Roker Rapport

Our Gav and Martin were joined yesterday by our old marra Tom White from Sky Sports News - and anywhere the Lads happen to be playing - to break down Sunderland's away victory over Stoke City and look at our activity in the transfer window! What's the crack?  Alex Neil has got us off to a cracking start; what has Tom made of our return to Championship action?  The SAS - Ross Stewart and Ellis Simms are relentless; are these lads the most potent attacking partnership in the EFL?  Dennis Cirkin is bossing it; the young lad is improving at a ridiculous pace, so safe to say the 'step up' was pretty easy for him?  Lynden Gooch has had a great couple games with the Captain's armband - giving everything he's got to get the job done - nice to see isn't it?    Transfer Talk; does Tom have any snippets of information he can reveal to us about Sunderland's recruitment plans for the coming weeks? What has he made of the business so far?  Jan Paul van H

As it happens both our Chris Wynn and this week's guest Dave Cowlishaw - from the wonderfully named Stoke City Podcast 'The Wizards of Drivel' - were in attendance last night for Sunderland's first league defeat in some time down Bramall Lane... so now we're heading to the Bet365 Stadium this Saturday, how are things looking for the Potters?  What's the crack?  As podcast names go that's a blinder (and a pretty apt description for the entire industry) so how did it all come about and how are they getting on?It's been a while since we last met, how has the last six years gone for Stoke City and their fans?  How have the Championship years played out, and why in their opinion are they still here?  Why exactly do we keep swapping players between the two clubs - gets a bit weird at times...  Who wins between the two sides in a top trumps of worst overpaid PL mercenaries?  What does Dave make of the start to the 22/23 season? Happy with transfer business

Gav returns with Phil and Martin to look at the 2-2 draw against QPR on Saturday in a bit more detail, as well as getting a few things off their chests regarding the administrative side of the club...  What's the crack?  Now everyone's had time to think on it, how are the lads feeling about the performance from Sunderland overall - including that mad 5 minutes or so that resulted in us taking one point rather than three;. Which players stood out - besides the obvious strike partnership of Stewart and Simms?  Ballard break? As of the time of recording the lads couldn't confirm the severity of the injury but reacted to the likelihood that we won't be seeing our new CB for a while...  Alex Neil's game management; there's been a little bit of criticism levelled at the manager after the removal of Simms and the change in formation, what do the lads think about it all? Is AN responsible for the madness at the end there?  Steve Davison; Our COO seems to be strug

Aye the lads had as much wind knocked out of them by that equaliser as the lads on the pitch, as our Mike Dunne, Sam Blakey and Gary Winters met up at the Hilton to try and react to what we all just witnessed...  What's the crack?  SAS - Stewart and Simms continue their beautiful partnership at least...How did we not win that?  A great start - where did it all go wrong in the lads opinions?  Seriously how does that even happen? Undefeated but a definite two point loss rather than one point gained today - how do the lads feel overall?  Their keeper ffs... The lads need a drink here, and now we all need a drink.#SAFC #EFLChampionship #EFL Our GDPR privacy policy was updated on August 8, 2022. Visit acast.com/privacy for more information.

Aye we had a slight technical hitch this week, so our plucky podcasters gathered themselves - just after a forgettable cup outing against Sheffield Wednesday - to go over everything we've missed since Saturday evening and looking ahead to our return home this Saturday against QPR!  What's the crack?  Everything is on the agenda - so where do we start?  Alex Neil - what do the lads make of our gaffer's start to our Championship campaign?  Do we think he gives a monkeys about exiting the League Cup?  Should the players given a chance to perform have actually tried to perform Wednesday night... or were they already resigned to not playing this Saturday afternoon?  Our win over Bristol City was a lot nicer wasn't it - so what do the lads make of young Ellis Simms?  No return for Broadhead - How do the lads feel about that?  Looking at QPR this Saturday - What do we think our chances are of coming away with our first home victory of the season?&

Our Mike Dunne and Bomber met up down in Bristol to react to Sunderland’s away victory at Ashton Gate! What’s the crack? ELLIS SIMMS IS MINTLOCH NESS DROGBA RETURNSI SHOULD STOP SHOUTINGWhat did the lads make of that performance overall?Exhilarating stuff, we can't complain too much after four points in our first two games!HAWAAAAAAAAY THE LADS#SAFC #EFLChampionship #EFL Our GDPR privacy policy was updated on August 8, 2022. Visit acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week our Chris Wynn was joined by the lovely Ryan Dilks from the... crème de la crème... of Championship podcasts - The Second Tier - as we head into our first away fixture in the Championship for some time against Bristol City!  What's the crack?  How are the lads over at Second Tier now the new season has started, and what - or who - got them interested in the Championship to begin with?  As a neutral (and someone who spends all their time talking about it) what are Ryan's thoughts overall on the way the rest of the Championship clubs are shaping up?  What was his reaction to the return of Sunderland to this level, as well as the relegation of his own side - Derby County - from the division back in April?  How perilous is the Championship for newly promoted sides, and what are the expectations for sides like ourselves, Wigan and Rotherham?  Season predictions; so where does Ryan have us on his list, and who does he think will be sitting at the

Our Gav Henderson, Craig Chapman and Martin Wanless sat down to review Sunderland's draw with Coventry on Sunday - chat about the positions Alex Neil and our listeners think need filling - discuss the serious issue with the away support throwing bottles down on our home fans again, and finally look ahead a bit to Bristol City!  What's the crack?  Was that a satisfactory way to return to Championship action after so long away?  How class were Pritchard, Clarke and Gooch - They all have points to prove it seems;  What about that display organisation from the fans and The Spirit of 37 group? Stunning work from all involved.  What areas do we - and the lads and lasses on social media - think needs the most attention?  The lads answer some of your questions;  Alex Neil wants bodies in before the window - do we need to rush?  BREAKING: That ref was shocking, they all are it seems.Away fans and the North Stand - Don't try acting a bunch

Our Ant Waterson and Mike Dunne met up at the Hilton after the game to give us their immediate reaction to Sunderland's Championship opener against Coventry at the Stadium of Light!  What's the crack?  Aye it really was a game of two halves, maybe three thirds. The lads go over the negatives before the positives so stick with it.What did they make of that ref?  How good is it to be back?  What did they make of the overall performance?  We'll take the point aye? Solid start to the season?  Gav and Co will be back tomorrow with a full detailed review of the game as usual...  HAWAY THE LADS and good luck to the Lionesses! #SAFC #EFLChampionship #EFL Our GDPR privacy policy was updated on August 8, 2022. Visit acast.com/privacy for more information.

Our Chris Wynn has had just about enough time to recover from his Wembley wanderings to get back to it - joining him to preview our first game back in the Championship this Sunday is Glenn from Coventry's Sky Blue Fans TV! What's the crack? What have they been up to since last we met in March of 2020? Their manager Mark Robins has been in the job for a while now, with a couple promotions under the belt since 2017; how are they getting on with him currently, and are they seeing real progress on the pitch? Who are the big players for Coventry these days? Who is their biggest threat in Glenn's opinion? Our pre-season wasn't much to write home about from a results point of view but they've been unbeaten so - does this fill them with confidence for the season ahead? How's the transfer window going for them? Any positions still needing to be filled? What do both lads predict the outcome will be on Sunday; Games between us are rarely dull, so what sort of game are we all expecting? All this and more! #SAFC

Aye lads and lasses... we're about to start our first season back in the Championship after that long holiday in League One! So to kick things off our Phil and Gav got together for a chat about all the goings on as the Sunderland AFC pre-season draws to a close - from decent performances to half matches, power cuts, strange results and surprise signings - and to guess at the overall feeling of the fans as we head into the season opener (less than a week from now) against our dear old friends Coventry City!  What's the crack?  How do the lads feel about the way the club has conducted its business over the last month or so?  The gaffer and recruitment team know what they have and who they need, don't they? Which areas do we think they'll look to strengthen?Do we think any significant lessons were learned from the matches played? Is there a chance AN is at all surprised by anything he's seen?  Is anyone concerned at this stage? How confident are the lads ahead of next

Our host Phil West was joined by our Gav Henderson and Rich Speight to talk about all the recent goings on at the club, as Sunderland start to strengthen Alex Neil’s squad ahead of the coming 22/23 EFL Championship campaign!  What's the crack?  A big warm welcome for new recruit Daniel Ballard, as the young defender - and Northern Ireland International - signs from the Arsenal academy; what do we know about him, and are the lads happy with his arrival?  Does the signing of players like Ballard show we’re on a similar track regarding last season’s recruitment model - certain dips into nostalgia aside?  I’ll see your Borini and raise you a Rudoni; Speaking of nostalgia a rumour has spread after Fabio’s wife was contacted on social media - would the lads say no if there was any chance, and should we keep yearning as a fanbase for players of old when the clear plan is to target exciting young talent like Wimbledon’s Jack Rudoni, for example… How key were the contracts given to playe

Aye lads and lasses, earlier today (June 22nd 2022 at the time of recording) the club released the following statement: "Sunderland AFC today announces that Kyril Louis-Dreyfus has increased his ownership stake in the Club to 51%.In parallel, Juan Sartori has increased his stake to 30%.Governance remains unchanged.The shares have been acquired through the purchase of shares held by Charlie Methven, who has sold all of his shares, and Stewart Donald, who has sold down his stake to 19%." Followed shortly by this statement from Kyril Louis-Dreyfus himself, alongside Juan Sartori: “Today marks an important step as we continue to rebuild Sunderland AFC. Following the 2021-22 season, it was the intention of Juan and I to ensure the ongoing speculation relating to the Club’s shareholding was addressed as soon as possible. Our ownership group has been consolidated and there will be no further sale of shares to a third-party buyer. We remain committed to our strategy of delivering long-term success and sustainabili

Well it's been a weird week or so as an SAFC fan, leaving a few of our editorial group with more questions than answers surrounding all kinds of issues, so Phil West, Rich Speight and Martin Wanless got together to see what they made of it all!  What's the crack? The Fans Together, Methven and Donald - some games are likely being played here, how much of a risk is this proposed deal, how likely is it to go any further than it has, and who benefits from the chaos it brings - as it's certainly not the fans is it?  KLD: what would the lads like to see from our Chairman? Minor shareholder's games aside - should he be showing more commitment to both the immediate and long-term future of the club?  Speakman: As we're on the subject of running things... the sporting director has been chatting recently, so what do the lads make of what he had to say and what do they make of the job he's done so far?  Is club business being impacted by the shareholders infighting? Can Sunde

Our Rich Speight got together with football finance specialists and authors - Martin Calladine and James Cave - to find out a bit more about the group seeking to purchase Stewart Donald and Charles Methven’s 39% stake in Sunderland AFC! What’s the crack?  Martin and James know a thing or two about football finance and cryptocurrency - as well as how the two have tried to merge in recent years - so what do they make of all this news about the TFT group?  Who exactly are ‘The Fans Together’ - who runs this group, what have the group attempted so far, and what are their plans for the future?  How likely is it that cryptocurrency will be able to be used in football ownership with any success anytime soon, and are these group’s claims of “fan ownership” based on anything but a desire to profit from the idea of such models using confusing language and the obfuscation of facts?  Do we think the EFL are capable of recognising the dangers of such groups and do Martin and James

Aye, it’s all kicked off again. After a few weeks of elation, the minority shareholders at the club have decided to accept a bid from a crypto group by the name of TFT, and chaos/panic/rage has once again gripped Sunlun social media. So Rich sat down with our friend and fellow supporter Tom White - who broke the news on Twitter about the deal - to get his thoughts on it all... particularly the difficulties surrounding releasing information to his fellow fans without us suffering a collective nervous breakdown. What’s the crack? Well that’s the crack there. Not Charlie washing up his stash of Columbia’s finest... but instead himself and Stewart Donald have apparently accepted a bid for their 39% stake in Sunderland AFC from a group heavily involved in cryptocurrency. Aye. How did Tom come by the news, and what does he know about the deal as it stands?  What do we make of the statement released by Kyril Louis-Dreyfus about the news?  Is it possible to disclose information *as a journalist* with

Away from what will be an endless avalanche of breaking news and updates on the SAFC ownership saga for the next month or so - Our Gav Henderson and Chris Wynn sat down to try work out what our EFL League One best XI actually is - drawn from the past four years in the division - using the glorious benefit of hindsight! What's the crack? Exactly what it says on the tin lads and lasses - I encourage all of you, after listening in, to head to the RR social media feeds and tell them where you think they went wrong... or agree. The former is always so much more amusing.Enjoy the trip down memory lane!#SAFC #EFL #Championship #LeagueOneXI See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Our Gav is here with a very quick breakdown of some breaking news surrounding the Sunderland ownership situation as revealed today by SSN's MLF - Tom White!We'll update as more information becomes available lads and lasses! #SAFC #KLD #EFL #Championship See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Rich, Gav and Chris sat down to finish the promotion Pod trilogy with a discussion surrounding the Sunderland management saga this year - looking at the rise and fall of Lee Johnson, the rise and rise of Alex Neil, the decision making of Kristjaan Speakman and the recruitment team. As well as a quick look over the players let go by the club, and the contract negotiations currently underway! What's the crack? How happy are the lads that - despite the chaos of that transition from one manager to another - we have Alex Neil at the helm now?How much credit does the gaffer get for his handling of everything since his arrival, and what did they make of his approach to the final against Wycombe?What do they think are the main differences between the two men who took charge of our campaign this season - it appears both did exactly what we were told they were brought in to do doesn't it?Kristjaan Speakman - all things considered, has he done enough to convince fans he's the man for the job? Has the appointment of Alex

Part two of what is turning into a series of podcasts surrounding Sunderland’s promotion over the weekend - in this episode Rich, Phil and Bomber reflect on their own experiences and discuss the match itself - with a tablespoon of tactical analysis and a sprinkling of hero worship... What’s the crack? How is everyone feeling a few days after the event?  What were the lad’s experiences in the stands - and at home - at key moments during the game?  Which players stood out for Sunderland, and who do the lads think flew under the radar a bit?  Alex Neil’s tactical nous shone through on Saturday - what did everyone make of the way he approached the game?  Why did Phil not give everyone a 10/10 in the RR player ratings? What does he have to say for himself?  Luke O’Nien is nominated for man of the year/future PM...  How proud are we of the players and the fans?  All this and more to come - as the lads milk this winning feeling for as long as possible!  As Sacko says -