Now is a worrying time for the hardcore Sunderland fan.  In recent weeks, they've gone from an impressive second place in the Premiership to a rather precarious fourth.  Several teams are now breathing down their neck, and with injuries (e.g. Varga) and several suspensions (Philips, Rae, Grey) now weakening the squad, all of a sudden a place in Europe next year seems a lot more difficult to attain.  Still, there's no point in being defeatist about it.  Mack M is still convinced that Sunderland are miles better than the likes of Leicester (Saturday's defeat notwithstanding), Ipswich and even Chelsea. If they hang in there, UEFA Cup glory can be theirs next season.

Sunderlandnil no more

As I said in my introduction, I have been a Sunderland fan all my life.  As a result, I am accustomed to long periods of despair.  I endured patiently the times when defeat followed defeat, when Roker Park played host to the likes of Hull City and Swindon in tense Division 2 (as was) relegation tussles.  My uncle who supports Sunderland was driven to the point where he began to habitually refer to them as "Sunderlandnil". 

But I knew that the exalted hour would finally come when they returned to the big time.  I would insist to vacant-faced schoolyard colleagues that Sunderland were actually a big club with significant resources.  I often used the phrase "sleeping giant" at times like this.  I was rarely listened to.  Rightly so, I suppose.  I wouldn't, even now, give the time of day to a Stoke City supporter insisting that the hour of glory was surely just around the corner.

But I was right, wasn't I?  Yes, I was.  Okay, so they're not yet in the same class as your Man Utds and your Arsenals, or even your Liverpools and your Leedses, but I reckon that they're demonstrably the best of the other clubs in the Premiership.  So by rights, they should come fifth this season.  I'd be over the moon if they did.

Mack M and Quinny: Brothers in legs

It may interest you to know that I, Mack M, underwent cruciate ligament surgery a few weeks ago.  As we all know, cruciate ligament damage is the classic footballer's injury.  You'd be amazed how common these operations are nowadays.  What they do is they cut out the damaged ligament and replace it with a strip of tendon harvested from your kneecap.  There was a time when the surgery left you literally in agony for a couple of weeks afterwards, but these days it's a much easier process.  By all accounts, Mack M is making a textbook recovery.

Sunderland hero Niall Quinn had cruciate ligament surgery in both knees in quick succession several years ago.  He came back a fitter, more muscular player afterwards, and started playing the best football of his career.  He represents a beacon of hope to Mack M, who hopes to return to the Beautiful Game after a very long lay-off in August or September.

Introducing Mack M