2 Up, 2 Down: Sunderland ease to victory over South Shields.

The Lads began their preseason schedule with a comfortable 0-4 victory over the Mariners. How did our writers evaluate the game?

Gav says…

It’s good to be back

It doesn’t feel like two minutes since we were at Wembley Stadium celebrating our playoff final victory, but it’s good to be back, isn’t it? Our yearly excursion to South Shields coincided with one of the most gorgeous days of the summer thus far, and when the Lads strolled out onto the pitch in their quality new blue away kit, I couldn’t help but thank the Lord for returning my Sunderland Saturdays.

This isn’t a ‘negative’, but it’s a shame that Gateshead’s poor surface prevented us from playing two first-team games in one day — I’d have enjoyed nothing more than to watch another 90 minutes of Sunderland on Saturday afternoon.

Ahmed Abdullahi has arrived

After buying the huge Nigerian striker last year, it took until today for us to have a proper look at him in first-team action, and I must say that I loved what I saw and want to see more. He was signed with an injury that took him a long time to recover from, but he’s finally fit and in the fold, and it should make for an interesting summer as we see him rotated out and alongside our other strikers — all of whom will want to be the one leading the line against West Ham on the season’s first day.

I know we shouldn’t get carried away with pre-season games, especially the first one, but Eliezer Mayenda seized an opportunity against South Shields last summer, and there’s no reason Abdullahi can’t do the same. Let’s keep him healthy and firing, and who knows, he might end up being the surprise package of our preseason campaign.

Nectar in defence

After hearing so many positive things about Triantis’ performances as a box-to-box midfielder in Scotland, I have to say that I was a little disappointed to see him back at centre half.

I understand it’s a ‘needs must’ and we don’t have many fit central defenders, but I hope he gets a proper chance in Portugal to demonstrate what he can do in the middle.

It should have been more!

I know that this seems like such an odd thing to gripe about when you’ve won 4-0, but I actually think we should’ve scored three or four more, and that we missed some pretty straightforward chances.

Performances don’t really mean a lot at the start of pre-season, so I get that it’s not actually an issue, but I reckon there’ll be one or two disappointed lads in that dressing room who might think they should’ve taken more of their chances — chances that could’ve helped them to shine at a time when we have a huge squad and catching the manager’s eye is a must.

Photo by George Wood/Getty Images

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Jack Howe-Gingell says…

Habib Diarra impresses

Whilst it was against considerably weaker opposition than he’ll be expected to step up to, Diarra put in a good showing and demonstrated what he’s about straight away.

A fantastic presser off the ball, he always presented for it from the back four, and he even chalked up an assist after a box-to-box run to win the ball and a patient, measured pass for Romaine Mundle to slot home.

It’s very early but I think he’ll be special for us, and bonus points for me as I saw him at Seaham Hall on Wednesday evening, and could already tell he’s a player!

Ahmed Abdullahi catches the eye

A lot of the focus has rightly been on our new signings but I think a word on Abdullahi is justified.

We know the impact Eliezer Mayenda made last season as a young forward cutting his teeth, and you have to wonder whether Abdullahi will have a similar impact.

He looked very assured as the lone striker, with a cool finish to nicely round things off. He didn’t look out of place and I’m sure across a full Premier League season, his pace and power could prove useful — particular if we also use Mayenda as a pseudo-winger from time to time.

A lack of defenders

It was great to watch Niall Huggins play, and I hope he’s recovered from his injuries, because he’s a real player. Nonetheless, despite the signing of Reinildo, we have four defenders out injured and do not look to be making any progress in adding others right now.
It appears that we require at least one more centre back and right back to provide appropriate coverage as well as some additional quality. I’m sure the club is working on it, but it was a clear deficiency yesterday.

The goalkeeping conundrum

It’s evident that we’re pursuing a new first choice goalkeeper after reported attempted deals for Marcin Bulka and Djordje Petrović, as well as current ties to Aaron Ramsdale. None of us will forget Anthony Patterson’s heroics in the playoff final, and I believe we can all agree that we need to improve in this area.

He wasn’t particularly terrible, but he appeared to lack concentration, which nearly resulted in a goal conceded on a South Shields free kick.

If we go into the season with him as number one, he’ll get my entire support, but I believe the jump to the Premier League will need an injection of quality, and although it was an almost inconsequential flashpoint in the match, that moment reminded me of it yet again.

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