Well, what a week it’s been.
As much as I dislike them, it feels like we could do with a three week break after the last nine days or so because the Lads have taken us on a bit of an emotional rollercoaster.
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We could see on paper that it was always going to be three huge games when the fixture gods placed Arsenal and Manchester City either side of our return to European competition after half a century, but I doubt most of us would have predicted the ride it turned out to be.
After the Arsenal game last weekend, we knew we’d taken the current champions all the way and on another day we’d have taken at least a point from the game. Who knows what would have happened had the penalty been scored, but at the time the momentum was with us and Arteta’s side were second best.
That performance however, provided a platform to go into a night that was utterly historic. How historic might depend on what happens over the next few years, but I suspect we’ll all remember Sunderland‘s first European night at the Stadium of Light.
The atmosphere was incredible and something we’ll never forget. Emotions and the volume were both high, but that brings a certain pressure with it and the players once again met the challenge head on. It was the tale of another penalty, but this time it went the right way to give us the win against an impressive AZ Alkmaar.
It shouldn’t be underestimated the physical and mental effort that went into the performances in those two games. Arsenal was a physical bruising encounter that the players would have been hurting from, physically and mentally. Their effort deserved something from the game.
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Then in an atmosphere on Wednesday night that quite often results in players allowing emotions to rule their head, we had to be clever to overcome an AZ Alkmaar side whose movement early on caused us problems.
The Lads were able to adapt and overcome a technical opponent by staying cool while under the pressure of expectation of avoiding a defeat when history weighed heavily. We were brilliant and deservedly took the first three points of our Europa League campaign.
Then came the final part of the trilogy. A trip to a stadium Sunderland had never won before, and after the two games that came before, we just hoped that we’d give them a game – and the Lads did just that and more.
Time after time I end up finding myself say how proud I am of this team, and yesterday was another to add to that list. We went after City from the off and at times they didn’t know what hit them. To visit one of the best sides in Europe and go toe-to-toe on their own patch takes some b*llocks – but for periods of the game we were the better side.
Aye, we could go through little bits here and there of things we could have done better. We could analyse the goals and identify where they might have been avoided – and nobody will do this more than Regis Le Bris – but the bravery it takes to go at that City side shouldn’t be underestimated.
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We might taken zero points from a possible six either side of Wednesday but I’m so proud of the Lads for the shift they’ve put into those three fixtures.
A lot has been said in the early fixtures about our forward play, but as long as we keep creating chances the goals will come.
I remember in the inaugural season at the Stadium of Light as Peter Reid’s side didn’t start the season well, but we were just not finishing the chances we created, which meant we weren’t getting the results as a consequence. Every week, Reidy would say he would only be worried if we stopped creating the chances as the goals would come otherwise – and he was proved to be right.
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This is how I feel about the current season. We created a load of chances against Brentford, Arsenal and AZ Alkmaar and we took that into the performance at the Etihad, and not many sides will score three there this season.
Of those three goals, it was the first two that gave me the most pleasure in terms of what might be to come this season. The first was something we haven’t done enough of.
Enzo Le Fee picking up the ball, turning and then looking for Brian Brobbey, who is waiting on the shoulder of the defender to be played in. An inch perfect pass followed by a great finish and the ball is in the back of the net – sometimes football looks so simple.
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It was similar with our second goal where we tore City apart and it’s these type of things that get me excited for the season ahead.
And a final word on this goes to Brian Brobbey. He scored a hat-trick, he held it up when we needed it, he won free-kicks (only when it was obvious to the referee), he won possession at times when he had no right to win the ball, he brought others into play and he took a battering from the City defence – I doubt there was a better all-round performance from a striker anywhere in Europe this weekend.
In the build up to the game, we debated whether or not Le Bris would throw in Dayann Methalie to replace Reinildo at the Etihad, but he did and he looks some player.
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Looks impressive going forward and, apart from maybe their opening goal where he was potentially a little eager to get to the ball first, he was solid at the back. If he carries on at this rate he’ll be a cracking signing.
In the second half he was joined by Malik Fofana who replace Nilson Angulo seconds after he had laid Brobbey’s third goal to him on a plate. First off, it has to be said that Angulo had a very good game, and improves every time he takes to the pitch for us, but Fofana seemed to click quickly with Methalie.
Not long after Fofana had replaced Angulo, there was a move down our left where our two new signings carved City open and I’m looking forward to seeing those two get fully up to speed.
When you consider the potential partnership between those two, then add the improvement of Angulo, the ongoing brilliance of Le Fee and Brobbey getting amongst the goals, I can’t wait for it all to get started again.
