The Opposition View: Sunderland
Jack May speaks to 'What The Falk' Podcast ahead of Saturday's match.
Four games in and Sunderland have surprised themselves. They find themselves sitting pretty at the top of the league, with 4 wins from 4. This Saturday they make the long old poke down to Plymouth to take on Wayne Rooney’s boys in green, who are perhaps slightly less surprised to find themselves sitting not quite so pretty in 22nd with no wins from 4.
This week we spoke to What The Falk Podcast to discuss flying starts, stop starts, and why none of these stats really mean a thing come kickoff.
Safe to say you’re off to a bit of a flying start. Sitting top of the league, 4 wins from 4, 10 goals scored with only 1 conceded. Is this the start you expected?
I can't say it was. We REALLY tailed off last season, and it was genuinely very worrying. Add in that we had only won something like two in 13 last year. I think we all knew we were capable of a good start, but considering our first two home games were tough and we had a newly promoted side away from home early on, we'd probably have taken seven points before the season started. But these first four games have set a precedent. We haven't just won them, we've deservedly won them.
Before a ball was kicked, how were you expecting this season to go? And how are you expecting it to go now?
I think I had us in the 8th, and that was a bit of a shot in the dark. Anyone can win the championship, in my honest opinion. It's the only division where the bottom team can beat the top team 4-1 and it barely registers. Consistency is what it is all about. If we make it five wins on the spin at the weekend, you'd have to say it would be hugely disappointing if we didn't capitalise and not at least make the playoffs come May.
7 seasons away from the Premier League now. Could this be the year? Do you think you’re ready for a return to the top flight?
It's probably a little too early to tell, despite our start. You'd hope so? I don't really miss the Premier League, but it's exactly where a club of our size belongs, in my opinion. That said, are we ready? God. I dunno really. It's a different world innit?
After back to back relegations in 16/17 and 17/18, you had some solid finishes in League One before getting promoted back to the championship. A 6th place finish in 22/23 and then 16th last term. It’s all very up and down. Does it look like the ship is going to be steadied any time soon?
It wasn't as up and down as it seemed. It was largely double relegation followed by the shit tip that was League One. God, it left me with PTSD. Once we got one a decent run in League One, though, we were like a train up until Mowbray was sacked. Look, the board made so many mistakes after that. On the pitch, the biggest two are appointing Futsal Micky (Michael Beale) and some really poor recruitment, in my opinion. They had a chance to fix that this summer, even though some fans' patience was wearing thin, and so far, they've managed to put more fuel into the train - now we just need it to, hopefully, continue without any further delays. But this is the UK after all. There’ll probably be delays.
You sacked Michael Beale in February after 12 games. Caretaker Mike Dodds then oversaw eight losses in thirteen. Regis Le Bris comes in and you’re firing on all cylinders. What was the initial fan reaction when you brought him in?
Last season became a massive mess. A mess many were worried could happen if Mowbray was sacked. I can't even begin to tell you my distain for Michael Beale (or talent__id on X). It took 120 days from him being sacked to appoint RLB. There was some real anger building over how long it took and real scepticism over whether he was first choice. It was pretty documented that we'd flirted with Will Still for far too long, and while their seemed to be eye contact from William, it turned out he was actually more into RC Lens and so he stopped replying to our texts. So, RLB had been relegated with Lorient, took ages to be appointed, and didn't feel like first choice. That said, everyone was immediately behind him, and we were largely relieved that we knew who was in charge. Initial impressions? Will Still can continue speaking to J**e Humphrey on High Performance, and we'll have the lovely little French bloke, with his arms folded and inability to wave at fans when asked. He's ace.
What do you think now? Is he the chosen one?
I hope he's the chosen one. But it's four games in. Anything can happen. But based on the first four games, he may be the biggest and best thing to come out of France since Victor Wembanyama.
Did you have much business in the transfer window? Any exciting comings and goings?
We did. We brought in Alan Browne from Preston and a few others. Browne was the key one, though. A big reason we struggled last season was lack of direction on and off the pitch. We had no experienced pro in the middle keeping things calm, and he's already added that. We brought in four players on deadline day who I know little about, but all seem to have good pedigree. There's a new striker called Wilson Isidor, too, who seems crackers. I have no idea if he's good, though. Hopefully, he's brilliant.
Where do you think you can cause us some problems on Saturday?
Our midfield is playing incredible at the moment. Jobe (18) and Chris Rigg (17) have such high ceilings, and one of Dan Neil or Alan Browne compliment them fantastically. Rigg is just such a wonderful footballer. He's been linked to Dortmund and Real Madrid this week. So yeah...a case of let's enjoy him while he's here. Romaine Mundle and Patrick Roberts have started the season very, very well and Dennis Cirkin is like a new signing. We're due a shitter of a performance, but we've honestly been class in the opening four games.
What about weak areas? Where should we be looking to exploit?
Weakness? On the first four games, I can't level many, if any, but we definitely do have some. We have a very young and exciting squad, but when shit hit the fan last year, it all went a bit pear-shaped. We have an actual manager now, and more experience, so you'd hope that won't be the case this year. It feels weird to pick this part out after scoring 10 goals in four games, but Isidor has only just signed, and the other striker, Elizier Mayenda, is still very young and raw. He didn't score a goal for us last year but has two goals and four assists already and looks a different player to what we saw last year, but he's still very, very young.
What’s your view on an away day in Plymouth right now? Must win? Should win? Would take a draw?
Why, oh why, did you appoint Wayne Rooney, you absolute lunatics? I'm gobsmacked you appointed him to be honest. That said, your goalkeeper is knackered, you are desperate for a win under him, we are top and absolutely flying - the script of Plymouth 1-0 Sunderland sort of writes itself doesn't it? I I think it's a tough game, they all are. We have to look at it as another chance to get three points based on the starts both sides have had, but you are desperate for a win and that means we'll be up against a team with a point to prove. So yeah, tough.
Score prediction?
I felt like we battered you last year and got beat 2-0. Then, I felt like you were better at the SOL, and we won 3-1. I can't not back us based on current form, so 2-1 Sunderland, but I have a sneaky suspicion that this might be tighter than the league positions would suggest.