Big Dick's Second Coming

We're still not done with the terrible jokes and won't be for some time. Big Dick Advocaat's rolling back into town to take charge of Sunderland next season. The fans for the most part seem to be pleased about this development, an experienced manager taking hold of the reigns at least in the short term. I think it's the right call, particularly given the lack of other outstanding candidates. Burnley's Sean Dyche was the subject of a great deal of speculation in the past week. Although Dyche has done a remarkable job with limited resources, I among with many others was sceptical about him taking on the role at a club of this size, particularly having just suffered relegation.

Allegedly Advocaat had declined initially to keep a promise to his wife that he was going to retire from football management. Sunderland fans have responded to the turnaround by raising £2,000 (at the time of writing) to buy Mrs Advocaat some flowers. Or rather that £200 will be spent on flowers and the remaining money split between the club's charitable causes and a charity of Mrs Advocaat's choosing. The club's charities benefitted last year from the decision to refund Sunderland fans for the 8-0 defeat away at Southampton. Dick's first task will be to build a team capable of avoiding such indignity. I'd settle for that and a finish above 16th place, I think.

Unfortunately, rain at the French Open prevented me from witnessing the spectacle of Djokovic v.s Murray in full. Murray was doing an excellent job of proving my prediction correct by playing like a complete arse and allowing Djokovic a two set lead before rallying to take the third. The match will resume at 3-3 tomorrow when I'm at work. I fully expect Djokovic to have won in four, but stranger things have happened. Just not very often.