I only managed to catch two games in full involving English teams over the past week or so. On Easter Monday I watched Roy Keane's Sunderland come from 1-0 behind to beat Southampton 2-1 courtesy of two very sweet second half goals. This victory snatched from a losing position propped Sunderland atop the Championship, a league which they had been bottom of having lost four from four when Keane took over.

I was struck by the tenacity, purpose and intense focus with which the Sunderland team achieved their result on Monday. There were bucketloads of qualities on display which one rarely sees in premiership games these days. The heavy challenges were flying, yet nobody dared sit on the turf clutching a phantom knock. Every player looked like he knew exactly what he was supposed to be doing and went about his job with gusto. Not a shrug of the shoulders or a look of disbelief anywhere in sight.

Then, last night I watched Manchester United demolish a limp Roma side with devestating aplomb in the Champions League. Having seen highlights of United 2-1 loss to Portsmouth over the weekend I was left wondering how such a fragile and tentative team could find themselves on top of the premiership at this stage of the season.

Last night's vintage United performance fairly erased that feeling anyways, but it ushered in a new wonder.

Manchester United: Are you Sunderland In Disguise?

EDIT: Colm being the good sport he is reminded me to link to his earlier musings on Keane/Sunderland - here.

tags: soccer, keane

Published by Paul.