It's clear that footballer don't like to be injured. But sometimes it's maybe not a bad thing.... For those of us that like to see Scots do prosper down south - and who find Chelsea victories as welcome as Jonathan Ross at Andrew Sachs' dinner party - we could take some comfort from Craig Gordon's enforced absence from the walkover at the Bridge. Click to continue reading...

Arsenal are now top of the table thanks to a come from behind win at Bolton and Chelsea's draw at home to Manchester United. The Gunners fell behind when Bolton's Kevin Davies headed the home side into the lead in the 16th minute. But it didn't take long for Arsenal to take control of the match.

Click to continue reading...

Michael Chopra's two goals in the final ten minutes are enough to see off Middlesbrough 2-0 at the Stadium of Light.A game that was more frantic than metered, this was a game that took a long time for anything to build. Yes both sides had plenty of chances (per Soccernet, 21 for Sunderland, 18 for [. Click to continue reading...

Michael Chopra's two goals in the final ten minutes are enough to see off Middlesbrough 2-0 at the Stadium of Light.

A game that was more frantic than metered, this was a game that took a long time for anything to build. Yes both sides had plenty of chances (per Soccernet, 21 for Sunderland, 18 for Middlesbrough), but not many tested either Craig Gordon or Ross Turnbull. Click to continue reading...

As my children are half Scottish, I have a family obligation to cheer for any team or sporting hero from Scotland. Trust me, it doesn't take up much of my time. Well done Chris Hoy for getting 3 golds in Beijing and go on, Andy Murray, take out Nadal in the semis of the US [...] Click to continue reading...

Djibril Cisse (daft barber not pictured)

2007/8 Review

In their first season back in the top flight, Sunderland did just enough to survive. Although he did perhaps make a miscue or two, much credit can be attributed Roy Keane's transfer policy for maintaining Sunderland's Premiership status. Click to continue reading...

Veteran Liverpool centre back Sami Hyypia has praised his teammate Fernando Torres for his winning strike in their opening Premier League match against Sunderland on Saturday.

Liverpool were finding it hard to break down the plucky Black Cats at the Stadium of Light, until Torres unleashed a pile driver from outside the area. Click to continue reading...

Fernando Torres fired Liverpool to a scarcely deserved victory over Sunderland in their Premier League opener at the Stadium of Light.

The striker, scorer of the winning goal in this year's European Championships final, was anonymous for much of the evening as his partnership with £20m new boy Robbie Keane continued to stutter, but he produced a vicious drive eight minutes from time to claim the points. Click to continue reading...

Fabio Capello believes Fernando Torres is the best striker in the world, though he did not look it here. He did sink Sunderland and claim three opening-day points Liverpool barely deserved with a wonder goal seven minutes from time, however, and that is all anyone can ask of a world-class striker.

To the enviable talents fully displayed last season and in the European Championships in the summer can now be added the knack of appearing to sleepwalk through a game before bursting into life with one decisive moment. Click to continue reading...

Ah, yes... a win and a goal from Torres. What could be better? For starters, the entire first half could have been better. In fact, let's pretend that the first half didn't happen at all because some other team wearing our kits showed up and attempted to play football.

Sami Hyypia's first couple of touches made it look like Sunderland had twelve men on the field.

Click to continue reading...

12:30pm, live in the US on FSC

Last 4 meetings:
3-0 Liverpool (h) 02.02.08
2-0 Liverpool (a) 08.25.07
2-0 Liverpool (a) 11.30.05
1-0 Liverpool (h) 08.20.05

Referee: Alan Wiley

Guess at a squad
Reina
Arbeloa Carragher Agger Dossena
Kuyt Gerrard Alonso Benayoun
Keane
Torres

Even with the awful display on Wednesday, I expect Gerrard for Plessis to be the only change. Click to continue reading...

I think the name sells itself. The teams that won't be fighting for relegation come the start of April, but won't be in the fight for those European places. I have a feeling some of the table placements may surprise you here.

Number 13: Sunderland
Biggest Ins: Steed Malbranque (capable down the left and can play the right if needed), Pascal Chimbonda (competent utility man on the back line).

Click to continue reading...

A week or so back we posted a few comments from Sunderland keeper Craig Gordon describing how the Black Cats players enjoy the chance to kick Roy Keane when he gets involved in 5-a-side. They might've thought Keano was a hard coach, but even the great leg-breaker has nothing on this fearsome chap. He is in fact our number one football bastard, a man who was quite literally a lawless, inhumane tyrant. Click to continue reading...

It goes without saying that everyone at some time or another has wanted to inflict some serious pain on their boss. Even if my boss was, say, that girl on the internet that can swallow a cucumber whole, I reckon ultimately I would still get pretty annoyed with it all and just want to be left alone.

Click to continue reading...

Sadly for Potters fans, it's not Jonathan Woodgate and Craig Gordon. However, it's clear that Stoke are assembling a substantial list of players that they want to sign over the next few weeks, including Anthony Gardner and Marton Fulop. Gardner only managed a handful of matches for Tottenham last season, and actually went to Everton on [. Click to continue reading...

If you see the likes of Kenwyne Jones and Craig Gordon lining up to do the haka before next season's derby with Newcastle United, there will be an explanation for it. The Australian Daily Telegraph reports that Sunderland manager Roy Keane is going to be hooking up with the New Zealand rugby union team over [. Click to continue reading...

Why do you think that Sunderland can survive in the English Premier League for one more season at least? Now, no need to scratch you head to dig out the reason. Sunderland custodian Craig Gordon answers the question: It was always going to be close on Saturday (against fellow relegation candidates Derby County) because of the [. Click to continue reading...

A couple of good articles and a few quick hits about some well-known goalkeepers. Enjoy!

• A girl turned David James green, and now he's trying to save the planet from carbon.
• Tynecaslte Football Club, Craig Gordon's first club, will receive £114,000 as a result of Gordon's transfer from Hearts to Sunderland under a FIFA directive.

Click to continue reading...

A couple of good articles and a few quick hits about some well-known goalkeepers. Enjoy!

• A girl turned David James green, and now he's trying to save the planet from carbon.
• Tynecaslte Football Club, Craig Gordon's first club, will receive £114,000 as a result of Gordon's transfer from Hearts to Sunderland under a FIFA directive.

Click to continue reading...

What does Craig Gordon think of Gianluigi Buffon? The Scotland and Sunderland number 1 had several quotes about the world-renown Italian ahead of their Euro 2008 qualifier meeting this Saturday, and Gordon showed nothing less than respect:

"He [Buffon] is only 29, five years older than me, so it's not as if he could have been someone I looked up to from a very early age, he wasn't a boyhood hero or anything, but I have watched a lot of him.

Click to continue reading...

What does Craig Gordon think of Gianluigi Buffon? The Scotland and Sunderland number 1 had several quotes about the world-renown Italian ahead of their Euro 2008 qualifier meeting this Saturday, and Gordon showed nothing less than respect:

"He [Buffon] is only 29, five years older than me, so it's not as if he could have been someone I looked up to from a very early age, he wasn't a boyhood hero or anything, but I have watched a lot of him.

Click to continue reading...

The British transfer record for a goalkeeper was recently broken by Craig Gordon's £9 million move from Hearts to Sunderland, and is about to be broken again. On loan Scott Carson is set to make his stay at Aston Villa permanent, with Liverpool's coach Rafael Benitez confirming that the two sides have agreed upon a £10 million price for the English international (Daily Mail). Click to continue reading...

The British transfer record for a goalkeeper was recently broken by Craig Gordon's £9 million move from Hearts to Sunderland, and is about to be broken again. On loan Scott Carson is set to make his stay at Aston Villa permanent, with Liverpool's coach Rafael Benitez confirming that the two sides have agreed upon a £10 million price for the English international (Daily Mail). Click to continue reading...

Scotland's #1 has been sold by Hearts to Sunderland for a price of £9 million, the third highest price ever paid for a goalkeeper. Roy Keane's decision to pay such a hefty price may come as a shock to some, but Gordon has already shown amazing potential, earned great respect and notable comparison to other greats. Below is a sample of what the 24 year old has to offer. Click to continue reading...

If this picture* - no prizes for guessing when it was taken - captured our only moment of joy at West Ham, there would be no reason NOT to despair. Losing 3-1 to a very average team at this stage... Click to continue reading...

In the first of his new series of articles for Salut! Sunderland - under the working title of Sixer's Soapbox (let me know if you come up with something better) - Pete Sixsmith draws huge encouragement from a gutsy Sunderland... Click to continue reading...

Some of these are bargains, but for the most part these are just guys who I think will have good matches this weekend. Per usual, this only applies to the Yahoo!UK Fantasy League and the time stamp at the bottom of this post is when I last received information for these players, so if they aren't playing, it's your fault. Cheers.

Forwards
Obafemi Martins, Newcastle United, 10. Click to continue reading...

Sunderland showed that they can mingled among EPL economic powerhouse with the signing of Craig Gordon for 9 million pounds, thereby breaking the British transfer record for a goalkeeper and their won club record for a player.

Gordon's fee surpassed Fabien Barthez when he left Monaco for Manchester United for 7.8 million pounds, and became Sunderland's seventh recruit since securing the Championship title at Luton on May 6.

Click to continue reading...

Who Ate All The Pies points about that Sunderland have just signed Craig Gordon from Hearts for £9 million. Yes, that is correct, £9 million! For those who have been fawning over Roy Keane, how will this look if Gordon is anything less than an amazing goal keeper in the Premiership? Click to continue reading...