How do Sunderland fare at the start of our home league schedule?

As I stood there watching the boys leave after the final game of the 2023/2024 season, the club played “Things Can Only Get Better” by D:Ream.

At the time, I found it an insult and bitter irony compared to the performances we were used to seeing on the pitch in the second half of the season.

In a strange kind of protest, I told myself that I had only stayed to say goodbye to the boys, in the vain hope of catching an empty subway for the ride home.

Nevertheless, I ended up at The Rabbit and, with Sunderland AFC still on my mind, I got chatting to other fans at the bar as we wistfully reminisced about happier times. I knew that our lackluster final day defeat to Sheffield Wednesday had not helped to instill confidence in the club among fans.

However, if we jump to the present, everything seems better.

Off the pitch, the club and its board appear to have brought order back to the chaos of last season. Hummel have struck and the first season of a multi-year partnership has produced some outstanding kits.

There have been other exciting developments off the pitch too. The opening of the new club shop and a deal with Fanatics has improved the shopping experience, and the club has made some smart decisions on the pitch too.

So let's ignore the naysayers and look at what tonight's game – and the entire season – could have to offer.

A better standard of performance?

As I have already indicated, we have made some good additions in recent weeks. Régis Le Bris looks to be an exciting signing and his style of football promises to be entertaining.

During pre-season and the first Championship game alone, our movement out of possession was much better and that completely changes the problem of stagnation we had last season.

We look full of energy and eager to go. Yes, pre-season can be deceptive because we thought Hemir would be a godsend after his form in last season's friendlies, but we have made a decent impression.

The appointment of Le Bris has brought better football as well as some smart acquisitions and the signing of Alan Browne is a big step.

Both the team and the fans are hungry for some experience and who better to provide it than a seasoned professional and long-time captain of a rival Championship club?

Photo by Ian Horrocks/Sunderland AFC via Getty Images

Simon Moore also brings experience – more than previous signings such as Nathan Bishop – while Ian Poveda, if Leeds and Sheffield Wednesday fans are to be believed, is capable of magic on a good day and Blondy Nna Noukeu only strengthens the goalkeeping ranks.

The fact that Chris Rigg, Dan Ballard and Jobe have signed new contracts also indicates a happier locker room, and that should not go unnoticed.

The only questions left to be answered are the Jack Clarke dilemma and the search for a new frontman.

Clarke's “situation” is still unclear, but it's probably a minor issue since he still has a long way to go on his contract and he's still ours as is. It would be nice if the problem could be resolved, but at the moment it's not worth stressing too much.

The striker situation is somewhat more frustrating.

Alexandre Mendy looked set to be our next striker, but it seems that an unwillingness to spend money is holding up the deal. Look at it however you want, though, the biggest disappointment is that Sunderland don't seem to have found a replacement.

The fact that we have put all our eggs in one basket would be fine if we had sealed the deal, but this problem needs to be resolved immediately.

“Ninety-nine problems, but a kit is not one of them”

The Hummel kit deal was a huge success. I wrote a few weeks ago about the importance of kits for football fans and Sunderland is no different.

We've made some half-hearted attempts at kit design over the last few years, and by half-hearted I simply mean that we've fallen victim to a lack of innovation from Nike and Adidas.

Our last kit was a mere copy and paste job and was eerily reminiscent of the stripes of other Nike clients whose traditional design included stripes.

This year, however, is different. Hummel have hit the jackpot and in a world where football kits and fashion are so intertwined, what football fan doesn't want a bespoke kit?

With our new suppliers, even the training kit is good. The away kit and pre-match collection are beautiful, while the home kit is a perfect example of a subtle twist on a classic design.

The third kit is a little more controversial, but it is still a design we have never seen before and like the away kit before it, it plays on the use of a classic crest to increase the nostalgia factor.

The jerseys are there to make you feel good and we currently have no reason to believe that the football on the pitch will not match that.

Progress outside the playing field.

The club has been keen to improve the overall experience and has invested millions of pounds to ensure the Stadium of Light looks after its loyal fanbase even better.

You can expect a big club to do the little things well and that seems to be the new logic behind the scenes. The appointment of David Bruce has brought more transparency and also brought new ideas into play.

The new club shop is a welcome addition, it is a huge step forward from the desperate situation of the previous outlet and we no longer have to walk 15 miles just to get to its doors.

In addition, the division makes sense because the jerseys are no longer arranged as the club sees fit, but are arranged in a clear and sensible way.

The Fanatics deal is also a reason to be happy. It strengthens the brand and makes our name even more well-known. It is also a much simplified system compared to the old website.

Overall, the first home game of the season offers us an opportunity.

For the club, it is a chance to integrate the new changes and consolidate the new arrivals. For the fans, we have the opportunity to decide for themselves whether the club is going far enough.

It is fitting that our first home game is against last season's final opponents, Sheffield Wednesday.

Let it be a turning point of fate and let us hope that it symbolizes the beginning of an exciting new era.

Photo by Ian Horrocks/Sunderland AFC via Getty Images