When I put my name on the rota to write this particular edition of Musings, I certainly wasn’t expecting to be reflecting on a game that featured eight goals, some brilliant attacking play, several defensive howlers and the first Sunderland hat-trick at Premier League level for a decade.
However, as we head into the international break after an opening swing of league games that’ve ended in mediocre results, if not wholly disappointing performances, it’s safe to say that Régis Le Bris’ side is in a state
of evolution and that we should perhaps expect the unexpected as a result.
This was no cruise for City; no stress-free Sunday at the coalface. We went there for a game and boy, did we give them one.
Sunderland were ballsy, resilient and more than up for what turned out to be an utterly enthralling game, but for every slick move, there was a defensive error. For all of the desire to make them earn their victory as opposed to subsiding limply, there were traces of naivety and a lack of clear thinking that need to be sorted out — or at least addressed satisfactorily — when we resume in October.
In some ways, this was like watching a rugby team famed for its powerful scrum and brute force suddenly deciding to fling the ball around like Fiji’s legendary Sevens team, so perhaps the lesson from this game reads thus:
“Want to become a more dangerous attacking side? Go for it, but don’t neglect the defensive side of the game and don’t allow sloppy errors to undermine your efforts”.
It may be a little irritating in the short term, but all sides go through such phases, and it’s the teams that can accept such setbacks with 100% professionalism that use them as a springboard for improvement.
On the other hand, it would be remiss to overlook the attacking brilliance that the Lads exhibited at various stages of this Etihad extravaganza. In many ways, it was a most un-Le Bris-like display, but if the gaffer and his staff and players can make use of the good stuff and gradually ease out the bad, perhaps it’ll be worthwhile as we seek to get our season up and running in three weeks.
Despite the outcome, there was certainly a lot to like about this display.
Brobbey owed his hat trick in no small part to the brilliance of Enzo Le Fée, whose vision, mastery of the weight of a pass and sheer awareness in tight spaces eventually helped the Dutchman to two well-taken goals before he completed a memorable display with a second-half tap-in, and Nilson Angulo — perhaps surprisingly picked over Malick Fofana — showed no fear on his first visit to this stadium, either.
Collectively, there was no lack of willingness from the Lads to embark on enterprising runs and lively breaks into the City half, but despite Brobbey exploding in front of goal for the first time this season, attempts to play out from the back when simply clearing our lines would’ve been the wiser option proved our undoing — and the defensive solidity that’s defined this side for so long also wasn’t there to a sufficient degree.
Dayann Methalie, pitched into the starting eleven in the absence of Reinildo, looked solid enough if a little over-eager at times, but this wasn’t the best of days for Robin Roefs and there’s little doubt that we need to nip any such defensive habits in the bud fairly sharpish if we want to start climbing the table.
Everyone can see the potential within this group. Unlocking it may be slightly trickier than many hope, and the concerns about Granit Xhaka’s fitness, if not his influence, won’t have been eased by another scratchy performance from the Swiss international.
Results-wise, it’s been an underwhelming start to the 2026/2027 Premier League season.
Performance-wise, it’s been far more encouraging, and just as Wednesday evening’s victory over AZ Alkmaar ensured that our European campaign got off to a positive start, this suitably surreal clash with a side that’ll certainly fancy its chances of dethroning Arsenal this season proved once again that Sunderland are an exciting, highly watchable side.
We just need to channel the good stuff, eradicate the bad, find ways to get the best out of Brobbey and ensure that the aggression at the back that played a huge role in last season’s seventh-place finish isn’t lost in the shuffle.
Plenty to ponder for Le Bris during the break. And given the man’s level of attention to detail, you just know that’s something he’ll relish. Interesting times to come!
20 September 2026
Premier League
Etihad Stadium
Manchester City: 5 (Fernández 9’, Cherki 29’, Semenyo 43’, 57’, Haaland 81’)
Sunderland: 3 (Brobbey 12’, 33’, 59’)
Manchester City: Donnarumma; Nunes, Dias, Guéhi; Gvardiol, Anderson, Fernández; Ndiaye, Cherki (O’Reilly 85’), Semenyo (Doku 75’); Haaland
Subs Not Used: Rulli, Khusanov, Lewis, Ait-Nouri, Bouaddi, Kovačić, Allan
Sunderland: Roefs; Meunier (Hume 79’), Ballard, Mukiele; Danso, Methalie, Xhaka; Sadiki (Isidor 68’), Le Fée, Angulo (Fofana 60’); Brobbey
Subs Not Used: Ellborg, Alderete, O’Nien, Ahoka, Rigg, Talbi
