I’m at my desk staring on the Premier League desk and nonetheless fearing that what’s in entrance of me is a few merciless mirage conjured by AI to mess with my head.
To be sitting ninth within the desk after seven matches on their return to the highest flight with the document of the earlier promoted groups being so wretched, and with virtually common predictions that this season the three promoted groups could be plunging down the identical sink gap, makes the present situation all of the extra satisfying.
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I received’t draw back from the very fact the opening fixtures have been comparatively benign within the sense they’ve largely been groups who’re in transition both with managers underneath hearth or having did not do the enterprise they might have hoped within the switch window. I might counter that with Sunderland can solely play what’s in entrance of them and to that finish they’ve remained largely disciplined and constant.
They’ve ridden their luck on events however there’s the argument you make your personal luck. They’ve come up trumps in recruitment phrases, led by the signing of Granit Xhaka who has proved why the membership have been so pushed to signal him and why Kyril Louis-Dreyfus personally turned concerned in a bid to seal the deal.
However going past Xhaka, Mukiele, Sadiki, Diarra, Alderete and Adingra have all demonstrated their pedigrees and what an impressed signing Robin Roefs has turned to to be. Let’s not pass over Chemsdine Talbi who whereas nonetheless a comparatively uncooked expertise has proven a willpower and skill which might solely get higher and higher.
One in all course has to really feel for the gamers who received promotion final season and who’ve missed out on recreation time however Regis Le Bris could be the primary to say there is no such thing as a room for sentiment at this degree with the stakes so excessive. Trai Hume, Dan Ballard and Chris Rigg have all stepped as much as the plate and there have been flashed from Eliezer Mayenda which trace at a vivid future.
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND – OCTOBER 4: Granit Xhaka of Sunderland throughout the Premier League match between Manchester United and Sunderland at Previous Trafford on October 4, 2025 in Manchester, England. (Picture by Shaun Brooks – CameraSport by way of Getty Photographs)
Wilson Isidor and Enzo Le Charge demonstrated what they might convey to the desk final season and are unquestionably Premier League high quality. Add to the this combine the refreshing enthusiasm of the brand new recruits most, if not all, of whom communicate glorious English. Sadiki speaks 4 languages and Mukiele solely realized English … AND German final yr.
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The statistic which maybe offers us extra hope than any that Sunderland will keep away from the drop is that which states the fifteen golf equipment who’ve reached eleven factors (or extra) after six matches have all stayed up.
The African Cup of countries after all stays of concern however the defence will stay largely intact as will the ahead line. In midfield those that have been wanting their alternative comparable to Dan Neil will likely get recreation time. There isn’t a lack of versatility within the squad which may show invaluable in the approaching months and there’s unquestionably a drive and willpower solid final season which has rolled into this which the brand new gamers have embraced.
It’s a pleasure watching this staff and the best way it’s rising within the Premier League.
At Previous Trafford when the system was modified to convey Dan Ballard on Sunderland didn’t look out of their depth. Challenges for certain lie forward with the likes of Arsenal, Manchester Metropolis and shortly Chelsea to return however this staff will embrace the problem not worry it.
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Granit Xhaka leads by instance. Granit by title granite by nature. Regis Le Bris oversees with a magisterial humbleness laced with willpower and ambition. Will Sunderland keep up ? … can they keep up ? … “I don’t know, we’ll see” he’ll say with a wink and a smile.