A work colleague of mine, excusing the fact that the wretched Sunderland were relegated with a record low points total last season, has some comforting words for you all.

'I'm happy that we're in a lower division,' he starts. 'its true football, real football, not like those overpriced overpampered prima donnas in the big leagues. And the quality is higher.'

So there you go, straight from the mackem horses mouth - lower league football good. Juventus are lucky.