Sunderland – ajb4tech

June 1, 2025June 1, 2025

Mission accomplished

A week ago I was recovering from a dramatic day. The previous week I had traveled to Sunderland having seen them win at Coventry on TV. But Coventry scored and the game in extra time was heading for penalties. But Dan Ballard headed in from a late corner to win creating one of the loudest roars ever at the Stadium of Light. The scenes of celebrations were wild. I returned to the quiet of my room at Lumley Castle, driving home the next day.

Then the next week I spent most of my time keeping an eye on ticket situation, but Sunderland did not sell any tickets to non season ticket holders, so I was resigned (but happy) to watch the game on TV.

But a late surprise resulted in 2 tickets to the game, in the Bobby Moore room no less. So at noon we were found queuing to enter Wembley for the game against Sheffield United. We were on table 72, with a few Sheffield Wednesday supporters who wanted Sunderland to win. It was agreed it would be difficult to beat Sheffield United. There were team and formation changes with Mundle starting and Roberts and Isidor on the bench. Our seats were in row 4 right next to the Sunderland dugout.

At half time Sheffield led 1 – 0, VAR had overruled a second for them and it was agreed it would difficult to turn the game around in the second half. But this did happen. Sunderland equalised in a move where Roberts put away Mayenda on 76 minutes and then in the 95th minute a misplaced back pass was taken by Tommy Watson to curl a dramatic winner just inside the post.

The scenes of celebration were wild, Sunderland lifted the trophy and came down past us.

Once celebration was finished on the pitch with the fans, we retired back to the Bobby Moore room where celebration of the players continued with the fans there present (including us).

Only a week later am I now reflecting on how great it was but how difficult it will be to stay in the Premier League. We will need really a point a game to be in with a chance of staying up. Another challenge awaits.

May 5, 2025September 22, 2025

52 Years ago today …

Sunderland won the FA cup. 5th May 1973, I remember it well. I watched on TV from home. My parents went out in the evening to celebrate. I watched it 5 times in all that weekend, live and then Match of the Day. Then 3 times on Sunday, Tyne Tees, Yorkshire and Anglia all had highlights at different times. On the 8th May my mother took me up to East Herrington in Sunderland to see the team bring the cup back home. I recall walking along the Durham road with the bus and many thousands of supporters.

The game will be remembered for Ian Porterfield’s goal and Jimmy Montomery’s save.

They were in the second division when the won the cup then.

They are still in the second division now, but its now called the Championship. They finished 4th and as such qualify for the playoffs. The play Coventry City who finished 5th, away at Coventry first then at home.

Form is very poor recently, losing the last 5 games and losing 3 0 at Coventry in March.

There is something not right, they are not the same as earlier in the year. Coventry will try to be attack and bully in the first leg. We need to be strong to keep them out. Hopefully we will recover and keep them out in the first leg and win it at home. We have nearly all the squad available now with players back from injury. Let’s see if we can turn the form around.

February 26, 2025

Spring almost

Almost spring. Has alternated from cold and grey to wet, warmer and windy. But we are almost there. Traveling in France by rail in March. Noticed Nitter is back, no longer liking Nim and preferring Go, maybe a rewrite in Go. Sunderland have lost touch with automatic places and lost form at home. Players need to be rested / rotated. So need to use squad to do that and get back in form for playoffs. Can be done, but will it ?

January 6, 2025

Christmas and Football

Christmas is officially over today, suffering with cold / flu so staying in and weather has been wet and cold. But not too bad from relaxation and results. TV was mainly Wallace and Gromit and Gavin and Stacey. Football results mixed in that they could have been better i.e. conceding late equaliser and Blackburn and late defeat at Stoke but thanks to 2 home wins over Sheffield United and Portsmouth we are now 50 point (2 games over half way) and just 2 or 3 behind Leeds, Sheffield United and Burnley. FA cup next week. The real plus is playing 2 quick strikers Wilson Isidor and Eliezer Mayenda and despite missing chances we often look threatening. With injuries to come back it puts us in with a chance for the race for the automatic promotion places.

October 21, 2024October 21, 2024

Holiday and football

Had a great break in October in Crete. Really a summer holiday in mid October. A real contrast to the weather in the UK. Hot and sunny for all 10 days. Arrived in Chania, stayed in Rethmyno. Beach side hotel, just a quick walk to the old town. Two trips, Spinaloga / Knossos and Previli palm beach / gorge on the south coast.

Managed to catch the Sunderland Leeds game where the goalie error secured a late point. Leeds fans with head in hands in the bar. Also England vs Greece.

Ten games in and top is better than I thought we would do. The two away games I have been to Plymouth and Watford were lost so can see how it could go. But they do seem to have recruited some players that could see it through the season unlike last year, Chris Mepham and Alan Browne look good. Wilson Isidor is scoring and I look forward to seeing Abdul Samed when fit. Chris Rigg and Jobe getting better at present. So far so good. The young squad could fade and injuries take their toll but fingers crossed.

Below are a selection of snaps from the Crete break. Greek food is healthy and tasty, so now a convert.

February 24, 2024October 21, 2024

Bruges by train

Visited Bruges by Eurostar, good quick travel, good architecture and good beer. Whats not to like. Sunderland on the other seem to be self destructing. The new coach did not last long, they are now basically waiting for next season already. No longer are we looking above in the table but now looking nervously below. Lack of experience and injuries costing us dear. Faith in the model is now very very thin, but what is the alternative?

January 16, 2024October 21, 2024

Water under the bridge

Winter moves from wet, (pictured River Pinn at new year) to dry and freezing cold. Although when its cold with clear blue sky’s @ midday it’s glorious.

Sunderland are meandering both on and off the field. Fans are non too not happy with off field events in the cup game, moving season ticket holders, decorating Black cats bar plus appointment of the new Head Coach. Results are patchy at best. Transfers in the window absent. There is still time to turn it around but optimism is scarce. A young squad do make mistakes and would hopefully learn from them but the season is now in the balance. Its the hope I can’t stand.

Trying to work with both Rust and Python at present. Looking at Mara’s b log posts on the development of the inline-python crate, RustPython and PyO3. T hi s Info world article covers PyO3. Also seen The Data Quarry::blog.

December 20, 2023October 21, 2024

Sunderland changes

Visited Bristol at the weekend, met an old friend. Saw Sunderland at Bristol City. Lost 1 nil. It followed good results over West Brom and Leeds. The fans fans seem to like temporary coach Mike Dodds. But it was a mistake and we conceded a penalty. Maybe we should have conceded an earlier one also. But with 67% possession, 18 shots, 9 on target (3 time Bristol) we had enough chances to win. It highlights the issue, not taking chances made.

Many changes at the club at present. Tony Mowbray was removed. He had done well in the year he was there, but results had dropped off and I can see why they acted. They have appointed Michael Beale who had been at QPR and Glasgow Rangers as Head Coach. Most fans seem unhappy. He may be a good coach, he has to work in the model with Mike Dodds and does not do recruitment. Time will tell, interesting time over Christmas period, many games, transfers and the small matter of FA cup 3rd round tie vs Newcastle.

October 9, 2023October 21, 2024

Return to Posting

Just to say I am back posting after a period 9 months without. This was caused by a family event in the Spring and a Summer of beaches, walks and other family events.

Re Rust:-

I stopped rust work on Zero to Production in March 2023 due to a family event. I did return to it briefly in the summer to get to a logical stop point. Now before I resume I am now going through the The Rust book as a reminder of Rust, then when confident again will go back to Zero to Production.

Re Sunderland :-

Having failed to get promoted via the playoffs, we seem to have doubled down on the promising youngsters route, with mainly good results. Away form seems better than home. I attended another away win at QPR, but it is still early days.

February 15, 2023October 21, 2024

Attended QPR vs Sunderland last night

Great win for Sunderland (0 – 3) the young team seem to have no fear and are getting better as the season progresses, despite injuries to Ross Stewart and Corry Evans. Penalty save by Anthony Patterson, Luke O’Nien scored followed by two from Jack Clarke. Pierre Ekwah looked strong when he came on. A great team performance again. The season looks promising.