Roker Rapport Podcast

Our disorganised (and now slightly late) season review continues as we all await imminent news from our dear club about our imminent head coach. But we aren't talking about managers at all here (we'll react to that when we get an official announcement) as today our Gav, Chris and Martin's focus is on the players themselves. What's the crack? Now the lads are away on their hols and with plenty of time to reflect, who do we think stood out in the past season? Besides Jack Clarke aye..The lads try to sell Patto for a giggle; but how do we feel about the goalkeeping situation? Is Young a bit too young for a chance? We may have the best pair of full backs in the league if Cirkin was able to stay fit, so what did the lads make of our attempts to deal with injuries this season, what exactly is Leo Hjelde and will Pembele stick around next season? Are O'Nien and Ballard good enough for a promotion push or do they need further assistance and more experienced competition? Will Ballard be snapped up by someone or is it too early for him? Dan Neil, Pierre Ekwah and that central midfield issue; The lads debate the qualities of both players and of course look at the risk of losing Neil in the summer. Jobe; What do we do with the younger Bellingham brother? He's had a decent season for a lad his age but has he been mismanaged? The Jack Clarke debate; Will he stay or will he go? Martin fights valiantly against the position of Gav and Chris on this, but we can all agree that the saga may go on for a while yet. Paddy Roberts and the rest; Aye I won't list everyone but Gav does so what do we do with all these wingers, tens and alleged forwards? Should we have sold Roberts when we had the chance? Why did we bother with Burstow? Is Rusyn actually decent or a competition winner? What happened to poor Jewi? All this and so much more!Another pod will follow... Imminently.

Aye lads and lasses we threw the towel in early as Dodds and the club drove us a bit insane. Following medical advice we've all had a bit of a break and now we're back to dissect everything in a really disorganised and chaotic fashion, as our Gav is joined by Chris Wynn and Martin Wanless to attempt something resembling a season review for a season Sunderland AFC itself abandoned. What's the crack? That season was shit aye. So how is everyone? Appointment announcement incoming? That's a genuine question like we have no clue if it's coming or not. Mogga, Micky and Mike; Do any come away with any credit whatsoever? Do we think we're going to go for the likes of Will Still - an up and coming coach from the continent type - or are we leaning towards someone with a bit more experience? Can Gav get a word in here? No he can't and it's amusing. He talks too much anyway. All this and more! We'll be back with a part two and possibly a part three and four if the lads survive those conversations. Ha'way the Lads! #SAFC #EFL #EFLChampionship

Our Gav and Martin return to react to the increasingly painful and unfortunately still ongoing shite run/limp to the end of our season, following possibly the dullest game we've ever witnessed. Luckily they have some listener questions to try distract them from the football itself. What's the crack? Was that the most boring game we've seen this season/decade/century? Can we end the season now? Editors note/answer: Yes. Yes we can.If Mike Dodds wants a career in management Mike Dodds might like to consider thinking about what Mike Dodds really has to lose by trying to win games at home. Did anyone try to win that game for us? Mike Dodds once again laid the blame at the players feet and doesn't think it's on Mike Dodds but is that fair in this case? Shouldn't he be shouldering responsibility for team selection and tactics? The lads try once again to address the issues at hand and look at the backroom as well as the head coach; should they be cleared out too when summer finally arrives? Answering your questions and more! Aye, just get to the summer aye. #SAFC #EFL #EFLChampionship

Our Gav Henderson welcomes Martin Wanless back to the pod as the lads look back on Sunderland's goalless draw against Bristol City at the Stadium of Light yesterday, ahead to Tuesday night against Leeds at Elland Road, and grab a few listener thoughts on all things SAFC! What's the crack? It wasn't a win - we couldn't get the ball to go in - but was it better? A far improved performance from Pierre Ekwah yesterday; Martin thinks he needs to get a bit of consistency going ahead of potential competition arriving for his place in that midfield. The lads just don't rate Hjelde, so apologies to Hjelde fans out there; The tangents continue as is now tradition, as Gav and Martin try and dance around a lot of the actual football by getting lost in thoughts about the summer and next season; Are we looking to turn a quick profit on Jobe, hence his long run in the side this season? Should we be thinking more about any future deals with Rigg and prioritising his development in that area of the pitch? Would we rather give Watson (or anyone else at all who we currently own) a chance over the likes of Burstow? What's occurring with Ba getting dropped from the bench? Against all Dodds; Leeds coming up next as Mike attempts to take points from Daniel Farke again this season but Gav is a little nervous. Could we “do a Sunlun” though?We may be back tomorrow with our bumper International Fans Day special recording from the Fans Museum on Friday, or we will catch you all on the other side of the Leeds result however that goes.. Cheers for listening and ha'way the lads! #SAFC #EFL #EFLChampionship

Our Martin and Chris had the good sense to fuck off on holiday for Easter so Gavin grabbed our heavy loss specialist, Craig Chapman, to see if they could ignore talking about any of the football from the win on Good Friday over Cardiff or the horrific loss yesterday to Blackburn! What's the crack? Those Good Friday vibes didn't continue, the lads would've talked about them but why bother? Argh why us argh etc Dodds was a mistake. A terrible, terrible mistake aye. Would Heckingbottom be a good appointment and if so, would it be better to get him in now or leave it until the summer? Craig attempts to get Kristjaan Speakman's attention by accusing him of picking the side himself, poor decision making, appointing his mate in a caretaker role unnecessarily, poor player recruitment for a while, resting on ancient successes and tells him to sort it out like because this isn't on like and we may get relegated next season if he doesn't sort it out like. No protests have been planned as yet. The important/vital summer becomes more important/vital still as the "important/vital summer" quote extravaganza continues.  All this and more! Aye.#EFL #EFLChampionship #SAFC

So we stopped a cycle of losing before heading into what is a very welcome international break for most, as Sunlun held QPR to a draw at the weekend. Join Gav and Martin as they try to talk about it all.. and end up talking about everything but the game. What’s the crack? Our worst losing streak in a decade comes to an end, but we didn’t make it easy on ourselves; what did the lads make of it all? Nice quick minute or so spent on the game itself here. We got a clean sheet! Just the one for now but it’s good news? It is isn’t it? Tell me it is please I need something. Can we build on this result, however dull it might’ve been? We need this international break, we need this summer and ideally we need it all to come along a lot faster; Do we need to change up the backroom staff a bit as well as the head coach? This is exactly what our Chris Wynn said would happen aye. Just… aye. Ha’way the Lads! #EFL #SAFC #EFLChampionship

If you haven't noticed there's a little gift we've posted full of joy and positivity just prior to this here podcast. Honest it's all great fun. Seriously though we are actually back, as Gav and Chris sat down late last night to look at the Southampton result and ahead to QPR! What's the crack? BREAKING NEWS: WE'RE STILL SHITEIt wasn't exactly an inspirational performance against Southampton but at least we got a couple goals aye? Stop overthinking it Mike; the lads try to explain to Dodds where he might be going wrong... Defensive injury woes continue to just get worse as Seelt is now absent for Saturday and likely the rest of the season; so how do we sort this mess until Luke gets back? The lads both get a little ranty about it all and question the team selection, specifically regarding players like Adil Aouchiche. So with QPR retaining the services for now of a lad who allegedly hit someone with a brick back on the continent, we have to deal with a reasonably potent attacking threat. Especially if he's got a rock in his hand. The lads try to predict how things will look after the final whistle and sort of give up. Aye. All this and more. Ha'way the Lads! #SAFC #EFL #EFLChampionship

Personal circumstances we don't really need to go on about online have unfortunately put the pods back a couple weeks, so in the interest of continuity/torture/sadism this is a combination of three recordings made after our defeats at home to Swansea, Norwich City and Leicester City… running back to back. This isn't something we'd necessarily advise you listen to, especially if you're feeling a bit low, but if that's your thing then we won't judge. Enjoy the descent into madness or switch to the Southampton reaction and QPR preview that's just gone up.What's the crack? The first half hour or so the lads looked at the defeat at home to Swansea City, tried to work out what exactly the players were playing at and started to show a little concern over the Dodds intervention on the pitch. Gav was not feeling confident at all.The second half hour is of course dedicated to the memory of Doddsy's sanity and tactical nous, as the lads just stood aghast at the complete lack of attacking intent against a Norwich side that could have been beaten on the day. The final part of this glorious trilogy features further concern after our result against Leicester City and a complete lack of belief in the lads being capable of getting a result at Southampton which (spoiler alert) funnily enough turned out to be the case.We're very sorry we have to do this to you all. Good luck and Ha'way the lads! #EFL #EFLChampionship #SAFC

Chris and Gav look at the Beale burner fiasco that unfolded since we last recorded, at the task Dodds has ahead of him now for the rest of the season, and look ahead to his first challenge against Swansea on Saturday! Or they try to but get distracted aye.What's the crack? BurnerGate; Well that's not very a clever thing to do is it lad? The lads try and work out why it appears he did what he did and why it's a bad idea...Will Michael Beale get another job in coaching after this or should he take some time to consider everything that has happened these past couple months/years; Away from all that and back to the footy as DoddsBall returns this Saturday; what are we expecting from the great one? How exactly does he get to grips with the situation he's been left to deal with? Looking over Swansea this season and in spite of our poor record against them, Chris is optimistic about our chances… but Gav isn't. So what's wrong with Gav? Do we expect to see Jobe or Rusyn up top and which would the lads prefer? Can Mundle take advantage of a bit of a winger injury crisis? Will we start him and even maybe a young Chris Rigg? The lads struggle with the concept of 'quick fire' as they attempt a short listener Q&A but end up going on a bit as they do. Gav goes a bit funny at the mention of Benidorm. Don't ask. All this and more! Ha'way the Dodds! #EFL #EFLChampionship #SAFC