SM
Newcastle vs. West Ham: 2 hrs 33 mins
Upcoming predictions and previews

Secret Footballer: 'Booze problem at Sunderland'

:Headline: Secret Footballer: 'Booze problem at Sunderland': ID:107163: from db_amp
The Secret Footballer lifts the lid on the alleged "drinking culture" among the Sunderland players.

The Secret Footballer has insisted that there are "big problems" at Sunderland, many of which centre around alcohol.

The Black Cats only just fought off the threat of relegation last term and no win from their first five Premier League matches this season resulted in Paolo Di Canio being sacked as manager earlier this week.

Di Canio was heavily criticised for taking a hard line with the Sunderland squad, but The Secret Footballer, who is an alleged pseudonym of a Premier League player, has accused the players at the Stadium of Light of having a poor attitude and a "drinking culture".

"There are problems at Sunderland – big problems. The squad simply aren't good enough on the pitch and, of even greater concern, they have too many players that do not have enough respect for the game," he said. "It is no secret in football circles that there is a drinking culture at Sunderland that extends right through the core of the team.

"I've witnessed it in full swing as I've been in the same places drinking with many of them. I can vividly remember being in Marbella when one Sunderland player ordered a Nebuchadnezzar of champagne for £75,000. Seriously. A waiter bought it out on a trolley and it took three of them to pour it every time he wanted to top up his glass.

"And last season, after the team had been hammered on the Saturday, a friend sent me a picture of half a dozen Sunderland first-team players all holding up cigarettes and pints of beer in a pub during an all-day session on the Sunday."

Gus Poyet is the current favourite to replace Di Canio, although interim boss Kevin Ball is expected to take charge of Saturday's match against Liverpool.

amp_article__107163 : Database Data restored...  : 
last updated article - 2013-09-26 15:34:56:
html db last update - 2013-09-26 15:34:56 :

ex - 7200 : read : read cache amp html

Click here for more stories about Gus Poyet

Click here for more stories about Sunderland

Share this article now:
Recommended Next on SM
Premier League Table
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Leeds UnitedLeeds1695228121632
2Sunderland1695226121432
3Sheffield UnitedSheff Utd1610422191232
4Burnley168621961330
5Middlesbrough1683529191027
6West Bromwich AlbionWest Brom166821811726
7Watford168262524126
8Millwall166641914524
9Blackburn RoversBlackburn156451917222
10Bristol City165742020022
11Derby CountyDerby165562020020
12Stoke CityStoke165561920-120
13Norwich CityNorwich164752524119
14Swansea CitySwansea165471414019
15Sheffield WednesdaySheff Weds165471826-819
16Luton TownLuton165381826-818
17Coventry CityCoventry164572223-117
18Oxford UnitedOxford Utd164571924-517
19Plymouth ArgylePlymouth164571728-1117
20Preston North EndPreston163761624-816
21Cardiff CityCardiff164481524-916
22Hull City163671621-515
23Portsmouth152671628-1212
24Queens Park RangersQPR161871326-1311
Scroll for more - Tap for full version


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
AL
Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!

Loading ...

Failed to load data.



. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .