RLB Sets Fulham Tone: Humble Reset, Fresh Push

RLB Sets Fulham Tone: Humble Reset, Fresh Push. The coats, scarves, hats, and gloves are out, yellow and amber weather warnings are flashing, and talk of a “Beast from the East” and even “thundersnow” fills the air. All of which can only mean one thing — winter is here. Simples. But frost or no frost, I can’t wait to see the Lads back in action. There’s no international break now until March, though with the cups and fixtures stacking up, we’ll still have seven Saturdays without a Sunderland game before May.

Still, what a time it is to follow this club. The buzz is real again — everyone’s caught “the bug”, daring to dream while remembering all too well the “false dawns” of years gone by. Conversations turn to how many points we can collect over the festive run, and how the Africa Cup of Nations might affect our squad.

But the key to continued success, as Régis Le Bris keeps reminding us, lies in the mindset — staying humble. Supported by the experienced presence of Granit Xhaka, RLB’s warning against “over-confidence” feels vital. Confidence breeds belief, yes, but lose focus or underestimate an opponent, and football has a way of punishing you fast.

At Thursday’s press conference, RLB again showed his pragmatism. Asked why Sunderland have started kicking towards the Roker End in the second half, he brushed off any suggestion of superstition. “It’s not a conscious decision,” he said — because really, why would the direction of play decide the result? Fans love a good omen, but his realism is grounding.

When asked about the new lettering above the East Stand, he was more sentimental. Anything, he said, that gives fans an extra lift — a small burst of pride — can reflect positively on the players. It’s a small detail, but as RLB and coaches like Sir Dave Brailsford have shown, marginal gains can make the difference.

Every detail matters, and RLB plans meticulously — not for two games ahead, but for the next ten minutes. “Each game is a reset,” he says. The draw with Arsenal was magnificent, but it guarantees nothing at Craven Cottage.

We reset. We go again.

Consistency — in effort, aggression, and mentality — is the real challenge. So, as we return to the banks of the Thames, to the home once graced by Johnny Haynes, Bobby Moore, and George Best, we do so with focus and belief intact.

Ha’way me bonnie Lads!