Mark: Sunderland have taken just five points so far in the first half of this season. Do you take heart from what West Bromwich Albion achieved last year or is it just too little, too late to salvage something?

Roger: Unless something radical happens at the Stadium of Light I really can't see us turning this season around. Watching the team, we just seem to be getting deeper and deeper in the mire and less and less confident. There are a lot of players to come back from injury but the belief is no longer there either amongst the players or the supporters.

Mark: Dean Whitehead has been in good form since moving to the Stadium of Light from Oxford United just over a year ago. Are you confident you can resist any bids for him from clubs looking to prize him away?

Roger: Like all players, if Dean wants to go he will do. He does have a long contract and has recently extended it to 2010 but as we all know that could mean very little. I am sure we will resist any bids in January but who could argue if he wants away at the end of the season?

Mark: Striker Stephen Elliott got 16 goals for the Black Cats last season but has been injured for a large part of this season. Would his presence in the side have helped the results turn out differently or is the problem deeper than that?

Roger: Obviously we are missing Elliott but the problem lies to a large extent with our defence. Its difficult to concede 2 or 3 goals every game and win.

Mark: What type of game do you expect for Bolton's visit to the North East and who do you feel will be a dangerman for the Trotters?

Roger: The game? You will be tough and physical, we will lie down and die. As for the dangermen, I can neither pronounce nor spell the names of most of your players.

Mark: Is Mick McCarthy the right man to take Sunderland forward or do you feel another manager is the answer in the long term?

Roger: Mick has done a wonderful job at Sunderland, replacing most of the team and getting us promoted as champions in 2 years. This year he has come up with massive injury problems and no money to spend on new players so we are in the Premiership with several players who are from the lower leagues.

That said, I really feel that the rot has set in too deep, and sadly the only we we can turn things around will be to replace Mick.

Walking Down The Manny Road would like to thank Roger and Ready To Go (www.readytogo.net) for giving up their time to conduct this interview. Any Black Cats supporters from up and down the country are urged to take a look at the website if they haven't already as it contains lots of useful information about Mick McCarthy's side

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