Weeks ago, Sunderland could have represented a crucial match in the run-in: a tough place to go, needing a result, against an opponent still fighting for every place they could get. That is not how it transpired. Both Sunderland and United concluded, probably correctly, that this game could not matter less, and both teams played accordingly.

We decided to take this rare opportunity not to talk about the game at all. Instead, we took stock of a squad that has demonstrated it is held together by one or two individuals and, without them, looks a much less capable outfit.

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