Fan Letters: “McGeady’s return changed the whole outlook of Sunderland”

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Dear Roker Report,

Johnson must receive a highest mark for at least one thing, and that is he brought back into the fold McGeady which changed the whole outlook of SAFC.

Ian D

Ed’s Note [Rich]: It’s a good point well made, Ian. Geads brought quality to our play in the final third and, without it, I doubt we’d have been challenging for the playoffs last season. We need more players with his presence on the pitch at the club, that’s for sure.

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Dear Roker Report,

We were warned by Coventry fans about Burge’s limitations; does not command his box, defenders do not trust him. Yes, he kept clean sheets - but in games where he had nothing to do. Coventry fans, spot on. Defence starts with keeper, replace him as a number 1.

Roger Stokell

Ed’s Note [Rich]: Cheers for writing in, Roger. I think Lee Burge is a decent keeper at League 1 level - he got into the team of the year and made some quality saves, as well as some howlers. We definitely need to strengthen in that department, and Anthony Patterson may well be given a go between the sticks now that young Jacob Carney looks to have joined the academy from Manchester United.

Photo by Mark Fletcher/MI News/NurPhoto via Getty Images

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Dear Roker Report,

Why not bring Roy Keane back? He took no crap.

Robert Earn

Ed’s Note [Rich]: As much as I love Roy Keane, Robert, he already has a job on TV and we already have a manager, neither of which are going to change any time soon as far as I can tell.

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Dear Roker Report,

My friend in Brisbane asked me my thoughts on the SAFC situation. This is what I said to him:

....My interest in SAFC has nosedived as I can see nothing different to our approach to the continued failure to get out of this awful league. I do think that KLD will eventually improve us as we could hardly get any worse but what he sees in Johnson is beyond my comprehension.

Some of the manager’s decisions when the pressure was on was distinctly unimpressive, he appeared clueless and hapless. Still, time will tell, but I will be amazed if we go up next season unless KLD treats this with more urgency. I hope that he realises that many thousands of fans (his customers) must surely feel the same as I do. They are very close to saying, ”I’m Sunderland till I die but that’s enough for me.”

Mick Colman

Ed’s Note [Rich]: Thanks for your letter, Mick. There’s loads to be hopeful about at Sunderland at the minute, despite the way last season petered out. Johnson needs time to shape a squad of his own and this will be done over the course of pre-season, at the minute most of the football world is either on holiday or focused on international football. We can't expect a flurry of headline signings at this stage.

On your last point, isn't it the lot of 90 per cent of football fans to be constantly disappointed by the team they love? Stepping away when times are hard is tempting, but only with our support will KLD be able to rebuild the club that others have mistreated so badly.

Photo by Mike Egerton/PA Images via Getty Images