Dear Roker Report,

Five at the back for a home game against Millwall? Jesus, Mary, Joseph, the donkey, the star, and the three wise men!

After years and years of false dawns and hope, I’m really on the verge of being done.

We’re an absolute laughing stock, from where we were in November to playing five at the back for a home game against Millwall in April, and I just don’t have the words for how ridiculous that is.

A bit of advice for the new head coach: when we come up against a former player of ours, double man-mark them, for God’s sake, as they always score against us!

Neil W

Ed’s Note [Phil]: Hi, Neil. Thank you for your letter.

On the subject of Duncan Watmore scoring for Millwall on Saturday, it was absolutely inevitable, wasn’t it? After all the injuries he suffered during his time at Sunderland, you just knew that he’d be the one to consign us to another home defeat.

As for the team selection and the system? Too cautious, far too risk-averse, and designed to try and keep it tight, with all traces of genuine creativity seemingly eliminated.

It was a badly-judged decision from Mike Dodds, and it backfired spectacularly.

Photo by MI News/NurPhoto via Getty Images

---

Dear Roker Report,

Another poor showing from our disgraceful team who are being paid well for no return.

We’ve never had a good team or a decent manager since the 1973 FA Cup team, so come on, Dreyfus.

Get your finger out, sack Kristjaan Speakman, and sign some experienced players as well as youth prospects.

Ian Frame

Ed’s Note [Phil]: Hi, Ian. Thank you for getting in touch.

We’ve certainly had some excellent teams at Sunderland since 1973 and although I do believe the current side has the capacity to be better than they are, there was a lack of application on Saturday and it seemed as though half of the players had already mentally checked out for the season.

It wasn’t acceptable and if Kristjaan Speakman was watching and considered everything to be OK in the aftermath, he’s kidding himself, I’m afraid.

There’s a lot to do during the coming months, to say the least.

Photo by MI News/NurPhoto via Getty Images

---

Dear Roker Report,

Just something different now that the season is nearly finished and we hopefully no longer need to read about the wrongs of it, which hopefully won’t be written about in the near future, as I believe it’s time to move on.

What I wanted to highlight was the possibility of playing the intro of the AC/DC song ‘Thunderstruck’ prior to kick off, alongside the other songs on the playlist.

Instead of singing ‘Thunderstruck’, the fans could sing ‘Sun’land’ whilst some fans bang the metal panels.

The only trouble is that the lead singer of AC/DC is a Newcastle fan!

Peter Welsh

Ed’s Note [Phil]: Hi, Peter. Thank you for your letter.

Although ‘Thunderstruck’, is a classic AC/DC song, I can think of several others, such as ‘Hells Bells’, ‘Highway to Hell’, ‘Shot Down In Flames’, and ‘Kicked In The Teeth’, that would be perfect for some pre-match airtime at the Stadium of Light at this stage.

Perhaps a more rock and roll-themed playlist is the way to go, as the players certainly need to be roused somehow!

GET MORE NEWS HERE