A somewhat welcome break in what was becoming an increasingly hectic fixture schedule allowed me the chance to have an entire Saturday to myself; not bound to my computer listening to the radio or sitting in our hallowed ground with all the rest of us idiots.
So I decided to go to Scarborough. Why not?
Ok so technically I was working but it felt nice not to be wondering whether or not we had conceded yet. To go a day without dreading Varga's inevitable first blunder or a second Yorke one on one miss. All part of being a Sunderland supporter these days I guess. I wouldn't give it up for all the candy rock in Yorkshire.
Apparently it came at a good time for the lads as well as they jetted off to Portugal for some warm weather training, all the while stressing that they were there to work not to just lie in the sun. Pull the other one eh?
Anyone here know that Portugal is Keane's holiday destination of choice? He goes there regularly for holidays. Coincidence surely?
I couldn't care less. If a slightly more tanned Lawrence bags a couple more goals then mores the better.
The break also allowed some of our softer players the chance to come back from injuries. The lads had been dropping like flies lately and it will be a real boost to have the likes of Connolly and Murphy back to full fitness and fighting for them vital spots again. Speaking of good fortune, it's good news that Caldwell is due back soon as Cunningham looks to join Super-Kav on the long-term treatment table.
I promised myself that I wouldn't give Dwight Yorke a hard time about his miss last week. I didn't say in my last column how horrifying it was to see a “natural finisher” fail to even hit the target. I didn't mention the term “past it” or “waste of money” so I won't here.
It just wouldn't be right.
Of course fate wouldn't allow me to get through a week without watching at least one frustrating display of football so in came England to take up the slack. Macedonia? Wow.
McClaren. Drop Lampard, drop Downing, and bring in Nolan and Parker with any luck you'll detract from the dirty mags league performances too. Oh and give Sean Wright Phillips a longer run out. Problems solved in my opinion.
Next week we have Preston away and with any luck some more important points. They say by Christmas the league is pretty much shaped up. We still have plenty of time to get in amongst them automatic promotion spots and we should at least be hammering on the door by the time the fat man in red and white gets to work.
That's Santa, not Mr Murray. Thank you Niall.
FTM
Regards,
Michael
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