Murray "No" to January sales

Sunderland's evanescent chairman Bob Murray has moved to calm supporters' fears that star players may have to be sold during the January transfer windows.

Recent rumours have linked Julio Arca with Celtic and Mart Poom with promotion rivals West Ham now that David James has gone to Manchester City - but Murray denies that any player HAS to go for the club's sake. Manager Mick McCarthy has repeatedly stated that he has no intention of letting Arca go at the moment, but the rumours continue among some sections of supporters.

Murray told SAFC.com: "Arca and Poom will not go in the window, no matter what offers come in.

"No player who Mick wants to keep will go in the window. People are not welcome to make offers. If anyone has made any sort of approach at all, they've been told it's not needed.

Additionally, Murray said that McCarthy has been granted permission to sign seven players, either on permanent or loan contracts.

"Mick and I had a few words in September. I said that if we were in a position to challenge in January, I would do everything in my power to ensure the finances were there to enable us to keep this size of squad for the run-in."

And the chairman confirmed that Sunderland's bid for Huddersfield's Jon Stead still stands, and he hasn't given up hope of signing the youngster. "If Huddersfield accept the offer he could come.

"The bid for him is still on the table and if Mick asks for another player we'll try our best."

Legend Marco quits football

SAFC legend Marco Gabbiadini has decided to call time on his football career after almost 19 years.

The Nottingham-born striker, who celebrates his 36th birthday tomorrow (Tues), has failed to recover fully from a knee operation last November, which also forced him to miss the Sunderland-Hartlepool FA Cup clash earlier this month - so the player has reluctantly taken the advice of medical staff and hung up his boots.

Gabbiadini said, "I have been trying to put the possibility of retirement to the back of my mind - but I think it is realisation time now.

And Monkey Hangers' manager Neale Cooper said it was a sad day for both Marco and the club.

"He will definitely be a big miss for us - the part he played here was an important one.

"It's obviously a big blow for him to have to retire but he's had a good innings and been a very good player."

Marco signed for Sunderland in September 1987 for £80,000, arriving only three months after Denis Smith, and his red and white debut was in a 2-0 home defeat against Chester. Sunderland were third division champions that season and Gabbiadini the club's top scorer on 21 - a title which he retained the following season. In 1989 he scored 3 of the goals in our 4-0 defeat of Watford at Roker Park (Gordon Armstrong getting the other), the then Hornets' manager Glenn Roeder singled out Marco's performance, suggesting the hat-trick was one of the best he'd seen. For the promotion play-offs, Sunderland were drawn against Newcastle; it was 0-0 after the first leg at Roker Park, but Gabbiadini and Eric Gates struck in the second leg at St James's Park. Gatesy put Sunderland 1-0 up in the early stages. Later, Warren Hawke broke down the left wing and passed to Gabbiadini who in turn passed to Gates, who carried on his run in plenty of space, received the ball back from Gates to slot away Sunderland's second. Newcastle supporters invaded the pitch, getting the match stopped by referee George Courtney. Recalling the moment, Gabbiadini said the team were "ecstatic" in the dressing room waiting for the restart, and "almost ready to open the champagne". Sunderland lost to Swindon Town in the final at Wembley, but were still promoted when it was revealed Swindon were guilty of financial irregularities, but Marco had booked his place as a Sunderland legend.

Marco said having represented Sunderland was a great experience for him and that ever since then, whenever he sees supporters - Newcastle, as well as Sunderland - his goal at St James's is often the first thing they mention.

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CAREER DETAILS

York City: Sept 85 to Sept 87 (from apprentice)
18 goals from 71 appearances

SUNDERLAND AFC: Sept 87 to Oct 91 (Fee £80,000)
87 goals from 185 appearances

Crystal Palace: Oct 91 to Jan 92 (Fee £1.8m)
7 goals in 25 appearances

Derby County: Jan 92 to May 97 (Fee £1.0m)
68 goals in 227 appearances

Birmingham City: 14.10.86 - 18.10.86 (On loan from Derby)
0 goals in 2 appearances

Oxford: Jan 97 to March 97 (On loan from Derby)
1 goal in 5 appearances

Stoke City: Dec 97 to July 98
1 goal in 9 appearances

York City: Feb 98 to May 98 (On loan from Stoke City)
1 goal in 7 appearances

Darlington: July 98 to June 2000 (Free transfer)
53 goals in 96 appearances

Northampton Town: June 00 to July 03 (Free transfer)
30 goals in 136 appearances

Hartlepool Utd: July 03 to Jan 04 (Free transfer)
7 goals in 18 appearances

Capped by England at Under 21 and England 'B' level.





Stats courtesy of Soccerbase.com





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Outclassed by Deech - 2-1 defeat at Millwall

Ah well, that run was nice while it lasted. This was very much a Nationwide game and Millwall were definitely the better team.

Like a lot of the travelling red and white army, we went for a drink around London Bridge. It meant that we were part of the crowd that were the first to test the new secure walkway from South Bermondsey train station to the no-longer “New” Den. I can see why they have done this but it is going to keep Millwall trapped in the past. One of the main things that has improved away travel since the bad old days of the 70s/80s is the fact that ordinary supporters including women and bairns can go for a pint before the match in nearby pubs. It seems to me that Millwall are never going to have this, which is a pity.

Mick Mac was forced to change the team cos of Arca’s suspension (his third of the season – we all know what a disgracefully dirty player he is! Jeez!). Poom mercifully is staying fit. Babb and Jockie kept their CB places (at the start of the season I’d have put them fourth and fifth place CBs). Ringo stayed at LB and Plug at RB. Oster unfortunately was moved over to LW with Smith (potentially our “best” forward IMO, but that is damning with faint praise) moved back to RW. Trigger and Whitely in CM and Stew and Super(for a limited period only)Kev up front.

Deech was starting his loan period so would undoubtedly score the winning goal(s) (I’m sorry, have I ruined the ending for you? – I thought I’d do this report in the style of Quentin Tarrantino). I am known as an habitual Deech supporter so my opinion may not count but, god, he was in a different class to our forwards.

Millwall were on top from the start. How Deech didn’t have a hat-trick before we scored baffles me – he was getting quality chance after quality chance. It tells you something that our best players were Poom, PFB and Jockie – and yet still we conceded two. Plug was back to SAFC Plug after showing some signs of LFC Plug in recent games. Ringo is much better as a CB than a LB – bring Hhhuuullliiiooo back to that position. Trigger had one of his poorer games. Whitely did his usual tackling role but he is having to pick up the second ball, which is not his forte. Oster is a soft shite and so hid for large parts of the game. I can’t remember much of Smith but I bet he wasn’t very good. Kyle and Stew were woeful. We really, really, really need to get this Stead lad off Huddersfield.

The effects of the Guiness from the pub at London Bridge clicked in and I went down stairs – we scored. I haven’t suffered that misfortune for quite some time. I’d forgotten how comical the reaction is in the toilets, a mixture of joy at scoring but utter despondency at having missed it. Apparently it was Stew after some good work from Kyle. God only knows how it happened as we hadn’t been anywhere near their goal.

A little later they found acres of space on their left and a cross came in that even Deech couldn’t miss – give the lad credit though you have to be there (and our lot rarely are).

Second half wasn’t much different. We were attacking the end we were in so we were even more aware how little pressure we were applying. I’m not convinced their goalkeeper had to do one thing all game that I couldn’t have managed.

So, onwards and upwards (or downwards or sideways). This game is best forgotten. We are capable of much, much better but we know we are also capable of this. An SAFC with Arca and Thornton is going to be a lot more lively. However, we really do need something new up front.

I expect that a lot of people at the match would have expected me to have a go at Wise’s antics and the fact that he has the other players acting in his image, plus the performance of the referee. A lot could be said but it would be deluding ourselves if we tried to use that as an excuse. We have to be able to cope with such things if we are going to get promoted. Trigger knows the score and should be able to play refs and games as well as Wise does. Oster is no longer a bairn and needs to realise if he looks scared, he is just going to be given an even harder time.

We shouldn’t get downhearted by this defeat but we should make sure we don’t repeat the mistakes. I’d like to go to Cardiff come the end of the season – but for the FA Cup final – we can still make automatic promotion.