Fan Letters: RR reader Anth asks, ‘What chance do we have of signing Sanderson permanently?’

Dear Roker Report,

What a win!

What chance is there that we get Sanderson permanently?

He’s mint.

Anth Carr

Ed’s note [Martin]: He’s growing in stature each game and thankfully has really stepped up to the plate. If we go up we might have half a chance of signing him. He seems to really enjoy it here, and he’s the right age – and seems to have the right character – to build a side around. I don’t think we’ll be splashing loads of money about, but Sanderson fits the profile of someone who we’d invest in. Wolves will probably want to keep him, but who knows?

Photo by Ian Horrocks/Sunderland AFC via Getty Images

Dear Roker Report,

Reading about that night [On This Day, 4 March – Milk Cup Semi Final versus Chelsea] brought back a lot of memories. I was living in Oxford at the time and managed to get a couple of tickets thanks to my brother. I went will a fellow Mackem and although the tickets were bought from Sunderland we were among Chelsea fans in the main stand. It was tense but wonderful. After the game we had to get to Victoria bus station via the tube. West Ham were playing Wimbledon the same night and we had to cross paths en route. We decided before leaving the ground we would say nothing until we got on the bus.

However after leaving the tube station and turning a corner leading to the bus station we thought we were clear and began our belated celebrations. Just then out of the shadow stepped a young police women “what’s going on?” she said.

We explained what had happened. “What was the result?” she asked. When we told her she hugged us and the three of us celebrated. She was a Sunderland girl who hadn’t been allowed to work the game that night.

The next morning I wore my Sunderland scarf to work, on the landings at Oxford Prison.

Happy days.

J. Wales

Ed’s note [Martin]: Great memories – it’s what it’s all about isn’t it!

Photo by Hugh Hastings/Chelsea FC via Getty Images

Dear Roker Report,

Left back has been a big problem for a couple of seasons now but it has come to a head with Denver Hume’s long-term injury. Everyone seems to agree that neither McFadzean or Vokins are up to the job. O’Nien could be a solution but he is tied up covering the CB injuries. I would like to suggest that Scowen could be a short term solution. He offers little in a constructive midfield role but his tenacity could be an asset in a defensive role. He would need to tighten his discipline a bit and keep to his position but he cannot be any worse than the present incumbents!

Stuart Lathan

Ed’s note [Martin]: Hume doesn’t seem too far away now according to Johnson’s press conference before the Rochdale game, but it’s important to remember his best form has come in a back five, rather than a four. Bailey Wright seems to be getting closer, too, so I suspect we’re more likely to see him back and shift O’Nien out there in the short term. Scowen at left back? He could do a job, but I seem to be in a minority who really rate him in midfield. He keeps things ticking over and does the dirty work to free up space for others.

Photo by Ian Horrocks/Sunderland AFC via Getty Images

Dear Roker Report,

As I see it, whoever plays left back, especially when McGeady is in front of him, has a hard task. McGeady gives us flair and attacking threat but he needs an overlapping fullback as a foil. That lefty has to be prepared to run as when Geads loses out he rarely tracks back – this invariably leaves the full back exposed to counter attacks. Even Hume, who has also received a lot of stick, struggles with this he is superb going forward but his heading is suspect as is his tackling though it’s improved from last season. I hope Hume is back soon otherwise I think that Johnson has to give one of the young lads a chance

Charles Taylor

Ed’s note [Martin]: I think that’s unfair on McGeady to be honest, Charles – he does a lot of work going back the other way, and he’s played a lot of games in a short period of time, particularly for a 34-year-old who had barely played for a year. Hume had improved a lot under Parkinson – this season we’d seen Hume’s heading and tackling improve enormously – let’s hope Johnson can keep progressing him.