All work and no play still makes for a surreal week on wacky Wearside

I DOUBT Tottenham fans enjoyed their day out at Wembley, I know I didn’t.

Sunderland were to play Harry Redknapp’s expensive band of foreign flops last weekend but their Carling Cup final against Manchester United meant we had to go without our fix of football again.

The north east’s offices are usually built on a foundation of football chat, whether it’s ribbing the occasional Newcastle supporter, talking about the weekend’s game or even speculating on forthcoming transfers. Unfortunately for Sunderland fans we’ve had no match for a week and a half, the transfer window is bolted shut and there aren’t many Magpie fans left to abuse.