Fan Letters: “Why on earth hasn’t Chris Maguire been playing more for Sunderland recently?”

Dear Roker Report,

I was so glad to see Chris Maguire back in the side, which I strongly believe has been the missing link for a while. He is a fantastic professional who always gives nothing less than 100%. I’m surprised that Johnson has not used him properly as LJ needs to check Maguire’s performances before he appointed manager.

He lifts the whole team and now after his performance against Plymouth, must be picked for Northampton match plus the playoffs. Hopefully, he will prove Johnson wrong and provide and score goals to win the play offs. Then, a new contract should be offered.

Also, against Northampton, LJ should start with Josh Hawkes in case Wyke and Stewart are not fully fit. If Hawkes scores, then that would create a fantastic selection problem!

I would like to see Maguire, McGeady, Jones, Wyke and Stewart (or Hawkes) all in starting line up if all are fit. They all know how to attack and score goals!

Harish Shah

Dear Roker Report,

Now words obviously cannot describe how important that win was for our playoff hopes against Plymouth but all I’m thinking is why on earth has Chris Maguire not been getting the number of minutes a player of his quality at this level deserves?

He’s shown plenty of times this season (specifically that volley) that in this league he is a standout player, but I think it’s his chemistry with Geads that could be a huge factor in our promotion hopes. *story time* After running into Aiden in Belmont Tesco’s, it was Chris that was waiting in the car for him so clearly they’re friends off the pitch.

Put two players of their caliber, a caliber that is seldom seen at this level, together, and between the two of them, we have two quality players right there who could give us an advantage in any playoff game this post-season. Or at least I’m hoping!

H’away the lads!

Gabriel Aaron Ridley

Ed’s Note [Gav]: I think Maguire proved that he’s the man for the big moments. He’s largely been outcasted from the side but he still stood over the penalty and dispatched it with perfection. There’s obviously been some sort of issue with Maguire and Johnson, and I thought that it was interesting to hear Johnson say in his post-match comments that Maguire got in on the back of some great training performances.

I think there is the issue - Johnson hasn’t been impressed with him on the training pitch. Hopefully this is the end of all that, because Maguire is one of a few players we have that possesses real quality in the final third.

Photo by Ian Horrocks/Sunderland AFC via Getty Images

Dear Roker Report,

I love the old badge and think it would be great to see it back. Shipbuilding is our heritage and we should never forget that we were once the biggest shipbuilding town in the world.

Neal Stothard

Dear Roker Report,

Whilst I hear what you’re saying about looking forward and not back, if you ask the vast majority of Sunderland fans, they didn’t want to change our beloved badge in the first place. I’ve never felt any affinity with the current badge.

Tradition is also an important part of football. Give the majority of fans what they want, and bring back the badge exactly as was!

Hillsa

Dear Roker Report,

The old ship badge was and still is 100% better, as was ROKER PARK 100% better than the Stadium of Light. It would be great to get our new shirts with the ship badge on the front. Personally speaking, I spent many years proudly displaying the ship on my chest - I might sound selfish, but Sunderland were Sunderland when we had the ships, that’s for sure.

G.R.T.

Ed’s Note [Gav]: Here’s a little challenge for our readers who are handy with design programmes... can someone design a more modern version of the old ship badge and send it along? I’m curious to see what the response to such a thing would be online.

We’ll be happy to post it with credits!