Yesterday’s match was a rarity for me: a pre-season game that looked to have something approaching an actual atmosphere.
I wasn’t overly fussed about the Lads’ North American tour.
I’m pleased it all went well but sinking $25 Michelob Lights with a side of grits in the PricewaterhouseCoopers THUNDERDOME isn’t my idea of fun. Knocking the froth off a few Saint-Omers in glorious sunshine, however? Yes, please. Incredibly jealous of all the lovely lads and lasses out there, and a comfortable 2-0 win was
just the cherry on top for them all. Santé!
Even with all the usual caveats around pre-season friendlies — “Results don’t matter”, “It’s about fitness”, etc, etc — I feel yesterday’s friendly was as close to being important as you can get this time of year.
Lens have been a consistently strong side for a number of years and are looking to retain their title of “Best Of The Rest After PSG” as well as having a Champions League campaign ahead of them.
They’re no mugs, as the old adage goes, and a strong Sunderland side (more on this later), Granit Xhaka’s first run-out and a packed Stade Bollaert-Delelis added on extra layers of intrigue to the fixture.
Maybe that sense of importance rubbed off on the players too as we were at it straight from kick-off.
Our pressing throughout the game in particular was a delight to watch. We largely controlled the first half without being dominant and, while it looked like we still had gears to move up through, Lens barely landed a punch.
Xhaka was Xhaka, Brian Brobbey was Brobbey and Trai Hume was Hume, including a gorgeous volley that left the crossbar quaking like Lewis Hall. Just lovely lads, aren’t they? Thomas Meunier looked very accomplished, which you’d expect, and was unlucky to have his header chalked off.
After their subdued first half, Lens stepped it up after the break and it took us a little while to settle after Xhaka and Meunier went off, although we never looked anything other than comfortable at the back.
Robin Roefs didn’t have a save to make until after the seventieth minute. We probably did lack something going forward so Régis Le Bris turned to Chris Rigg and Wilson Isidor, and it was this second round of subs that sealed the game.
Rigg continued his fine pre-season and just looks like the real deal the more you see of him. A lovely assist for Hume and a key role in creating the second for Isidor, and it just feels a huge season is ahead for Sunderland’s favourite son.
Always lovely to see Isidor on the scoresheet and Le Bris was very firm afterwards in shutting down any talk of a move away which was nice to see. Isidor, to me, just feels like a Europa League striker and I can’t wait to see whether that plays out or whether I’m just chatting shite again.
Depending on Nordi Mukiele’s availability, that’ll likely be our starting XI for Ipswich in a couple of weeks and I’m absolutely fine if that’s the case.
There’s obviously been a little bit of noise around the club’s perceived inactivity in the transfer window. I would say I’m probably calmer than most about this, the club have very much earned that trust, however I’d be lying if I claimed a few small niggles hadn’t started to creep in. Seeing the line-up yesterday and watching them go about their business, however, was the perfect antidote.
Given how monumental last season was, it feels odd that I’d momentarily forgotten how fucking class the Lads are. If we can’t find value until later in the window and have to crack on for a few weeks with the XI that finished seventh and stuffed the Mags twice, so be it.
All in all, a hugely successful day at the office — although I did come away with one minor concern.
Watching Big Dan Ballard throw every fibre of his being towards any potential sign of danger is a joy; however, it does bring to mind the likelihood of him and Omar Alderete picking up niggly injuries here and there throughout the season and perhaps increases the need for defensive reinforcements more than I’d appreciated.
I’d normally try to end on a positive but, seeing as I’ve somehow talked myself into a negative space, I might as well go all in: the pink strip is crap.
Love the link up, loved the roll-out and love the idea of a man eating a load of burgers and dying on the toilet, but the actual kit? Rubbish. Just really hope we get to wear our home kit for the Europa League final.
