Sunderland’s French revolution leads weird and wonderful Championship

Hands up who had heard of Régis Le Bris before the summer? Be honest … yeah, thought so. Sunderland supporters could have been forgiven for feeling a little underwhelmed at the appointment given their club had been linked (somewhat unrealistically) with Graham Potter and Steve Cooper, as well as the elusive Anglo-Belgian tactician Will Still. Le Bris landed in the Stadium of Light instead and even those familiar with his work harboured major doubts, given he’d just been relegated from Ligue 1 with Lorient. It’s easy to dig at Sunderland’s owners in the post-Netflix era but perhaps Kyril Louis-Dreyfus, the 27-year-old billionaire owner, has struck gold this time. So forget your Simon Graysons, your Chris Colemans, your Alex Neils, your Lee Johnsons – how many have we forgotten? – under Le Bris, the Black Cats are five points clear at the top after 12 games.

How has the new manager done it? Largely by putting faith in youngsters Jobe Bellingham and Chris Rigg while sticking to a “structured” 4-3-3 with the onus on possession, according to midfielder Dan Neil, who is one of many shouldering added responsibility in the new setup. “He has definitely brought new ideas, new ways of playing,” tooted the 22-year-old on Le Bris, who is fast becoming a hero on Wearside. The crowds are back, too, with more than 40,000 flocking to the Stadium of Light every other week to witness the magic. This weekend, Sunderland visit struggling QPR and you’d be a fool to bet against them.

The significance of that five-point lead at this stage of the season, especially in the weird and wonderful world of the Championship, remains to be seen. There are surprises everywhere you look. Luton might have made some fancy new friends in the Premier League last term but they’ve come back from holiday to find the fridge is on fire, slipping into the relegation places. Are Watford back under Tom Cleverley or will he be hurled through the well-worn door marked Do One at Vicarage Road in six weeks’ time? Who can say. How good are Cardiff? They failed to win in their first eight games and gave Erol Bulut, well, the bullet. Now, the Bluebirds are unbeaten in their last five; caretaker manager Omer Riza clearly has some managerial rizz.

The only clubs making any sort of sense are Burnley, who are thriving under cardigan-wearing Mike Skinner wannabe Scott Parker; and Sheffield United, who are winning games of football thanks to a miserly defence and absolutely no officials eating sandwiches in front of Chris “Chrissy” Wilder (he’s known as Chrissy in the Champ). Norwich haven’t lost at home for more than a year, and are still only eighth. Then there’s Leeds. Ah, Leeds. Whether they’ve won by four, drawn 3-3 after a last minute leveller or lost to someone rubbish at an apoplectic Elland Road, you can always safely assume they’ll be close to the automatic spots – maybe third? *checks table*Perfect.

At 12pm precisely, just as your fifth-favourite teatimely football email was handing in its copy, putting on its coat and about to head for the nearest tavern, the following missive dropped on the news wires. “Manchester United is delighted to announce the appointment of Rúben Amorim as head coach of the men’s first team.” You had all week! “He has signed a contract until June 2027 with a club option of an additional year. He will join Manchester United on Monday 11 November once he has fulfilled his obligations with Sporting CP,” a club statement tooted. Said duties include a Bigger Cup tie against Manchester City, and a farewell fixture against Braga before work at United begins … with an international break. And then a trip to Ipswich on 24 November. Truly, the Premier League’s glamour is unmatched.

“I always had in my mind that I wanted to make a career for myself and not just sit at home going crazy. So when this opportunity came up, I had the money set aside and it was like: ‘Wow, I can build a career and save my local club at the same time’” – Worthing FC owner George Dowell, who was paralysed from the chest down in a car accident at the age of 17, has helped rebuild the non-league club. He gets his chat on with Ed Aarons before their FA Cup first-round tie against Morecambe.

“Re: memorable headlines [Daily letters passim]. Following an injury to Shane Long in 2011, the then-West Brom manager Roy Hodgson reckoned Simon Cox could step up for the Republic of Ireland. I’d imagine the sub at RTÉ is still wondering how they got away with “this headline” – Mike Slattery.

“Rúben Amorim’s recent comment that ‘everything around the situation makes me very nervous – it’s difficult to focus on the games – but the soap opera is ending’ was revealing. Does he not realise that managing Manchester United is a never-ending soap opera until the day you are fired?” – John Weldon.

“Re: Thursday’s subhead: ‘The waiting is the hardest part’ Wouldit bePetty of me to suggest that Amorin should refuse to Back Down from his demands that the Free Falling club shells out for his assorted assistants? This saga has Heartbreaker written all over it. What’s Portuguese for Don’t Do Me Like That?” – Pål Jørgen Bakke.

“Given that ‘brat’ has just been chosen as Collins’ word of the year (and no, I have no idea who Charli XCX is), perhaps it would have been more fitting for a Real Madrid player to win the Ballon D’or after all” – Noble Francis.

“Re: Amorim’s in-tray on Big Website. Are these articles now a template in which the new manager and misfiring players’ names can be inserted with each new appointment at Old Trafford?” – Darren Leathley [Yes – Football Daily Ed].

Send letters to the.boss@theguardian.com. Today’s letter o’ the day winner is … Mike Slattery, who lands a Football Weekly scarf. Terms and conditions for our competitions can be viewed here.

Proper football alert. If you think the rough-and-tumble of the Championship is a far cry from those precious preeners of the Premier League, try this out for size: it’s the FA Cup first round proper. It’s even got proper in its title. Sutton United, co-owned by Married At First Sight dating ace Paul C Brunson, are looking to upset League One big boys Birmingham; sixth-tier Rushall Olympic take on the might of Accrington Stanley; and at least one seventh-tier side is guaranteed a second round berth as Gainsborough Trinity, previously famed for being the first stop on Neil Warnock’s storied managerial career, lock horns with Hednesford Town. There’s a big local derby between Kettering and Northampton, and the Isthmian League’s Horsham travel to Chesterfield. “We are not going to freeze,” said the Hornets’ manager, Dominic Di Paola, on scaling the twisted spire this weekend.

The new David Squires book, Chaos in the Box, is out on 5 December and you can order your copy now, now, now.

Micky van de Ven’s ham-twang is not as serious as his previous injury, although he won’t back for Spurs until after the winter break. “It’s definitely not a bad one like last time,” wheezed Ange.

Pep Guardiola takes his ‘bare bones’ Manchester City side to Bournemouth on Saturday, with youth players set to pad out his squad. “We use them because we are in an emergency in certain positions,” Redknapped Pep. “But we trust them to help us and that is why the academy is there.” Some good injury news for City: Savinho’s ankle-knack against Spurs was not serious.

Before Arsenal’s return to Newcastle, Mikel Arteta says he’s learned from the ref
rage that got him in hot water last season, but still hopes for better from officialdom: “Hopefully as well they [the match officials] have adapted and they have understood that emotions are a big part of that,” Arteta seethed.

Renée Slegers will stay on as Arsenal women’s interim head coach for at least the team’s next five fixtures, including WSL matches against Manchester United, Brighton and Tottenham and a Champions League double-header with Juventus.

Unai Emery, former coach of Valencia, has sent his best wishes to those affected by the region’s flooding: “All my condolences for the people affected and to the families of the victims,” the Aston Villa manager has said.

Will Virgil van Dijk sign a new Liverpool contract? Nobody knows, least of all Arne Slot. “I talk to him about other things,” sighed Slot. “Virgil is completely right that he doesn’t know what his future is if he hasn’t signed the contract yet.”

José Mourinho will require a late fitness test after getting banjaxed by Ismail Yuksek in Fenerbahce training. “Lesson to young coaches: never wear same colour as players … they might kick you from behind,” Mourinho cheered on various Social Media Disgraces.

And Dwight Yorke is back in the game, as the new manager of Trinidad and Tobago. “As a player I experienced some incredible moments in a T&T shirt. With this squad I hope they can continue as head coach,” cheered Yorke, who scored a disappointingly low 19 goals in 72 caps for the Soca Warriors.

With a new manager through the door, it’s in-tray time. Will Unwin has put one together for Rúben Amorim at Old Trafford.

Andoni Iraola’s audition and Timo Werner’s time to shine. It’s 10 things to look out for in the Premier League this weekend.

Lauren Hemp is key for Manchester City. The club’s sporting director, Nils Nielsen, tells Tom Garry how they managed to keep hold of her.

And Louise Taylor takes a look at Eddie Howe’s three years in charge of Newcastle United, on and off the field.

Sutton United are targeting another FA Cup shock against Birmingham City this weekend, so let’s go back to January 1989 when the non-leaguers dumped Coventry out of the Cup in the third round. Matthew Hanlan [No 11] scored the winning goal at Gander Green Lane in a Cupset so notorious it has its own Wikipedia page.