fans to leave them be to get on with it, or they may get cheesed off and go - then by God, you would all be moaning.

Patience, encouragement and positivity is needed - you have been warned.

Kevin Smith

Ed’s Note [Damian]: I don’t think it’s against the grain to preach patience Kevin, though I understand how it could seem that way, what with the barely-acceptable doses of cynicism coming out of areas of the support. We’re all cynics in our way I suppose, and it’s generally a learned behaviour.

I agree that we need to have patience but I also think that patience is starting to pay off. The recruitment team have started their engines and we’re bringing players over the line that - on paper at least - can make a difference. If we maintain the core of the squad from last season and improve in key positions (which we seem to be doing, fingers crossed) I think we’ll have a good start to the upcoming campaign.

It’s a shame Stewart Donald felt the need to abstain from social media but it is nonetheless the state of affairs. I disagree with the decision even if I do understand it, but that’s neither here nor there.

For all that’s gone before it is once again time to embrace positivity and take our place on the sidelines supporting our club. It’s cathartic to have a good moan when things go wrong but last season has come and gone and we look ahead.

Photo by Ian Horrocks/Sunderland AFC via Getty Images

Dear Roker Report,

Lads, great site and content, enjoy the daily reads.

I don’t suppose you know what the story is with the online streaming service. I am in the Caribbean and subscribed last year as it was impossible to get League 1 feeds online. All in all not the worst service, nice to be able to watch on my phone at work as well.

My issues with the service were, in no particular order, no score box or time box, no replays and no commentary! I don’t see why they just could not sync the audio with the video (as listening to audio commentary was another feature of the subscription).

Anyway, I am minded to sign up again even despite these issues, but can’t find anything on the clubs site about it. Given we are reaching down the back of the sofa for transfer funds, I am sure mine, and many others 120-odd quid for this service will help bring in some revenue.

Steve Bull

Ed’s Note [Damian]: Waa gwaan Steve.

I do believe the club are working in unison with their media partner StreamAMG to tackle some of the concerns you share with many fans. I can’t attest to commentary being provided at any point in the near future (though I can’t rule it out) but I think scores and times are in the works, and certainly there will be improvements made going forward.

I agree with you that it seems a straightforward thing to clip audio to visuals but I’m no expert. It certainly seems logical, though I would imagine the price will go up marginally to reflect any improvement in service.