The Sunderland Chronicle
Squad21 Aug 2028
A one-man rearguard from Robin Roefs
There were 8 saves in it, and at least three that had no business being saves at all. The ten outfield players owe him a drink and they know it.
Squad21 Aug 2028
Omar Alderete in a row with a teammate
It was not about football and everybody who saw it knows that. Two men who have to play together on Saturday said things at Sunderland this week that will take longer than a week to unsay.
Match19 Aug 2028
A bad afternoon for Sunderland against Brentford
1‑2 to Brentford, and no complaints worth printing. The performance asked for nothing more than it got.
Player ratings21 Aug 2028
Wilson Isidor in the eights
A performance of 8.51 does not come along often, and when it does the rest of the team becomes scenery. He was magnificent.
Boardroom21 Aug 2028
Sunderland are making the ground bigger
Work is signed off on a capacity of 64389. It is the sort of decision a club is judged on twenty years later, by people who were not there when it was taken.
Player ratings21 Aug 2028
Enzo Le Fée runs at them all day
Successful dribbles: 17. There is a particular sort of despair on a full-back's face by the seventieth minute, and it was on display.
Squad21 Aug 2028
No hiding place for Dan Neil
“I pick players who do the work. All of it.” No name was spoken; every camera still turned to Dan Neil, and the manager let it.
Market21 Aug 2028
Sunderland sign John Wood, one for the future
John Wood is 16, and Sunderland have signed him for the player he will be rather than the one he is. The first team can wait; the point of a deal like this is the years it buys.
Market21 Aug 2028
Sunderland buy the years ahead of Michael Hall
He is 16, and the scouting reports agree on the only line that matters: the ceiling. Signings like this are lottery tickets written by professionals.
In brief
- Market Sunderland buy the years ahead of Robert Evans
- Market A long bet from Sunderland on Harry Carter
- The terraces Everybody has an opinion about Robin Roefs