Yorkie

Diaz is fantastic isn't he. Constantly threatening. Urgh. Such an annoyingly brilliant team.

[Insert Keane]

There's something off about it isn't there. It's like there's a much higher contrast with the pitch. Close up I think it might actually be a very very pale pink?

There are numbers, they're white.

Very edgy kit being worn by Arsenal.

Impatient now. Want the draw. I count at least 16 non-PL teams in the draw, before the replays. Let's have one of them at home, just something where we're strong favourites so we can reasonably rotate and get some minutes in Barnes etc's legs. Unglamorous so no TV. Home to Swansea or Coventry please.

Just noticed, at the Etihad, the steps opposite the TV cameras have LED advertising as well now. As if the double boards weren't gratuitous enough. Hideous.

Every time I watch the highlights I can't believe that through ball from Bruno is going to reach Joelinton on the first goal. Useless RB helped matters but ultimately it was absolutely inch perfect. He was sensational yesterday, Bruno, probably the best player most of their team has ever come up against.

Will have mentioned this before but my Geordie grandad, very recently passed, was very affectionate of Sunderland. NUFC first but Sunderland second, as opposed to being seen as bitter rivals. Maybe it was just him but I assumed that was maybe a fairly common view for his generation.

In the Isak one he asks him if the first goal was important, if the second goal was important, if 3 in 3 is good and if he thought he'd miss the penalty. The lad is an idiot.

Mmhmm, well that's... very good... for a first try. You know what? I have a ball. Perhaps you'd like to bounce it?

Can't believe neeone pulled me up on having 2023 in the thread title all this time.

Joelinton injury aside, the biggest disappointment from today was that his effort hit a shit footballer's head and not the back of the net. He so deserved a goal after that performance. Love him on days like today, just an absolute pain in the arse for the opposition. In before the "found his level bants": he was just the same in Paris.

Assume he just means they're keeping their options open.

Steve Bower must be cursing his luck that he's got typecast into being paired with Dion Dublin. Poor fucker is stuck with him on Channel 4 as well.

Literally gave it away instantly which immediately set the tone.

Cheers, I'm behind, will say that early and impress me lass. What a day.

Wheel of Fortune on ITV.

I was happy going into the game (that there was no VAR), but I think that's a fair comment. The principle of referees being assisted by external powers has been established for ages now. The problem is around the amount it imposes on the game. Goal-line technology basically doesn't impose in any way whatsoever... meanwhile, at the other end of the spectrum, you've got the current version of VAR - which imposes a tremendous amount. There's got to be a middle ground somewhere, there just has to be. On Isak, I can't accept any argument that it's not a foul. The defender couldn't be any less in control so it's hardly like he's used his strength and/or ushered him fairly; he's nowhere near the ball at any point in that incident.

Actually looking forward to this now. incredible how a win can lift a weight off your shoulders, I've been miserable all Christmas (not really). But seriously, it's obviously an immense task; but today will give us a shot in the arm and it's another week's rest and work on the training pitch. We should go into it with confidence.

That interviewer doesn't get any better, does he? We've just spanked the Mackems and he's prattling on about that Leeds game from two years ago.

The trick to understanding who was who: just look at where the ball was. Newcastle were the ones who had it, Sunderland were the ones who didn't. The kits were the only thing about the entire contest that was close.

He took that penalty beautifully, like. Absolute carbon copy of the one at home to Bournemouth last season. He's got a remarkable way of generating power. He takes shots in his stride but always properly slaps it. We going back to Demba Ba for biggest goal return at this stage of the season? Lad's reliable as fuck atm. Edit: Ba in the PL but Gayle had 19 by this point in the Championship.

A picture for the ages, that.