Fan Letters: “Let the good times roll!”

Dear Roker Report,

Here we go - the manager rumour mill starts in earnest and with Sunderland it is bound to be none of the favourites.

I think 100% the next manager will be foreign, with a Director of Football employed as well shortly. For me with the takeover supposedly happening anytime now, a manager has already been approached and I think it’s Poyet.

Poyet is the obvious choice due to the Uruguayan connection through Sartori and would be a great choice for the fans. I think Gus knows the club and fans, he is no idiot and knows it won’t be easy, but knows Sunderland are a sleeping giant waiting to be awoken.

He would be a popular choice and plays the game the way it should be played, not the dross we have been watching for years.

The players will now have to play for there places and show heart and passion that comes with wearing the red white shirt, because the incoming manager will not put up with the usual one half wonders we have been watching for the last few years. Hopefully it is Poyet.

Let’s get behind him (if it is him) and the team - things and the football we have endured for two seasons can only improve with a man who knows the club and what it means to the fans.

Hopefully it’s Poyet who gets the job and turns this great club around - it will take time, but we need to put a smile on people’s faces after this shit year.

Let the good times roll - this club and fans deserve it... we need it.

Mark Wild

Ed’s Note [Chris]: It does seem likely if the rumours are correct then we are likely to see a new structure at the club where a Head Coach will work under a Director of Football which means it’s likely to be someone who is more technical on the training pitch.

Poyet had us playing some fantastic football in his previous spell and if that could be replicated at this level with also providing the results at the same time then it would be the ideal scenario. There’s a lot of question marks over all that working straight off the bat, but it’s a nice thought.

Photo by Ian Horrocks/Sunderland AFC via Getty Images

Dear Roker Report,

Hello Lads - as you know, I stated from the day he was given the job (look back at all my past letters regarding him) that Mr miserable-and-blame-everybody-but-himself (noticed on Saturday after another two points were lost that he blamed the new EFL rules... the same rules that the rest of the league have to work under) was useless.

He should never have been anywhere near the SOL never mind in the manager’s chair.

We now have to hope that the clowns who appointed him take a close look at themselves and understand that this is their last chance, even though they don't deserve another chance after two years plus of total ineptness.

Give this job to someone or some people who actually at least have a knowledge of football. Get this appointment wrong and believe you me SAFC will be finished for at least the next ten years. Give our club the tools necessary, and guess what Mr Donald - you will make a lot more money out of SAFC than you already have done.

I’m so glad that this useless miserable manager is no longer on Wearside. He truly was the most miserable-faced, incompetent, clueless, sorry excuse for a football manager.

Bloody good riddance - football should not touch him with a barge pole.

P.S. Was Barton’s sucking up to the SAFC players on Friday a sign of what might be round the corner? God forbid, no. But there again, I said that about Parkinson.

Keep Safe!

William & Jarvis

Ed’s Note [Chris]: I think it’s evident now that he wasn’t the right man for the job. It feels now a wasted opportunity, not only last season but to get off to a flying start this season. A wasted year in the current climate in our position is hard to swallow but let’s hope it leads to better things in the long term.

Photo by Lewis Storey/Getty Images

Dear Roker Report,

I wish people would stop worrying about Sunderland.

All I’m going to say is: give it time, and they will come good.... They should go on a good run now. They should win their next five games. The only hard game will be Hull City on Boxing Day at home, and we should beat them...

Don’t forget, we have played most of the top teams in the league.

Come the end of January, we will be smiling again!

Gary Tarring

Ed’s Note [Chris]: I wish I could Gary! I love the optimism and please get back in touch at the end of January after all that happens and we’re all smiling again!

Dear Roker Report,

The takeover bid is all just assumptions at the moment.

There has been no formal release from anyone but the rumour mongers. So, let’s keep stum and wait patiently for an official announcement - that will be an excellent Christmas prezzy for all SAFC fans around the world.

Fingers and everything else crossed.

Paul (Pados)

Ed’s Note [Chris]: The rumour mill is in full flow Paul and I’m not sure the lid is going back on anytime soon - let’s just hope whatever deal is in the works is completed very soon, and we can get started with whatever is next!

Dear Roker Report,

I have been an SAFC supporter for donkeys years, and I like to hear the opinions of all the posters on Roker Report. However, some seem like wishful thinking.

“Haway man, there are still 40, 30, 20 games to go.” I read an article from an ex player, I forget who it was, but it seemed to sound exactly the same. “Don’t worry, as long as we are not in a relegation place - there are still plenty of games left”.

We all know what actually happens. After the Great Escape... how many times did I say to myself “why didn’t they play like that at the start of the season?”

“Stop Maguire, stop Sunderland.”

I do not watch the away games, only the home ones, but on reading the match reports lately it seems as though Maguire is stopping himself through positional play.

“Under 23 players should not play in certain games.”

I may be wrong, but is Embleton’s age 23? That’s nearly half a playing career. In my time you were lucky to get ten years. No wonder we lose a prospect.

“2 points per game is promotion form.”

I am looking at the table and we are 8th.

It looks to me that the teams above us are getting more - the maths doesn’t add up.

Anthony Lynn

Ed’s Note [Chris]: We could do with a new manager bounce that lasts until the end of the season Anthony. We might be 8th but nobody is running away with it at the moment and anyone still in touch has a chance with a good enough run. There’s still plenty of time to seal promotion this season.

Photo by Ian Horrocks/Sunderland AFC via Getty Images

Dear Roker Report,

Well done to Luke O’Nien and his work as the Foundation of Lights Disability’s Ambassador as mentioned in a previous Roker Report Article.

He really does display everything that a Sunderland fan loves in their players - passion, heart, fight, commitment and desire to do his best always. He has workrate, he’s selfless, and he will play anywhere to help the team, an ultimate professional and no mean skill either.

It really feels like watching what it would be like if a fan was good enough to play in the team.

He seems to get the club and appreciate how privileged he is to be a footballer.

He should have been captain this season and should be playing in his right position, and we should be building a team around him and the younger players.

Unfortunately his contract is up this season and this shower won’t reward him with another that reflects his worth, and we will lose a genuine diamond. Well done Luke son, you are a true inspiration for any young players trying to make it in the game.

Paul Eden

Ed’s Note [Chris]: Couldn’t agree more about his character Paul and his recent work for the Foundation has been fantastic. On the pitch it will be very interesting how a different manager uses O’Nien and whether he could find himself back as a central midfield player or if the new manager keeps him on the right side of the pitch in some capacity.

I’d also be very surprised if a deal isn’t put in front of him to stay at Sunderland beyind the current season.

Photo by Lewis Storey/Getty Images