View from the Opposition – Sunderland 3 December 2016
A bit about you:
Name: Gordon McFarlane
Current home town: I live in Bedfordshire
Birthplace: I was born in Scotland, but moved to the north east of England when I was 15
How long have you supported your team? I’ve supported Sunderland for around 33 years – the highs (a few) and the lows!
Overview of your club:
Favourite thing about your home ground: Generally the atmosphere in the Stadium of Light is great, and can be quite intimidating for the opposition! It’s also a modern, roomy stadium.
Favourite match played by your team & why: I’m always going to go for a derby win against Newcastle, and there have been a few to choose from recently!
Favourite player of all time who played for your club: Gary Bennett – great defender who played for us from 1984 to 1995.
About our forthcoming match against you:
Your favourite current player in your squad and why? Has to be Jermain Defoe – give him half a chance, and he’ll take it
Player in your squad we should most fear and why? Victor Anichebe has developed hugely over the last few games, and isn’t scared to put himself about a bit
Player in our squad you most fear and why? This season, Mahrez is one to watch.
Up and coming prospect in your squad? Jordan Pickford proves himself week in, week out, and has made some world class saves this season. I just hope we can keep him in January.
What are your expectations for your side this season? We had a terrible start, but have shown some form and resilience in the last 3 games, so I think that we will be ok – but perhaps just above the bottom 3. Hopefully it won’t go to the wire, yet again…
How do you think you’ll do against us? Could be quite an open game – going to go for a 2-1 home win
General Questions:
What do you think of the transfer activity both in and out of your club this season? We had a lot of last minute activity, and it’s taken a while for players to settle in and to gel, but it looks like we are getting somewhere. The frustration is that we never really spend ‘big’ to match our ambition.
Which three teams do you think will go down? Swansea, West Ham and Hull
Who do you think will win the league? Arsenal – possibly – looking stronger than they have for a long time
Any other comments? Please don’t turn up with your Champion’s League heads on!