Marks so far? Before Saturday I’m guessing about 5/6 out of 10, but after Saturday's game? Got to be 8/9. Great show, completely deserved win which could easily have been even more decisive than it was, which was pretty decisive anyway. Thought we were really good from front to back, solid defending and three excellent goals. And a word for the manager and his assistants: the organisation and commitment was plain for all to see. The lads have set themselves a standard early on, and to be fair, not just with the Hebburn victory. The results of Carlisle City and to a lesser degree West Allotment over the past week have shown our two draws, particularly over in Cumbria, in a brighter light than maybe some of us thought at first glance. (PS Tuesday night saw a last minute winner for West Auckland settle a very tight game, disappointing but no great disaster.)
Very early days of course, no point in getting carried away, but I’m guessing I wasn’t the only one with a spring in my step heading away from Sunderland LGV Park on Saturday afternoon. Good stuff!
In the League I think most of us might well have guessed that Ashington and Newton Aycliffe would be part of the group of clubs with six points from the first two games, but not many would have expected the Bishops, Guisborough and Whickham to be the other three, although Bishops certainly look like they are making an effort this season. No point judging until after maybe ten game in any event, but everybody does ...
The next round of the Cup sees us visiting Whickham after they disposed of Frickley, who we met last season. Always a tricky trip up to the Lang Jacks, a pretty unique pitch, usually blowing a gale, and a right battle. Sounds great.
And what of the wider football world. The Mags reinforced their fans belief that they are champions elect by managing to beat one of the promoted teams and taking their time about it. Sunderland went to Bristol and had 40% possession but topped their opponents in the stats that matter. It was the same at home against Coventry, so I think we can be sure that the manager subscribes to the new view that possession without creation is a waste of time. Could be a clash of styles in a lot of games this season if that is the case, most Championship sides like to hold onto the ball as much as possible.
In Birmingham the Commonwealth games are coming to an end with the Brummies seeming to have enjoyed it all a lot. Good luck to them. I thought the most interesting bit was the Git Big Metal Bull, and I hear talk that they now hope to keep it as a symbol of the City for the foreseeable future, sounds good to me. In the games themselves the Northern Irish boxers did fantastically well for a population under two million, and some of the Athletics was of a surprisingly good standard, and at the end the Aussies topped the medal table. There's a surprise ...