On Saturday, Régis Le Bris showed proper respect to the FA Cup competition. The hectic Christmas period, combined with the absence of the AFCON players, has placed a massive strain on the first-team squad. Spaces opened up on the bench, and it was good to see the likes of Timur Tutierov getting some exposure to match days around the senior squad. But the game against Tottenham was difficult, and Brentford proved to be a bridge too far.
Despite that, Le Bris named a strong starting XI. It was probably
a disappointment for Anthony Patterson that he wasn’t given an opportunity in the competition, but it was a decision that was comprehensively justified as Robin Roefs delivered the perfect goalkeeping penalty-shootout masterclass.
In midfield, I think Granit Xhaka would have taken the field even if he hadn’t been selected, so there was no chance that Le Bris would leave him out, and Noah Sadiki showed exactly why he has become so vital to this team and what we have been missing. Enzo Le Fée delivered the perfect response to the Brentford game with a beautifully curled strike to give us the lead before showing real character to strike an emphatic first penalty in the shootout.
Up front, Eli Mayenda started with Simon Adingra shifting to the right wing while Romaine Mundle started on the left. I hope it was a statement of Le Bris’ faith in Mayenda – the young Spaniard is looking stronger and stronger, and his awareness created Le Fée’s goal. There has been some criticism of Mundle, which is unwarranted in my view – he missed a large portion of the first part of the season through injury and is trying to play catch-up whilst simultaneously adjusting to the pace of the Premier League. I love his fighting attitude and his defensive work, and I am sure there is a top-level player in there. Whatever links there may be to loans for him, I would like to see him finish the season with this squad.
But it was the inclusion of Luke O’Nien in the back four that prompted me to write this. If you are a Sunderland supporter and it doesn’t warm your heart seeing that lad lining up for us against top-class opposition, something is missing in your life.
From being hooked at half-time on his debut to being written off as not good enough for League One/the Championship/the Premier League (delete as applicable), the bloke just keeps proving the doubters wrong. Yes, there will always be the potential for the 8-minute red card against Manchester City, but that’s Luke!
More than that, if Granit Xhaka is the heartbeat of the team, O’Nien is just as much the heartbeat of the squad. Watch him on the touchline on matchdays – he is kicking every ball, encouraging and cajoling, constantly supporting those on the field.
Some of our more recent acquisitions have talked about the influence he has on helping them settle in, as have some of the youngsters about the example he has set for them when he has turned out for the Under-21s and the attitude that he embodies. He may not be the most naturally talented footballer, but you cannot question his work ethic and professionalism. He is undoubtedly the best “clubman” we have had since Kevin Ball.
So to see him line up from the start and deal comfortably with what was admittedly one of the least capable Premier League attacks we have encountered before dispatching the winning penalty was a proper “feelgood” occasion.
He played it simple, there were none of the raking crossfield passes that we saw him deliver in the Championship. He was disciplined and did the job required of him with no hint of a yellow card, kissing an opponent or hitching a piggyback. Instead, he spent Saturday lunchtime just quietly bullying a £30 million 6’4” striker.
And when it came to penalties? Of course, he stepped up as everyone knew he would and smashed it home to win the tie.
We have had more than our share of mercenaries in recent years picking up a paycheque without ever buying into what being part of this club means. That is an accusation that can never be levelled at Luke O’Nien. And it was borne out in his comments to the media – he won’t be going anywhere in the transfer window. Just like Niall Quinn, this club has got under his skin.
Modern Premier League football is a cut-throat business with little room for sentiment. But it would be a far poorer place if there were no room for stories like Luke O’Nien’s.
