BBC Radio Newcastle’s Sunderland commentator, Nick Barnes, has broadcast on Sunderland matches for 20 years. In this interview, he assess the 2023/24 season so far, whilst also speaking to Daniel Wales about reaching his thousandth Sunderland commentary.
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00:00 Sunderland sit in sixth in the championship, having had several highs and lows.
00:06 So I first ask Nick, has the season been a success so far?
00:10 Yes, I think it has been. I think the division is harder this year than it was last.
00:16 I think the fact that the table is panning out now with Leicester, Leeds and Southampton in the top four.
00:23 Ipswich who spent a lot of money over the last year in the top four.
00:29 I think sort of indicates, as we all thought, that those clubs that have got the parachute payments coming down from the Premier League would be there or thereabouts.
00:38 You know, Sunderland are marginally ahead on points as to where they were last season at this stage.
00:45 And, you know, looking at some of those defeats in context, the Borough defeat hinged on the sending off.
00:53 I think that completely changed the game in favour of Middlesbrough.
00:58 Other defeats this season, not unexpected, I think.
01:02 You know, you're not going to win as Tony Mowbray says every game.
01:05 And arguably, you know, at home, they're still a little bit vulnerable to teams that want to try and sit in and dig deep and just frustrate.
01:14 But overall, the football is still good.
01:16 Given the lack of goals scored by strikers this season, I wanted to know whether Nick thought that Tony Mowbray would look to bring in another forward in January.
01:25 Without question. I mean, he said last week if the four strikers aren't scoring goals, then they'll look for another striker.
01:32 And I think he will also be mindful that he's probably going to lose a couple of players.
01:38 You know, people are talking about Clark, Ballard, Sirkin, Huggins, Neal, Paterson.
01:45 They're all being watched. They're all being targeted.
01:48 You know, the scouts are turning up in their droves at the Stadium of Light every week.
01:52 Nick Barnes himself has reached a personal milestone recently, commentating on his thousandth Sunderland match.
01:58 I asked how the club has become a part of his life and how proud he is.
02:02 I've lived and breathed Sunderland for 20 years, you know, day in, day out.
02:08 And to an extent before that, because, you know, living in the northeast and whilst I was working with Newcastle United at the time,
02:16 I was covering some Sunderland games and was getting to know people there.
02:19 But once you're inured into it, you can't help but become, you know, it's part of my life.
02:26 I mean, it's a huge chunk of my life. You know, 20 years is a third of my time on this planet with this football club.
02:33 So I am proud. I think in this day and age, you know, to reach that milestone is an achievement.
02:40 I don't think I can underestimate that.
02:44 And I have to thank Gary Bennett alongside of me because we work as a team.
02:49 We are, as Gary will tell you, we're a marriage and it's work because we do get on.
02:56 Sunderland return to action on the 25th with the long trip away to Plymouth Argyll, with Nick, as always, on commentary.
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