Who is applying for this?

-- Anonymous, January 10, 2002

Answers

Applying?

Surely its free to get in!

After all everybody knows that it is free and in some cases they give you money for going.

-- Anonymous, January 11, 2002

I've noticed 11 spectators at your matches who get paid a bomb for watching the visitors score goals. How do you go about getting a gig like that?

-- Anonymous, January 11, 2002

If you have " a big heart,can tackle and be good in a year or two" then you get a gig like that.

And as for watching the opposition scoring- By how much is our defence worse than yours? Is it much? I do not have a table to hand.

Our problem is at the other end.

-- Anonymous, January 11, 2002

Your defence is better, Kev, I think (although the Ipswich game may have put paid to that as there wasn't much in it). It's goals scored that is the big difference at present,

Regarding "payment", I have never suggested that you let away fans in free.

-- Anonymous, January 11, 2002

Well surely if all the home fans are let in free(or payed to go!) and the away fans are not then Sunderland are in breach of the fans charter!?

-- Anonymous, January 11, 2002

It was only a joke superkev. You actually have a far better defensive record than us to the tune of 5 less goals conceded, but I would still rather watch us beat Leeds and Man Utd by cavalier 4-3s than try for dour 1-0s. An easy position to take when you're doing well and I reserve the right to totally contradict myself if/when it all goes tits-up.

-- Anonymous, January 11, 2002

Contradiction is the right of every football fan and certainly when you support a team in the north east of England!

Whats up with dour 1-0 wins anyway?

Believe me you feel great getting back to the pub and having a pint after watching that unfold in front of you.

-- Anonymous, January 11, 2002

Been there, done that, bloody hated it. It took a while to work it out, but Dalglish was actually writing "Who says I don't have a sense of humour?" in binary code.

Actually, I've just done a predictive forecast for the rest of the season filling in the games at our respective clubs with the average goals scored at home and away for each side. You look like getting 10 points for the rest of the season. Hadn't realised how dodgy your run- in is. Commiserations, 37 points might still be enough this season. Leeds, Arsenal, Chelsea, Man Utd and Spurs away, not to mention Liverpool and NUFC at home. Crikey!

Bizarrely enough we are likely to get 35 points from the remaining games for a whacking 74 points for the season. The only game which even gives us a negative goal-liklihood is Arsenal at SJP. Gobsmacking. I'll post it later.

-- Anonymous, January 11, 2002