Play Off Thoughts

Are the nerves kicking in yet? Mine certainly are. I’ll have to be honest and say they’ve been there in some shape or form since Tuesday last week. The knot in my chest is already spreading to my stomach, and by Friday night I’m sure it’ll have increased ten fold. Do you know what? I wouldn’t swap it for the world. These are the games that everyone wants to be involved in; players, coaches and most importantly, fans. Whatever happens on Saturday, it will be an emotional one. To be honest, it wouldn’t be Sunderland AFC if it was anything else.

In terms of the game itself, my mind has wandered through every possible scenario already. Everything has been dissected multiple times with work colleagues, friends and family. I mentioned in my last piece that if you don’t turn up on the Wembley stage, no matter who the opponents are, you will lose. I don’t think there is any danger of that happening to this Sunderland side. They will be ready. They absolutely know what is at stake. They are all one game away from becoming Premier League players. As a professional footballer, that is something they’ll all dreamt of achieving. 

This group that we have may well be a young side, but they never hide or throw in the towel. The likes of Anthony Patterson, Dennis Cirkin, Luke O’Nien and Patrick Roberts know exactly what it takes to win a play off final at Wembley. It will be these players, along with captain Dan Neil, that players and fans alike will look to for inspiration in terms of guidance and that little bit of added experience. Enzo Le Fee will also be hugely important. The diminutive Frenchman has the keys to unlock any defence in the Championship, and he looks to be finding some of his best form as we head to London. If Romaine Mundle makes it, even if we can unleash him from the bench, then what a huge bonus that could prove to be. This game though, is as tough an ask as they come. Sunderland will have to handle the magnitude of a Championship play off final. 

There will undoubtedly be some key battles on the pitch. After his two colossal performances against Coventry, Dan Ballard simply has to start the game, and I’m certain he will relish the physical battle that Kieffer Moore will bring to the table. Keeping Gus Hamer quiet is also an unenviable task but it is one Sunderland must find an early solution to. Hamer has to be nullified as he has all the tools in his arsenal to cause us a lot of damage. I think the middle of the park will be where the game is won and lost though, and it will be interesting to see how Regis Le Bris sets his team up to play. Will he change our shape to add in an extra midfielder? Will Enzo Le Fee play centrally, with Eliezer Mayenda wide? Both of the league games were tight affairs and I fully expect something similar when that first whistle blows on Saturday. 

The red and white army will be descending on London once again. The last visit to the capital where Sunderland gained promotion from League One will live long in the memory. If I look back at that game, the final whistle brought joy and jubilation, but also a sense of relief that our four years of third tier torture were over. No more EFL Trophy. No more entering the FA Cup at the first round stage, and ultimately losing. It was all over, and I absolutely don’t want to ever go back. I was brought up on stories of our then single season in the third division in 1987/88, and it was, probably somewhat arrogantly, something that I never thought that I would ever see. Sadly, when our fate was sealed, we stayed there for four seasons, which is why the Wycombe game was so seismic. It really was the start of the journey that has brought us to where we are today; one game away from returning to the Premier League. This game is one of the biggest there’s been in our modern history, and I for one can’t wait to see what unfolds.

I’ve been asked a few times this week how I see the game going. I very rarely put down a definitive opinion in terms of a result in writing, but I’ll have to for this one I think! If Sunderland can navigate the early parts of the game without any issues, and gain a foothold, I can see the tide swinging in our favour. Like I said, Sheffield United possess numerous threats of differing varieties, and we will have to nullify those and find solutions. I trust Regis Le Bris and the players to do just that. I think the game will be a tight one, but at the same time I can see goals for both teams. If I’m going to stick my neck out with an emphatic opinion in terms of the score, I’ll go 2-1 to Sunderland. There, I’ve said it. I think we will win on Saturday. It’s hard to comprehend what that will feel like, and also everything that comes with it, but, despite the palpitations and worsening nerves, I simply can’t wait to find out if I’m right. See you there.

'Til The End

Tuesday 13th May 2025. The Stadium of Light, Sunderland. An emotional, rollercoaster of a night is nearing its conclusion. I glance at the clock. Four minutes of extra time to play. The agony of a penalty shootout looms. In reality, the tie should already be over. Haji Wright’s last gasp header in normal time should have sent Coventry City to Wembley. Sunderland though, have found a bit extra in their play. Now, everything hangs in the balance. Sunderland and the play offs are perennially intertwined, a relationship forged mainly in historic adversity, but one that’s now become an almost unbreakable allegiance, with mutual respect on both sides. This is our fifth play off campaign in the last seven seasons. We all know the agony and ecstasy these games can bring.

A break in play. I turn to my left. My 14 year old son Charlie, sits with his head in his hands. I ask him if he could predict the future and find out what happens next, would he? His answer? “Yes Dad, I would, because then it would all be over”. What more can you really add to that?

An awful lot has been written and consumed already about the dramatic climax to events on Tuesday night. Dan Ballard has written himself into Wearside folklore with that header, sparking scenes in a football ground that I have never witnessed or experienced before. Mayenda’s late winner in the first match has left my legs covered in bruises that certainly won’t heal in time for Wembley. I can think of Sheffield United in ‘98, derby goals at St James’ Park and winning in the League Cup Semi Final at Old Trafford in 2014; Chelsea and Everton at the back of the 15/16 season, these are the games like that leap to the forefront of my mind when I think about drama, joy and jubilation. I’ve been to hundreds of games, up and down the country, following Sunderland in three tiers of English football, and I have never seen, felt or heard anything like I did when Ballard’s header clipped the crossbar and crossed the line. The drama. The scenes. The noise. The unbridled joy. The sheer relief and jubilation when the full time whistle was blown. Those few minutes are unmatched and will probably always remain so. I doubt any of us will see anything like it again. Some of the videos doing the rounds on social media have been phenomenal to watch. Whatever happens in the play off final, or even in the years to come, it is a night that I will think about when I’m sitting in my rocking chair that’s for sure.

Dan Ballard will rightly take the plaudits and acclaim that comes with scoring such a dramatic late winner in a vital play off game, but overall in the two legs in general, I thought he was absolutely immense. 39 clearances, 4 blocks and a sensational header over two matches when it really, really mattered shows exactly what the big man is all about. He was and is, a colossus for Sunderland. Massive credit must go to Regis Le Bris for putting his trust in Ballard over Chris Mepham, who has also had a fine season. It has paid off spectacularly. I don’t care if Frank Lampard, most of Sky’s pundits and the entire city of Coventry think we were second best over the two games. The fact remains that we scored three goals in the tie, and Coventry scored two. We are off to Wembley to play Sheffield United and I don’t need to tell you, that is all that matters.

It’s been quite an eventful few days. The two games and the scramble for tickets and transport to the capital has added to the chaos hasn’t it? The red and white army will be out en masse in London once again. Hopefully at the time of writing we can increase our ticketing allocation so that more supporters can get to Wembley. The players will need every single one of us. The nerves are already building for me and I’m sure it's the same for many of you. It will be another incredible day, and we’ll all be put through the emotional mangle once again. Saying that, I wouldn’t miss it for the world. Whatever happens, we will always have this special football club in our lives. All of the bad days we experience are absolutely worth it for the spectacular ones, and my word was Tuesday night spectacular.

As for the final itself, I won’t touch too much on it. There’ll be an article from me on that later in the week. What I will say is, if you don’t turn up or freeze in these games, no matter who you are up against, you will lose. This group of young players we have certainly have dipped at times, but they never hide or throw in the towel. They have grit, determination and a desire to succeed. They have a togetherness that is there for all to see. There is a connection with the fans. The players know what is at stake. They are determined to secure promotion for everyone connected to Sunderland. That is abundantly clear. When I set off for London in the early hours of Saturday, I’ll be with them every step of the way. Til the end.

Red Cards, Fine Margins and Missed Opportunities

Prior to kick off on Friday night, our record read as one defeat in ten, and now, after our loss at Bramall Lane, our run is is now described as no wins in six. It’s amazing how one result can alter and impact perceptions so much, isn’t it?

I thought the performance was there on Friday night. We went away to one of the best sides in the division, and should have won the game. We dominated the first half, and a lot of the second, but despite our huffing and puffing, we couldn’t find a way to break the deadlock. Similarly to the West Brom game, we lacked a cutting edge in the final third and in particular, in and around Sheffield United’s penalty area.

Once again our set pieces were under par to say the least. Quite frankly, at the moment we don’t look like scoring from one, and it is becoming a real concern. If memory serves me right, I think four different players took a corner on Friday night too, which speaks volumes. It’s an area we certainly need to improve upon. Fine margins will get you up and out of this league, and set pieces can be a vital gateway in turning no points into one, and one point into three.

I noticed after the game, that there were one or two knives out on social media for Patrick Roberts. Anyone who has read this blog for long enough will know what I think of him as a footballer, and let’s face it, any player can miss a penalty. That said, he simply wasn’t in the game enough in the second half. Both Roberts and Tommy Watson, who I thought had a great game, hugged both touchlines and looked to stretch the pitch in the second half. The ball itself however, often found itself making its way over to Watson on the left, rather than to Roberts on the right. We all know what Paddy possesses in terms of ability, that has absolutely never been in question. What we do need to see is more consistency in his play. He needs to find that spark, because when he’s at it, there is no better winger in the division. I still think Sunderland are a better team with Patrick Roberts in it, rather than warming the bench. It is a conundrum that RLB needs to solve, and solve sooner rather than later.

One big thing that frustrated me on Friday night, probably for the first time under RLB, was his substitutions. When a team is reduced to ten men, you have to be reactive. RLB’s reactive decision was to utilise Dan Neil as a makeshift centre-half, rather than use personnel from his bench, a bench that contained three defenders. At the time, it was a head scratcher for me. To be honest it still is. RLB stated when he first took over the job, that he prefers to turn to his bench later on in games than is considered by most as the norm. We made our first change in the 77th minute of the match.

Had Harry Souttar not been given his marching orders a mere five minutes after Chris Mepham’s own red card, it would have been interesting to see how our shape and personnel would have handled what may well have become an eleven on ten men onslaught. We will never know. It’s clear some players are on borrowed time on Wearside, and I was hugely surprised Adil Aouchiche made an appearance on Friday, especially over Milan Aleksic. One is the future of SAFC, and one looks to be heading out the exit door.

I don’t expect too many changes to the starting XI when Stoke City head north for an early kick off on Saturday, other than enforced ones. It will be interesting to see whether Dennis Cirkin is available. We have missed him badly since his injury. Not only defensively, but also his dynamism in attacking areas. He has been a vital cog in Sunderland's machine this season.

All in all though, it is certainly not complete doom and gloom. It doesn't feel that way at all, and the reception the players received at full time on Friday shows exactly what page most of our support is on. Our form hasn’t fell off a cliff and we are still playing well. We just need it all to click in the final third. We will be more than alright, we have a good side and we have shown that in abundance this season. We should be proud of our young team.

One other thing I took away from Friday was this; there was a break in play as Tommy Watson came over to take a second half corner. To his left, Chris Rigg stood next to him to offer the option of a short one. As I stood in the away end, a sudden realisation came over me just how young this team is. Watson and Rigg have a combined age of 35. That makes you feel old, doesn’t it? Well, some of us anyway!

Keep the faith.

Sweet Dreams Are Made Of This

Five points clear at the top of the league. Nine points clear of sixth placed Blackburn Rovers. Nine points better off than we were at this stage last season. It feels good doesn't it? We're allowing ourselves to dream. Despite what fans of Middlesbrough, Leeds and Luton may suggest, we are indeed allowed to celebrate when winning games of football! It's what it's all about, isn't it?

Saturday's win and performance at home to Oxford United was a dominant and very professional one. Sunderland never looked in any danger and in all honesty the scoreline could have been more emphatic. Between the sticks, Simon Moore only really had one save to make during the game; a routine one at that. I think we will need each and every one of our players over the season, and Regis Le Bris was complimentary about Moore in his post game analysis, saying that he has been more than ready to step in when needed.

It was hard to pick a man of the match on Saturday, as there were so many strong performances once again. Anyone who reads this blog on a regular basis knows exactly what I think of Patrick Roberts. He is absolutely back to his best. In fact, I'd go as far as saying he is playing his best stuff in a Sunderland shirt. He's showing so much more consistency in his game and it is wonderful to see. What I noticed on Saturday was that he played with a smile on his face. Even when he and Chris Rigg tried little intricate things that didn't quite come off, they smiled at each other on more than one occasion. The togetherness in this side is there for all to see and you can see the confidence flowing through this Sunderland team at the minute, and nobody seems to be benefiting from it more than Roberts. It was another brilliant display from a player who is becoming something of a talisman, and a fantastic reaction to being taken out of the team at Luton, albeit for tactical reasons.

Jobe Bellingham turned in another monstrous display in the middle of the park, and in terms of a man of the match performance, for me, he edged it. He capped off his display with a stunning header, and the curling shot that clipped the crossbar in the second half would have been a goal of the season contender too. It was an incredibly effective and mature performance from a player who is heading right to the very top. A special mention also has to go to Dan Neil, who was methodical, calm and measured in that deeper role that he is rapidly growing into. He divides opinion occasionally, but Sunderland's captain now has three assists in his last three appearances for the club. Long may it continue. 

We can't discuss the game without again mentioning Wilson Isidor. He has already shown that he can score all types of goals, from close range inside the box, to his marauding run and quite frankly impudent finish at Hull, to the stunning volley on Saturday. Sunderland look to have finally found a striker with the dynamism, movement and pace to replace Ross Stewart. Time will tell as to whether we have unearthed a genuine upgrade on the Loch Ness Drogba, but the early signs are hugely promising.

I have always been someone who tries to avoid looking at the league table in the early stages of the season. Twelve games in is usually when things start to settle down and that is now where we find ourselves. I am still certainly not going to get carried away, but Sunderland keep being presented with huge tests of different varieties and well, they keep passing them. Nine wins from twelve games is a phenomenal return and we have played sides that I believe will firmly be in the mix at the top end of the table in May. There won't be many, if any tougher games to play than our trip to Kenilworth Road last week, and in all honesty, I'd have snapped your hand off for a point before the game. To come away with maximum points from three games in six days is absolutely massive. It has convinced me that we are the real deal. 

What we will have to inevitably prepare ourselves for are days where things don't quite go our own way. What matters is how we react and recover from adversity. RLB did say whether he thought the dynamic of the group would be broken after our defeat to Plymouth, but the players responded by beating Middlesbrough at home in the next game. This team look to have more steel, endeavour and resolve than the one of last season. The team spirit is there for all to see. This league is a brutal and ruthless one, but Sunderland have shown just how brutal and ruthless they can be themselves. RLB has got the players concentrating on the next game and the next game only. He hasn't got carried away when we win, and he doesn't get too disheartened when we lose. 

There is a long, long way to go, but Sunderland possess all the tools in their armoury to fashion what could be a hugely special season. It feels different this time. Hoping and dreaming. Sweet dreams? I'll look forward to finding out!

Patrick Roberts, Our Mini Messi🎶

When you think about your favourite Sunderland players, past or present, where exactly does you mind wander? I guess part of it depends on your age, but what are the real stand out memories for you? Who created them?

When I was a kid, if ever there was debate or discussion around goalkeepers for example, my Dad would always name check Chris Turner. "He was a good goalkeeper him, but he was only five foot ten" he would say. He mentions it even now, when the subject of Sunderland keepers comes up. To this day, he still enforces his admiration for Turner. I don't think it will ever change.

Maybe you were more a lover of John Kay or Kevin Ball, if bone-crunching tackles were more your thing. Or did you enjoy watching tough, bruising centre-halves swatting away opposition forwards? Deep lying midfielders who set the tempo and dictated a game. Nippy, effervescent number tens who could always find that precious few yards of freedom to either create a chance or score a goal themselves. Strikers; deadly finishers like Kevin Phillips or perhaps ones of the more beanpole variety like his mate Sir Niall. 

Whatever floats your boat player-wise, we all have our favourites and our unwavering loyalty to them never really dies, does it? Me? Well I'm a simple soul if I'm honest. I like flair players and I always have. The players who create that aura of expectancy when they receive the ball. The players that make you inch just that little bit closer to the edge of your seat. The players that effortlessly humiliate a fullback or stick one through the legs of an oncoming opponent. 

Since I first went to Roker Park as a starry-eyed child, we have had some good ones over the years. Waddle. Johnston. Arca. Sessegnon. Amad. All capable of the spectacular and who at times, made the game look easy. Don't get me wrong, I can still appreciate the class of a Jan Kirchhoff, or the the work rate and desire of a Lee Cattermole, but the guys that produce the genuine bits of quality and magic on a Saturday afternoon will always be my favourite players. We have one in our side at the moment, who is undoubtedly back to his best. Step forward, Patrick Roberts.

I write this whilst still riding the crest of a wave somewhat, after our non-derby win over Middlesbrough. The plaudits quite rightly have gone to Chris Rigg. To score a goal of such ingenuity and skill is one thing, but to put in a display of such maturity at 17 years of age is quite another. The lad is a remarkable player, and has the world at his feet. The next year or so will see a meteoric rise for him, and I just hope we hang on to him for as long as possible. Dare I say it, but is there an England player in there? Special mention to Jobe Bellingham too, who turned in another big performance in the middle of the park as he also goes from strength to strength. 

That said, I reserve the highest praise for Patrick Roberts. He looks back to the player of two seasons ago. The attacking trio of Clarke, Amad and Roberts that Sunderland assembled during the 2022/23 season really was something to behold. Some of the football we played that season was sensational, the 4-4 draw with Hull City sticks in the mind, and Roberts was certainly integral to all of that. Also, who can forget that iconic late, late strike at Hillsborough the season before, to send us to Wembley? The double at Reading or the penguin celebration at Wigan? Fantastic.

Tony Mowbray spoke on more than one occasion that Roberts needed to be loved, and to find a home after a nomadic career that has taken him to Scotland, Spain and France. I think he has done that here on Wearside. Roberts himself said that his multiple loans left him questioning whether he "felt valued or wanted". It goes without saying that he is very much valued and wanted at the Stadium of Light.

Roberts had a poor end to last season, but which of our players didn't? The whole Mowbray/Beale situations turned the season into something of a nightmare. Roberts now looks firmly back to his best. He possesses incredible skill, can beat players with ease and can create and score goals. He looks integral to this Sunderland team at the moment, particularly with Jack Clarke moving on, and carries something of an extra responsibility as he now finds himself among the senior players in our young squad. He looks to be thriving.

I had a few conversations with various people over the summer who were happy to see Roberts sold. What nonsense. The club can't possibly sell its best players when they're simply out of form; what we needed was to find a head coach to get the best out of them, and in Regis Le Bris, that undoubtedly looks to have happened. Roberts is playing with a new lease of life in a very exciting Sunderland side. He has said publicly that he is very happy here, and of course, the red and white army adore him. 

We will undoubtedly see more from Patrick Roberts this season, as both he and the team go from strength to strength. It could be a special campaign for all of us on Wearside, and our magical number ten will be an integral cog in the machine as we look to get the club, and Roberts himself, back to where they both belong, in the upper echelons of the English game.

Jack Clarke Leaves Sunderland

So there we have it. The saga is over. In another Ross Stewart style ‘will he won’t he’ scenario, it’s all done and dusted. Jack Clarke is moving to Ipswich Town for a package believed to be worth around £20m.

Whether you think that the fee is a decent one or Clarke has gone on the cheap, it will be interesting to see what Sunderland do with such an influx of funds at this stage of the window. How much we’re getting up front remains to be seen. It appears to be £15m. A chunk of that will be passed on to Spurs. What I will say is, that the fee is less than most thought it would be. The club will have been bracing themselves for Clarke’s departure for some time, and in all honesty, I was surprised that he was still here as the season kicked off at Cardiff City. Kristjaan Speakman has had his critics in his time at SAFC, but what he has done in the past is drive a hard bargain when it comes to outgoing transfers. We did get £10m for a severely injured Ross Stewart, which looking back, was a fantastic piece of business for the club. We aren't privy to the finer details of transfer deals, and the only ones truly 'in the know' are the ones 'in the know', it's as simple as that. In truth, transfer deals are usually shrouded in some kind of mystery, particularly ones of the more higher profile, complex nature. Clarke has left for a new challenge and we will move on.

Losing your best players is obviously far from ideal, but it is the nature of the beast and happens to every club up and down the country. Adequately replacing them is what really matters, which we still have a week left of the window to do so. This, along with Stewart, has been the first real test of the buy low, develop, sell high strategy. The club will certainly have had a list of candidates to replace Clarke, but as the window progressed without any movement on that front, we will have missed out on potential targets. Liam Millar for example, has moved to Hull City. I also think Romaine Mundle will surprise a few people. This presents a massive opportunity for him to showcase his own talents. I think that, given plenty of game time, we will see him progress at quite a rate, in a similar way to Clarke did himself. Ian Poveda can also play on the left. He too is a player that can get the fans off their seats. We can't forget young Tommy Watson either. Sunderland still have the likes of Jobe, Neil, Rigg and Roberts in their ranks, so there are still things to be more than positive about.

In terms of Clarke’s destination of choice to further his career, there is no real comparison between Sunderland and Ipswich Town. Sunderland are a bigger club in an inferior league, plus the grass isn’t always greener on the other side. That’s not me being bitter or salty by the way, it's an honest asessment. Ultimately, the lure of the Premier League is hard to resist, in terms of money at least, and Clarke’s agent Ian Harte will have undoubtedly advised his client to move on to pastures new. Ipswich get the player they want, Sunderland receive a substantial fee, Clarke probably doubles his wages and his agent lines his own pockets. Everyone’s a winner.

Ipswich spent big last season to secure back to back promotions and look to be going at it again with their signings to try and remain above the dreaded drop zone come May. Fair play to them, you have to applaud their efforts over the last few transfer windows. This time two years ago, they were lining up to play at Forest Green in League One. Their ‘model’ if you like, is one that is certainly working, but it is nevertheless a high risk, high reward strategy.

It is time to move on for Sunderland, and in all honesty, this transfer hasn’t stung me as much as some others have done in years gone by. Clarke’s departure has felt somewhat inevitable since the season ended in May. He’s been a fantastic signing and is a fabulous player. He has taken his game to another level in his time at SAFC, and leaves after scoring 28 goals in 114 matches, not to mention notching countless assists. He was also part of the squad that dragged the club out of the third tier, and I'll be forever indebted to those that gave us all such a memorable sunny day at Wembley in 2022. I wish Jack nothing but the best as he has a crack at the Premier League. For Sunderland, well, we have football matches to win.

I Love It When A Plan Comes Together

Cast your mind back to a year ago. Well, almost a year, the 2nd September 2023 to be precise. It's the date of Sunderland's fifth Championship fixture last season, which took place on a late, sunny summer's day, at home to Southampton. A sublime 5-0 win that day under then gaffer Tony Mowbray took our points tally to seven after five league matches. We scored in the first minute, Pierre Ekwah bagged a brace with two beauties and a then 16 year old Chris Rigg nodded in a romantic fifth in stoppage time after Jewison Bennette's triple pirouette and cross. Even Bradley Dack scored.

It was a day to live long in the memory. We won four of our next five league games, three of them away from home, and the season was up and running. Everything about the club looked rosy. 

Sunday's emphatic 4-0 win over Sheffield Wednesday evoked similar memories for me, and I'm sure I'll not be alone in reminiscing. If we have learned anything about last season, it's that things can change almost in an instant. Some scenarios unfolded that maybe happen over a period of five or six seasons at other clubs, sometimes longer. Behind the scenes unrest concerning a variety of thinks derailed a season of promise, with the the feel good factor fading away less than half way through the campaign after the sacking of Tony Mowbray. This time around though, whilst erring on the side of caution, it feels slightly different to me. I must stress, I mean that in a positive way.

I was asked after the game, what I thought the most impressive thing was that I could take from the performance over The Owls. My answer? I thought it was how excellent we were without the ball. We were good with it, but the structure, the high pressing, the determination and desire to win the ball back when the opposition had it was brilliant to watch. Sunderland's players were akin to a swarm of bees at times, and Wednesday simply had no answer. We blew them away. 

The players look to have bought into new ideas. Even small tweaks to how we set up from opposition goals kicks or from set pieces both defensively and offensively, have been more than noticeable. We have to credit Regis Le Bris, the staff and of course the players themselves for the way they set up and performed. If we can get our shape right, our identity right and implement RLB's ideas, we can more than compete with the other top sides in the Championship. For it all to come together in only the second league fixture is quite remarkable, and Le Bris even went as far to say as we can still improve even further. I don't doubt him. He has already stated publicly that we have an exciting and talented team packed full of potential.

This weekend sees us take on one of the strongest teams in the league, certainly on paper anyway. Burnley won't want to hang around in the second tier for any longer than one season, with promotion back to the Premier League at the first attempt very much top of the agenda. Scott Parker has been installed in the hot seat after the departure of Vincent Kompany, and he is a man who knows exactly what it takes to get out of the Championship having done so with both Fulham and Bournemouth in his managerial career. It will undoubtedly be a tough test for us, but it will also be a tough test for Parker and his men as they head to the Stadium of Light. I have seen some supporters say already that the game will be a measure of where we're at, and to some degree, that is true. However, I'm a firm believer that the table doesn't really settle down until 10-12 matches have been played, and only then can we can all get a fair idea of what shape teams are in. We are still at the embryonic stages of the season. Whatever the result on Saturday though, I'm certain Burnley will be challenging for promotion in May. I can only hope and pray we are saying the same thing about Sunderland.

What Saturday does provide for RLB, is his first major selection headache. Does he find a way to include Alan Browne in the starting XI? It may be a wise decision considering the opposition will certainly be a step up in calibre from Sheffield Wednesday, and someone of Browne's experience could prove vital in the middle of the park. If he does come in, who makes way? The most likely would be Chris Rigg, whose minutes will undoubtedly have to be managed this season given his age, obviously not at this stage of the season, and his performance on Sunday makes it hugely difficult for him to start on the bench. It is an unenviable task but at the same time, one of the more nicer problems for a manager to try and solve. 

It will be an eagerly anticipated game and team selection also. If it's anything like the last meeting at the Stadium of Light (Burnley winning 4-2 that day), we'd better strap ourselves in. I just hope Sunderland can come out on top. What a result that would be eh?

Big Players. Big Moments. An England Mini Series. Part 2.

Big players produce big moments. There have been some seismic ones ever since I was old enough to remember watching England play. David Platt at Italia '90. Paul Gascoigne against Scotland at Euro '96. Michael Owen at France '98 and Wayne Rooney's entire European Championship in 2004. We can now add Jude Bellingham to that illustrious list of names who have produced a big moment in a big game for England at a major tournament.

Bellingham's spectacular bicycle kick against Slovakia saved England from a humiliating exit and perhaps more tellingly, saved Gareth Southgate's skin in the process. What happens to Southgate after the tournament, whether we are victorious or not, remains to be seen. It is probably a topic of in depth discussion for another day after the conclusion of the tournament where the forensic dissection can begin. 

The 94 minutes that preceded Bellingham's goal were as turgid and lacklustre as it gets. I keep expecting an improvement game from game as the tournament progresses but that has simply not happened, for a multitude of reasons. Against Slovakia, the English players looked rudderless, uninspired and were unquestionably bereft of ideas as to how to play through a resolute and compact Slovakian side. They are struggling to adapt to a style of play that is an alien concept to them. Surely, Gareth Southgate can't be happy with what he is seeing at these Euros, can he? There was a 30 minute spell against Serbia in the first group game where England did play at a level somewhat approaching their best, but it has been far from plain sailing since then. Gary Neville felt the first half against Slovakia was up there with the horror show against Iceland in Nice at Euro 2016. It is hard to disagree with him. Somehow though, England survived to take on Switzerland in the last eight.

I think what it boils down to is that Gareth Southgate no longer knows his best XI. He probably thought he did when the Serbia game edged closer, but that had quickly gone out of the window after the draw with Denmark. The Trent Alexander-Arnold experiment simply had to end and thankfully it has done. Our midfield now has an extra midfielder in it, as opposed to a full-back. It is one less square peg in a round hole, but ultimately, the slow and pedestrian aspect to England's play has remained. Only Gareth Southgate can tell us if this is the blueprint that he has given his players. Tactically, Southgate has been left wanting. He isn't a reactive coach. His use of subs is a major issue, and to change nothing at the break against Slovakia was stark to say the least. The fact that he said he fully believed we would score is a tad misguided. Admittedly, he was right, England did score right at the death, but he simply cannot allow a game to play out like he did, hoping that one of his players will conjure a piece of inspirational magic to get us off the hook. England should be going after teams, taking the bull by the horns and dictating play. 

I feel Southgate is also too loyal to a select core of players that have produced the goods in the past, but are not doing so currently. That has to change if we are to progress even deeper into Euro 2024. UEFA allow national sides to pick 26 players; we will undoubtedly see around half a dozen players who won't see any minutes in this tournament. There will be a few others who will make an appearance, albeit for a few minutes at the end of a game. We have to find a place for Cole Palmer in this team. We have to find a way of utilizing Anthony Gordon. Ivan Toney has had precious game time, yet when he has came of the bench, he set up Harry Kane for a priceless winner. Southgate's subs are rarely impactful. I want to see more from Eberechi Eze. Ollie Watkins has made one appearance. As has the aforementioned Gordon. You live and die by the decisions you make, particularly at this level of international football, and for Gareth Southgate to leave the likes of Jack Grealish, Marcus Rashford and Jadon Sancho at home was a big call. He obviously has faith in the players we have taken to Germany, otherwise they wouldn't have made it onto the plane. The fact that a lot of them have been used so sparingly, particularly attacking players, is a source of massive frustration.

After the Slovakia win, John Stones alluded to the fact that now is indeed the time to take the handbrake off during games. Gareth Southgate later countered those comments by stating that the handbrake has never been on in the first place. That to me, was a worrying statement from England's manager. We don't look like we have a plan and we don't look like we have a playing identity. Obviously, this has to change if we are to defeat Switzerland and progress to the Semi Final of Euro 2024.

We now know our destiny, and should we triumph against the Swiss on 6th July, England will come up against a Dutch side packed full of attacking quality, but one with frailties that have been highlighted during their group fixtures. Some of their players spoke publicly about the disjointed nature of their performance in the 3-2 defeat against Austria, with the squad collectively holding their own inquest into how poorly they'd played, particularly defensively. For many scholars, some of the Netherlands best players remain on the fringes of the starting XI, having been used sparingly up until now. 

Alternatively, if Turkey triumph in what promises to be another enthralling encounter, they will be England's next opponents. Workmanlike, passionate, determind and certainly physical, they would be an altogether different proposition to the Dutch. Either way, England are in for a tough Semi Final. There is of course the small matter of getting there ourselves. 

During the last Euros, somewhat arrogantly, I thought our name was already on the trophy. Big players continued to produce big moments. I was absolutely crestfallen after that shootout defeat to Italy. I'll probably never truly get over it! This time though, it feels different. England haven't yet got going. Their tournament hasn't yet ignited. We haven't got started. Against Switzerland on Saturday would be a good time to do so.

All Things England. An England Mini Series. Part 1.

I think one the very earliest memories I have of the England national team, was of Ronald Koeman hauling down David Platt in Rotterdam, as he honed in on goal during a World Cup qualifier with the Netherlands in 1993. A cynical, professional foul with the game firmly in the balance at 0-0. It was a borderline penalty decision but a certain sending off. Referee Karl-Josef Assenmacher gave neither. Koeman survived an early bath. From the resulting dead ball at the edge of the area, Tony Dorigo's shot was charged down and just five minutes later, Koeman himself dinked a free kick past a helpless David Seaman to open the scoring in the 62nd minute. He shouldn't have been on the pitch. The imperious Dennis Bergkamp added another goal six minutes later and England lost the game 2-0. A World Cup dream and trip to visit our American cousins for USA '94 was over. I remember Graham Taylor's face being plastered all over the newspapers as his tenure as national boss came to an end a month later.

It was time for a reset. The European Championships in 1996 were on home soil. It was a tournament that became the new long term target for English success. It was a tournament that captured the hearts of the nation, including mine. Paul Gascoigne. Scotland. Uri Geller. Dutch revenge and Gareth Southgate's missed penalty. Sadly, a victorious Germany. I realised what it all meant, a nation united for one cause, which was to win the Euros at Wembley; a cathedral of football and the game's spiritual home. 

England were beaten semi-finalists and I was heartbroken. It was my first real footballing heartache. I'll admit, it felt even worse in 2021. Missed opportunities. Looking back, I still think we should have won Euro 2004 too. Now though, 2024 presents us with another fantastic chance to right the wrongs of England teams on the big stage. A chance for Gareth Southgate's squad of players to finally immortalise themselves and cement their places among the greats of the English game. It is a chance we simply have to take.

I write this after what for me, is usually venturing into enemy territory, when it comes to matches at Newcastle United's St James' Park. Being a Sunderland fan, I rarely venture inside the ground, unless the two clubs play each other of course. I went to see a World Cup Qualifier in September 2001, with England beating Albania that night 2-0; the goals coming courtesy of Michael Owen and Robbie Fowler. Prior to that I saw Belgium's visit to the Stadium of Light in 1999. It still rankles with me that Kevin Keegan subbed Kevin Phillips after only 58 minutes that day! 

One of the truly great nights that I've had inside a football ground came when England hosted Turkey under the lights for a midweek game, again in Sunderland for a European Championship Qualifier in 2003. Wayne Rooney, who was still six months shy of his 18th birthday, put in a magical performance that night. To play the game with that sort of intensity, vigour, aggression and desire at 17 years of age was some sight, in a game of that magnitude too. It was a pleasure to be inside the Stadium of Light to witness it. I have seen Rooney play many times over the years, but that night against Turkey will always resonate with me, as will the first time I saw him in 2002 whilst still an Everton player. He was a special talent, bordering on world class at such a young age, and by the time the Euros had came around the following summer, he cemented his place as the most coveted young player on the planet, lighting up the tournament with four goals and a string of top performances. After moving to Manchester United, the rest as they say, is history. For me, he is one of the most naturally gifted players that England has ever produced.

I managed to take in a game at the newly built Wembley for a 5-0 win against San Marino in 2012. That night, as I sat taking in the surroundings and the sheer magnificence of the stadium, it did cross my mind whether I would actually get to see Sunderland play there. Thankfully for me, that has indeed materialized. I also took in a friendly with Australia back in Sunderland just before Euro 2016. 

What going to see England does do, is give the ordinary fan the chance to see some elite, world class players up close and in the flesh. That side I saw against Albania 23 years ago contained Ashley Cole, Rio Ferdinand, Paul Scholes and of course, Golden Balls himself, David Beckham. Some are fortunate enough that they can see top international players on a weekly basis if your own club happens to compete in the Premier League, (a distant memory for me at the minute and looking back, certainly something that I took for granted) but we must remember that the national team is for everyone. For some fans, England's success matters more than their club side. Like many other supporters, I am a big advocate of the national side playing games around the country. As spectacular and historic as Wembley is, not every England international has to be played there.

This time round though in Newcastle, I was in attendance with my son, for the visit of Bosnia & Herzegovina.  

At St James' Park, I sat with a family of Crystal Palace fans inside the ground. There were West Brom and Stoke City flags adorning the stands around the stadium. Someone even managed to sneak in a Sunderland one. The England team unites football fans like nothing else. A country full of hope and expectation as another major tournament is on the horizon. Most people are convinced that, once again, this will indeed be England's year.

Which brings me on to the current crop of stars at Gareth Southgate's disposal. Expectation is always huge when it comes to England and major tournaments. This one will be no different. I think we have the strongest squad of players at the Euros. We are missing some key figures, most notably Harry Maguire and a somewhat unfit Luke Shaw. Shaw has travelled, but how effective he will be when called upon remains to be seen. Defensive solidity is a slight concern as the competition gets under way. There were some notable absentees also. Jack Grealish was I feel, somewhat surprisingly omitted from the squad. The Manchester City wide-man can often divide opinion, but he is playing with some of the greatest players on the planet at club level, and for the best manager in the business. Against Bosnia & Herzegovina, I thought he put in a strong performance from the bench. Never once did I think that he wouldn't be on the plane to Germany. The fact that Marcus Rashford and James Maddison will also stay at home shows the strength in depth at England's disposal.

Euro 2024 feels like the tournament that England have to win, particularly after a culmination of near misses. Gareth Southgate came close at the World Cup in 2018, and even closer at the last Euros. That tournament really captured the nation, possibly more than it ever has. The green shoots of recovery from a pandemic that had disrupted and plagued our lives was under way, with international football becoming a vehicle for millions of people to channel their new found hope and freedom. We were a penalty shootout away from achieving our dreams that fateful night against the Italians at Wembley. This time around though, the expectations are at heights never seen before at the start of a tournament. England are always amongst a batch of footballing powerhouses that are expected to do well on the biggest of international stages. This time around though, it feels slightly different. Can we banish the ghosts of the past? Bury my own international tournament demons? Like David Beckham, Michael Owen and Wayne Rooney before him, Jude Bellingham is the great new beacon of hope. We have captain and talisman Harry Kane entering the Euros after a stellar personal campaign in Munich. We have a national team manager determined to achieve what only Sir Alf Ramsey has done before him; deliver a trophy to the nation. It would be a special achievement.

Can the players deliver? Can Gareth Southgate deliver? England no longer hopes in 2024. England expects. 

Women's Championship - It's Still A Season To Remember

After something of a roller-coaster of a season, sadly, it wasn't meant to be for the lasses as their promotion dreams were dashed after losing 1-0 at home to Charlton Athletic on Sunday. To be even typing a sentence of that nature shows that, if we're absolutely honest, this season has massively exceeded all expectations.

With Crystal Palace winning at Lewes, they are all but up due to a hugely superior goal difference over Charlton. If Sunderland can win next week at Palace, a tough ask I realise, then they will secure second place should the Addicks fail to beat Southampton. That in itself, would be a massive achievement. The fact that there are no playoffs and only one promotion place up for grabs is a bit of a bone of contention for me and really needs looking at by the powers that be, but that is a debate for another time.

The players and staff warrant an enormous amount of credit for the way they have gone about their business during this campaign. It may not feel like it now, but it will make Mel Reay and this group much stronger when going into next season. The squad doesn't need major surgery, just a few additions to add strength in depth, and if those signings prove to be good ones, then Sunderland really can go on and win promotion to the Super League at the climax of the 2024/25 season. The league itself will look strong, with Bristol City looking likely to be relegated and there will of course be two derbies with Durham. Charlton and Southampton will be forces once again, and then there's the small matter of another North-East team that will be plying their trade in the second tier. I can't quite think who that might be, can you?

In the end, promotion has proved one step too far, but that does not mean that this season has been a failure. Far from it. The recruitment of players has been a fantastic plus for the club, and when we couple that with the hybrid model that has been implemented with a lot of players going full time, the fruits of that are plain to see. Claudia Moan is arguably the best keeper in the league and is a popular pick for Sunderland's player of the season. Tash Fenton would get my vote. She rarely puts a foot wrong and has been a key player for the lasses this season. Jenna Dear and Mary McAteer have been great additions and Emily Scarr's progression is there for all to see. In terms of the depth of the squad, that may well have hindered Sunderland at times this season, but the flip side of that is there are a batch of very talented young players waiting in the wings to try and force their way into a regular starting spot. Marry that nucleus together with three or four established players and Sunderland will certainly be there or thereabouts for promotion again next season. What the lasses have achieved this season will only naturally, raise expectations.

The end of the season also marks the end of Grace McCatty's football career as the 34 year old has taken the decision to retire from the game after spending six seasons on Wearside, making 111 appearances for the lasses in that time. Speaking to safc.com just prior to Sunday's game against Charlton, when announcing the decision, Grace said:

"It's not been an easy decision. I was saying to the girls that I joined my first football team in 1994, if you had told me back then what I know now and the experiences I'd gone through, I couldn't have asked for more in my career. 

The first time I spoke to Mel about coming to Sunderland, I said I wanted to play a part in getting the club back to where it belongs. Here we are six years later so close to achieving that and I feel like it's a good time to go out.

I'm proud of what I have achieved and while it's hard to say goodbye, I think it's time for the next chapter."

Whatever Grace chooses to do after hanging up her boots, I'm sure it goes without saying that everyone connected to SAFC wishes her all the very best for the future.

'Well, where did that come from?'

Well, where did that come from?

Sunderland produced their best performance for some time in the Welsh capital, as they brushed aside a Cardiff City side with two first half goals. The win, and a very welcome three points, ended a dismal run of form and finally allays any minor doubts of an unthinkable slide towards the bottom three. In truth, given the quality our squad possesses, that was always going to be unlikely. Our victory is the first since a 3-1 home win over Plymouth Argyle on 10th February.

As for the match itself, the opening exchanges in Wales were a little concerning, but once we had settled into the game, there only really looked like one winner. The penalty was a contentious one, and if it had been given against us, well, I'd have been disappointed to say the least. We should have had one at home to Leicester after Dan Ballard was fouled in stoppage time, but I guess it is a hell of a lot easier to point to the spot in the 12th minute of a game as opposed to the 90th. They say these things even themselves out over a season, though sometimes it doesn't feel like it. With talisman and regular penalty taker Jack Clarke still sidelined through injury, Adil Aouchiche took responsibility and smashed the ball home to put Sunderland 1-0 up. Fifteen minutes later, he teed up Jobe Bellingham who slotted in his 7th goal of the campaign. Jobe made the kind of run into the box that our forwards haven't been making at all this season, and Aouchiche picked him out nicely, giving Cardiff a mountain to climb at that stage.

I said after the QPR game that Aouchiche needed to start as many of the remaining fixtures as possible, and it looks like he has repaid Mike Dodds' faith in him with two good performances, particularly this latest one. It has taken him a long time to recover from being hung out to dry by Michael Beale at Ipswich, but now he is starting to show glimpses of the player we thought we were getting in the summer. The talent has never been in question, rather more an issue with consistency, and I think with a good pre-season under his belt, Adil will be a big player for us next season.

Jobe Bellingham needs a special mention also, as I feel he lead the line exceptionally well at Cardiff. We know he has done it before, but this was probably his best performance in the centre forward's role in his time at Sunderland. He got two good goals against Rotherham at the beginning of the season, and was unlucky not to bag four that day, but this latest shift in a Sunderland shirt showed maturity beyond his years. It is a huge ask for any player, let alone one of such a young age, to play as a deep lying midfielder, occasionally a little further forward, in behind the striker, as a false nine or as a centre-forward, all in one season, but Jobe has done all of that already and never looked out of place. Yes, his form has dipped, but that happens with young players. In fact, it happens with most players. He said in his post match interview that he "isn't arsed where he plays, as long as it's in red and white" which I thought was brilliant. He is young, but he has a mature head on his shoulders. The way he conducts himself off the pitch as well as on it is testament to how he has been brought up. His older brother Jude is the same. It will be a big season for Jobe next season and I'm extremely excited to see what it brings.

Mike Dodds used the phrase "professional performance" on more than one occasion during his post match interview at Cardiff. I completely understand what he was getting at, but I think he was doing his players a slight disservice. Yes, they were professional in the way that they stuck to the game plan and took on board the information that the coaching staff had given them prior to kick off, particularly the threat Cardiff posed from set pieces, which we dealt with admirably. It has been our achilles heel for as long as I can remember. 

I thought the players showed real maturity for the way they approached what has always been a difficult Championship fixture to navigate. The back four looked solid, and kept a second clean sheet in a row. A special mention has to go to Dan Neil; I thought he was outstanding in the centre of the park. Neil divides opinion with our fan base; and sometimes I struggle to understand why. It is vital we keep hold of him this summer, but with more performances like this, it will be increasingly difficult to do so.

There are seven fixtures remaining and with the play offs almost certainly out of reach, Sunderland will be looking to end the season as strongly as possible and pick up as many points as we can. Patrick Roberts was back on the bench at Cardiff, and there was a cameo appearance from Bradley Dack also. I'd love to see young winger Tommy Watson accumulate some first team minutes this season to see what he can do at Championship level, and Mike Dodds has alluded to the fact that this may well be on the cards. Also, I think it goes without saying, that we'd all like to see Hemir grab his first goal in red and white. He had a great chance to do so at Cardiff, but sadly fluffed his lines. It will come, and when it does, it will be a huge weight off his shoulders. It is something I'd love to see, particularly if he can do it at the Stadium of Light in front of 40,000 supporters.

The season isn't over, and with seven games to go, we'll obviously try and win as many of them as we can before we take stock and analyze the season as a whole. We're certainly not a million miles away from where we want to be, and this summer will be key to realising our long term ambitions.

I'm doing 100 push-ups a day throughout April to help raise money for Cancer Research UK. The link to donate is below; let's see if I can get to my £100 target, helping to fund lifesaving research for what is a fantastic charity to support. 

https://fundraise.cancerresearchuk.org/page/michaels-giving-page-2298707677543336890985297393958721898321889952299822226899750

Nine To Go And The Pressure Is On

If you were one of the hardy souls that made the mammoth trip to Southampton on Saturday, then I salute you. It is some trek, and what was served up in the first half was as bad as we’ve seen this season. Individual mistakes have cost us once again. 

Against Saints, we looked weak, passive and bereft of any confidence or leadership; which has become a familiar theme. It’s a young team I get it; but it doesn’t look like it takes much for heads to drop at the moment. The striker situation appears to be getting worse not better, and where was the inquest for the first goal? Between Hume and Jobe, surely they can deal with that relatively simple ball into the box? By leaving it, the ball would have harmlessly gone out for a goal kick. We gave away a needless penalty, which shouldn’t have stood but it probably wouldn’t have made any difference to the overall outcome of the game. Trai Hume is five yards deeper than the rest of our defence for goal number three, which is yet another individual mistake. We got ourselves back into the game through two long range strikes; Jobe’s is arguably our goal of the season, but ultimately, we came away with no points for the sixth game in a row, which is simply unacceptable. 

This dire run of form and results has led to many supporters looking towards the bottom of the league with real concern. We sit on 47 points with only nine games to play. I’ve done a little bit of research into recent Championship 22nd place finishes, just to see exactly how many points took clubs down into the third tier in those campaigns. The stats for the past five seasons are as below:

22/23 - Reading 44 points.

21/22 - Peterborough 37 points.

20/21 - Wycombe 43 points.

19/20 - Charlton 48 points.

18/19 - Rotherham 40 points.

The last two seasons have been skewed slightly by points deductions for both Reading and Derby. The 48 points Charlton amassed in 19/20 concerns me slightly, but surely we can’t be sucked deep into the relegation mire? Only Sunderland could fight for a play-off spot, seem like finishing in mid-table and also find themselves looking over their shoulder at the relegation places, all in the same season. The 5-0 win over Southampton feels like years ago. It really is never straightforward following SAFC.

What comes next is a huge game on Saturday at home to QPR. The pressure will be on for both clubs. Rangers have long been in the relegation mire this season, but should they take all three points on Wearside, they will only be five points behind Sunderland. With a mounting injury list, including Dan Ballard being a huge doubt for the game, we are getting down to the bare bones defensively. A back four of Trai Hume, Jenson Seelt, Leo Hjelde and Callum Styles would have a huge task in front of them to keep out a QPR side that have won three of their last four away games. Styles and Patterson would become the oldest players in the XI at the age of 23, and that looks like a huge concern. 

Looking at the final nine games, I would expect Sunderland to get the 4-6 points they need to ensure that the unthinkable doesn’t happen. Also, the bottom sides would have to put excellent runs together to draw us in. Rotherham are as good as gone, so two relegation places remain. I’m confident we will be more than fine. 

Put simply, Sunderland need two wins, and need them fast. Two of the next three are at home, and those games are against QPR and Blackburn. Sandwiched in the middle is a trip to play-off chasing Cardiff City. If we could take four points from those three matches, we could end any fears of relegation. Six would be great. To lose all three would be incomprehensible and devastating. 

MIke Dodds, his staff and the players have to find a way to win on Saturday, and end our dismal run of defeats. I read it is the first time we’ve suffered six straight league defeats since 2013, and that was in the Premier League. 

A season of promise has petered out, and some of the decisions that have been made both on and off the pitch, will continue to be heavily scrutinised by our supporters, me included, but that is all for another day. Undoubtedly I’ll dissect the season in its entirety when it’s all over. At the moment, it isn’t. We are playing for points for an altogether different reason at the moment. We need to ease the growing pressure on Wearside. I think we will, and obviously, we need to do it sooner rather than later.