It feels a little foreign to write, given our struggles in League One over the past few years, but Sunderland are flying high after a stellar start to the season. Honestly, the 7/1/1 result column feels mightily unfair actually given the late capitulation away to Fleetwood and the gobsmacking and confusing loss to Burton (on my birthday no less; the cheek of it), but we shouldn't complain, should we?
Amongst the refreshing changes this season (of which there are many), has been the accountability and the leadership on view throughout our opening nine games. As a big American Football fan, the concept of a 'leadership group' is extremely normal to me, given its staple place in the NFL, but I know it confused many fans at the beginning of the season. They say results tell all, and if so it seems to have been a roaring success. For keen viewers of the 'access all areas' videos on the club's YouTube channel, this perhaps is not surprising, but for those not so accustomed, we are treated to many encouraging scenes.
Take, for instance, the case of young Niall Huggins. A revelation over the past few games, the young fullback signed from Leeds this season, has stood out of late, not least of all for playing both left and right fullback – and looking good in both! As with most young, talented full backs, the scouting report from Leeds fans touted his adept ability going forward but his raw skills defensively.
This hasn't seemed much the case from his current showings, and actually he would be extremely hard done by not to start at right fullback against Portsmouth (with Winiesta returning to a midfield role). Whilst this is purely speculation, albeit informed logically, a major reason for the success of Huggins (and the rest of the youngsters dazzling on matchdays) could be attributed to this new leadership structure. Tunnel cameras regularly show members of Johnson's new look group mentoring the younger players on the fly and this coaching/advice can only be helping their development. To return to Huggins, it was pregame footage of his conversation with Bailey Wright, alongside whom he looked extremely comfortable all evening thereafter, which first made me take notice of this. Then further investigation reports much the same: senior members of the leadership group mentoring and tutoring the younger players at every opportunity - and the results are speaking for themselves. One curious inclusion in this team, at least at the time, was Tom Flanagan. A player most fans thought poorly of in previous years, but who has arguably been a standout star this season. Whilst purely conjectural, his renaissance at Sunderland coincides extremely nicely with the trust placed in him by Lee Johnson, and this relationship (which I credit for his level of performance) is clear in these videos as well. At half time yesterday, whilst 3-0 up, Johnson can be seen discussing the creation of space in defence with Flanagan as they head to the changing room. This close mentor/mentee relationship, which Johnson seems to have instilled from top-to-bottom in this squad, is both brilliant to see and is having a massive impact on the performance levels of the team. Overall, there are a many more exciting things to be excited about at the moment than team dynamics and leadership roles, and I appreciate that. But this just further solidifies what we have all began to believe recently - that Sunderland are finally a team being run properly. The recruitment model, the playing style, the ownership; all present vast improvements over our other three years in the league - but it is the little things which make or break champions. If we are to rise back to our previous heights, it must be done properly (think Brentford) and it seems that all the pieces, from youth progression to playstyle, are coming together nicely.
