SIMPLY LE BRIS
Hands up who had heard of Régis Le Bris before the summer? Be honest … yeah, thought so. Sunderland supporters could have been forgiven for feeling a little underwhelmed at the appointment given their club had been linked (somewhat unrealistically) with Graham Potter and Steve Cooper, as well as the elusive Anglo-Belgian tactician Will Still. Le Bris landed in the Stadium of Light instead and even those familiar with his work harboured major doubts, given he’d just been relegated from Ligue 1 with Lorient. It’s easy to dig at Sunderland’s owners in the post-Netflix era but perhaps Kyril Louis-Dreyfus, the 27-year-old billionaire owner, has struck gold this time. So forget your Simon Graysons, your Chris Colemans, your Alex Neils, your Lee Johnsons – how many have we forgotten? – under Le Bris, the Black Cats are five points clear at the top after 12 games.
How has the new manager done it? Largely by putting faith in youngsters Jobe Bellingham and Chris Rigg while sticking to a “structured” 4-3-3 with the onus on possession, according to midfielder Dan Neil, who is one of many shouldering added responsibility in the new setup. “He has definitely brought new ideas, new ways of playing,” tooted the 22-year-old on Le Bris, who is fast becoming a hero on Wearside. The crowds are back, too, with more than 40,000 flocking to the Stadium of Light every other week to witness the magic. This weekend, Sunderland visit struggling QPR and you’d be a fool to bet against them.
The significance of that five-point lead at this stage of the season, especially in the weird and wonderful world of the Championship, remains to be seen. There are surprises everywhere you look. Luton might have made some fancy new friends in the Premier League last term but they’ve come back from holiday to find the fridge is on fire, slipping into the relegation places. Are Watford back under Tom Cleverley or will he be hurled through the well-worn door marked Do One at Vicarage Road in six weeks’ time? Who can say. How good are Cardiff? They failed to win in their first eight games and gave Erol Bulut, well, the bullet. Now, the Bluebirds are unbeaten in their last five; caretaker manager Omer Riza clearly has some managerial rizz.
The only clubs making any sort of sense are Burnley, who are thriving under cardigan-wearing Mike Skinner wannabe Scott Parker; and Sheffield United, who are winning games of football thanks to a miserly defence and absolutely no officials eating sandwiches in front of Chris “Chrissy” Wilder (he’s known as Chrissy in the Champ). Norwich haven’t lost at home for more than a year, and are still only eighth. Then there’s Leeds. Ah, Leeds. Whether they’ve won by four, drawn 3-3 after a last minute leveller or lost to someone rubbish at an apoplectic Elland Road, you can always safely assume they’ll be close to the automatic spots – maybe third? *checks table* Perfect.
RÚBEN AMOR-IN
At 12pm precisely, just as your fifth-favourite teatimely football email was handing in its copy, putting on its coat and about to head for the nearest tavern, the following missive dropped on the news wires. “Manchester United is delighted to announce the appointment of Rúben Amorim as head coach of the men’s first team.” You had all week! “He has signed a contract until June 2027 with a club option of an additional year. He will join Manchester United on Monday 11 November once he has fulfilled his obligations with Sporting CP,” a club statement tooted. Said duties include a Bigger Cup tie against Manchester City, and a farewell fixture against Braga before work at United begins … with an international break. And then a trip to Ipswich on 24 November. Truly, the Premier League’s glamour is unmatched.
QUOTE OF THE DAY
“I always had in my mind that I wanted to make a career for myself and not just sit at home going crazy. So when this opportunity came up, I had the money set aside and it was like: ‘Wow, I can build a career and save my local club at the same time’” – Worthing FC owner George Dowell, who was paralysed from the chest down in a car accident at the age of 17, has helped rebuild the non-league club. He gets his chat on with Ed Aarons before their FA Cup first-round tie against Morecambe.
FOOTBALL DAILY LETTERS
“Re: memorable headlines [Daily letters passim]. Following an injury to Shane Long in 2011, the then-West Brom manager Roy Hodgson reckoned Simon Cox could step up for the Republic of Ireland. I’d imagine the sub at RTÉ is still wondering how they got away with “this headline” – Mike Slattery.
“Rúben Amorim’s recent comment that ‘everything around the situation makes me very nervous – it’s difficult to focus on the games – but the soap opera is ending’ was revealing. Does he not realise that managing Manchester United is a never-ending soap opera until the day you are fired?” – John Weldon.
“Re: Thursday’s subhead: ‘The waiting is the hardest part’ Would it be Petty of me to suggest that Amorin should refuse to Back Down from his demands that the Free Falling club shells out for his assorted assistants? This saga has Heartbreaker written all over it. What’s Portuguese for Don’t Do Me Like That?” – Pål Jørgen Bakke.
“Given that ‘brat’ has just been chosen as Collins’ word of the year (and no, I have no idea who Charli XCX is), perhaps it would have been more fitting for a Real Madrid player to win the Ballon D’or after all” – Noble Francis.
“Re: Amorim’s in-tray on Big Website. Are these articles now a template in which the new manager and misfiring players’ names can be inserted with each new appointment at Old Trafford?” – Darren Leathley [Yes – Football Daily Ed].
Send letters to the.boss@theguardian.com. Today’s letter o’ the day winner is … Mike Slattery, who lands a Football Weekly scarf. Terms and conditions for our competitions can be viewed here.
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