Roy's Blank Cheque-book

[Kieran]

See Roy the boy has gone mad buying players, left right and centre. Just bought a new goal keeper for €9 Million. He and Quinny are going to have a massive Bench to choose from, but will they have the quality? They must have got a huge loan from the credit union!

[Ned Kelly]

The Blackcats for a Top 5 finish this season!

[Kieran]

Ya you could be right Ned, but you know what they say about up and coming teams that make it past year 1 in the premiership? Its the second year post hype-honeymoon that catches them out!

[Kieran]

Roy's Boys face Spurs tomorrow in the opening game of the Premiership. What a test it should be. The world will truly get a chance to see how powerful a cheque book can really be. I'll have a sick-bag close at hand!

[Ned Kelly]

Thought the cats were playin spurs not chelsea?

[Kieran]

Thats what I said Neddy!

[Ned Kelly]

OFF to a Winning Start, Cats 1 Spurs 0.

[Kieran]

All against the run of play, but its the score that counts. I reckon if Keane put out a springfield team, he'd still win. Hes just one of those that willl never do wrong!

[Ned Kelly]

Not the way I read the match Review K, Cats coulda had 3 and spurs were dismal???

[Kieran]

I watched the first half on Tv Ned, and by any standards, it was spurs that were unlucky. I met John O'Rourke at a party a few hours later and he told me the cats sneaked it at the end, and even he admitted they were lucky!

[Ned Kelly]

Sunderland super sub Michael Chopra marked Roy Keane's debut in a Barclays Premier League dugout with a dramatic injury-time winner at the Stadium of Light today.
Chopra, a 71st minute replacement for Anthony Stokes, pounced on a deep Ross Wallace cross to sweep the ball past despairing Paul Robinson and get Keane's top-flight off to a flyer.
It was a rich reward for the way in which Keane's men had gone about their return to the top-flight with Dickson Etuhu also having had a match-winning chance moments earlier.
In contrast Spurs' multi-million pound strikeforce appeared toothless and the usually inspirational Dimitar Berbatov was shackled superbly by Paul McShane throughout.
Berbatov had a half-hearted penalty appeal turned down in the first half and lofted a free-kick over the bar in the second half but otherwise the chances fell Sunderland's way.
Craig Gordon, one of four summer signings named in Keane's starting line-up, could hardly have wished for a more low-key start to life as Britain's most expensive goalkeeper.
As one would expect from a side managed by Keane, the Black Cats had started confidently with Carlos Edwards making good early progress down the right flank.
Spurs, whose boss Martin Jol preferred not to ring the changes and started with £16.5million man Darren Bent on the bench, had their first chance in the 11th minute when Jermaine Jenas shot wide.
Sunderland were looking bright and inventive going forward and Stokes was only narrowly caught offside in the 14th minute when he sought to get on the end of a Wallace cross.
At the other end, Malbranque sent a superbly weighted cross into the home box which a stretching Keane just failed to reach at the far post.
Keane had the first on-target effort of the afternoon in the 25th minute when he drilled a lot shot which Gordon gathered with ease.
But the game belatedly sprang too life in the final seven minutes of the half beginning with Daryl Murphy spurning a golden chance to give the home side the lead.
Spurs defender Paul Stalteri failed to deal with a Ross Wallace cross and the ball fell invitingly for Murphy, whose angle was narrowed by the advancing Paul Robinson who saved his low shot well.
Two minutes later Berbatov sprang the Sunderland offside trap and rounded the onrushing Gordon before McShane got in with a crucial interception despite Spurs' appeals for a penalty.
Referee Alan Wiley waved away penalty claims and the home side roared straight to the other end of the pitch where Edwards set up Etuhu to sweep a low shot inches wide.
Lacking spark in front of goal, it was no surprise to see Jol finally introduce Bent in the 58th minute in place of Tainio, but still the Black Cats defence held firm.
It spoke volumes that the visitors' best second half chance came via a set-piece on the edge of the Sunderland box, which Berbatov lofted inches over the bar.
Berbatov was plainly unhappy to be replaced by Jermain Defoe in the 77th minute, but the Bulgarian could have no complaints about the way he had been handled by McShane.
Sunderland continued pressing and Etuhu almost won it in the final minute when poor defending presented him with a point-blank chance which Robinson superbly palmed away.
But Keane's men were not done yet and when Wallace crossed deep again Chopra turned and pounced to send the Stadium of Light wild with his side's last touch of the match.
Teams:
Sunderland Gordon, Whitehead, Nosworthy, McShane, Wallace,Edwards, Etuhu, Yorke (Miller 57), Richardson (Collins 72),Murphy, Stokes (Chopra 72).
Subs Not Used: Ward, Connolly.
Booked: Whitehead.
Goals: Chopra 90.
Tottenham Robinson, Chimbonda, Gardner, Stalteri, Kaboul,Jenas, Zokora (Huddlestone 87), Malbranque, Tainio (Bent 59),Berbatov (Defoe 77), Keane.
Subs Not Used: Cerny, Rocha.
Booked: Zokora.
Att: 43,967
Ref: Alan Wiley (Staffordshire).

[Kieran]

Who wrote that review -Niall Quinn?

[Ned Kelly]

the sporting life!

[Kieran]

Keane even has his fans there? They had a better game last night against birmingham. They gave away an OG but managed to equalise twice for a well earned draw!

[Katy]

Black Cats Forever.....good game....good game...ahh!! Katy sounding like whats his name.....ahh!! :p cheers Katy:) :)

[Ned Kelly]

Onya Katy!!!!

[Katy]

Black Cats....Man United.....Roys Boys.....ahh!! you lot have got Katy going footy crazy......lol;) ....:)

[Ned Kelly]

SSHHH I'm sayin nuffin bout the wigan game!!!

[Katy]

:) :) :cool: