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Dear Roker Report, I’ve just received an email stating that my purchased stone in Legends Way will not be laid, as it isn’t part of this summer’s construction phase. Does this mean Legends Way won’t be completed for the start of the season? We were never told this would be a phased project, and the note about order volumes not being enough to fulfil a section is concerning. While I’ll be proud to see my family’s names at the ground as part of the club’s legacy, it’s disappointing that it won’t happen when I anticipated. It also doesn’t look good if we’re heading into what could be the biggest season in the club’s history, with Legends Way only partially finished. Food for thought.
Andrew Hough
Cumberland & Haltwhistle Sunderland Supporters Association
Ed’s Note: I’ve heard from a few others in the same boat as you, Andrew, including some Roker Report readers who bought their stones on the day they went on sale. The club has tucked this information into the Legends Way FAQ, so it may not have been obvious when everything first went on sale. I’m not sure if that detail was visible at the time, but I share the disappointment.
Dear Roker Report, can you believe it? Less than a year after we signed him, Xhaka could be heading to the “poisoned chalice” of Chelsea. Like everyone connected with the club, I hope he says no and stays with us, where he’s genuinely valued and wanted. Anyone who saw the extraordinary scenes at the end of the last game of the season—ironically after we beat Chelsea—would have noticed just how overwhelmed he was by the supporters’ reception. I understand football is unpredictable and money talks, but he’s already very wealthy and has a promising future with us when he eventually retires. What could he realistically hope to achieve at Chelsea? He’d be walking into a dressing room where many good players have struggled, and a club where egos seem to dominate. I believe he has more about him than most footballers. He speaks our language and genuinely “gets” us. He understands that we value players who give 100% far more than any so-called superstar delivering 50%. Granted, London has all its attractions, but would he swap the loyalty of our supporters and the club’s good atmosphere for perhaps two seasons at Chelsea? He could stay here, where he has a real affinity with the club and the fans.