SUNDERLAND’S SUMMER IS CURRENTLY SHAPING UP SLIGHTLY BETTER THAN ENGLAND’S

Sunderland stuttered to the end of the 2023/2024 season.

The fans were clamouring for a break from our club and the close season was a chance to take a step away from Sunderland, with attention turning to an international tournament that England were tipped as one of the favourites to win.

When the campaign got underway against Serbia, the feeling of relief at taking a break from Sunderland was still there, but now that England’s group stage campaign has ended, I feel myself drawn back the other way.

A win and two pretty uninspiring draws saw the Three Lions top the group, but they head into the knockout stages in less-than-convincing form.

Meanwhile, as England have been crawling along in Germany, things have taken a step forward at Sunderland.

A new head coach and a first summer signing were announced before England’s final group game against Slovenia, and the launch of a new Hummel home kit and the release of next season’s fixtures both happened this week.

Keeping focused on an international tournament is great, but news relating to Sunderland will always pique interest more.

England have been pretty dull to watch in the Euros so far.

Watching Sunderland towards the end of last season was like this, and anyone hoping to gain some enjoyment from watching football that doesn’t involve Sunderland haven’t got it through Gareth Southgate’s side.

However, on the whole, the tournament has been very entertaining with some brilliant matches to keep people engaged, and with things now happening at Sunderland, the fact that England aren’t blowing teams away doesn’t seem to matter as much.

Funnily enough, the off-field activity at the Stadium of Light is somewhat refreshing compared to the stale nature of England’s group campaign, which didn't feel like that of a side that topped their group, but there you are.

The ‘club versus country’ debate is one that never really goes away, and as much as I enjoy watching England at these big summer tournaments, nothing beats watching Sunderland, no matter how much we may twist and moan about it.

England games outside of major tournaments are usually not the most enjoyable, and unfortunately that applies to Euro 2024 so far.

However, it’ll hopefully change, and to be honest, if it doesn’t, England won’t compete for much longer.

Closer to home, it feels like things are starting to click into place ahead of a third consecutive season in the Championship. The regime has a lot of making up to do, but the investment off the pitch and focus on improving things on it is becoming ever so slightly clearer this summer.

The areas where we need to strengthen the team are pretty clear, and we have about six weeks before the season kicks off in order to make sure we do that.

Learning from past mistakes needs to be the mantra of Sunderland this season, and kicking on with pre-season and the summer transfer window would be that much sweeter if England could turn the screw at the Euros in Germany.

We can indeed dream.

2024-06-28T05:03:42Z dg43tfdfdgfd