Without sounding like a broken record, it’s a hell of a time to be a Sunderland fan. A third international break of the season is annoying as it stops us from being able to watch the red and white wizards
in action, which, considering we’re unbeaten in four and have just one loss in nine games, is hard to experience. We have come up to the Premier League and surprised a lot of teams so far, with the gutsy effort in the 2-2 draw against Arsenal being the latest example. Many Arsenal fans were complimentary of our performance, saying that we were the toughest team they’ve played so far this season, which, considering they’ve played Liverpool, Man City, and Atletico Madrid, is high praise indeed. In the 11 games so far this season, it’s often been said of Sunderland that we don’t look like a newly promoted team. This is probably one of the hardest things for a newly promoted team to achieve: to not crumble under the first signs of pressure in what is one of the best leagues in the world.
Other than the odd period here and there, we’ve looked right at home and sitting 4th in the Premier League with almost a third of the season ticked off, it feels as though the club is aiming for the next level and looking up rather than down.
We signed players with lots of top-flight and European experience in the summer, but before a ball was kicked, there was still some trepidation as to how everything would click together. Each week that has rolled by has brought learning curves for a side that was gelled together in double quick time.
They say that in football, you learn more from the games you don’t win, and Regis Le Bris is a head coach who has proven he can adapt quickly in the top flight. More importantly, there are plenty of games that have shown he can adapt mid-game, with the Everton match being a prime example of changing things up to get us back on the front foot and earn a point.
We have been a tough team for a lot of clubs already this season, and this will hopefully continue as we head towards a busy festive period. We’ve been bold off the pitch with transfers and on it with a brave style of play.
The upcoming January transfer window brings the chance for our club to show everyone what it thinks it can achieve this season. The early rumours, particularly around former Arsenal and current Lazio midfielder Mattéo Guendouzi, suggest what we’ve been led to believe by the hierarchy at SAFC: That a top 10 finish is in their mindset.
One or two players of this calibre to complement the quality already at the club, and there is no telling what our first year back in the Premier League could look like. We’ve got people in our club who are keeping standards and effort at a high level, and this mentality will stand us in good stead if we do hit a poor run. At the moment, however, it’s hard not to look across the league and think we’ve got at all to fear. Navigate a tough December and make a couple of additions in January, and all of a sudden, anything is possible.
