Welcome To The Sunderland 100 Club, Dan!

Gav says…

Ballard is the type of footballer that I like to think I’d be if I’d ever been good enough.

He’s strong, he’s got dogged determination, he heads the ball away like his life depends on it, he puts himself in the way of danger to block shots and make tackles, he scores really important goals, and he’s the kind of player that I think fans of other clubs watch and say “I wish we had him in our team”.

You’ve also got to give him credit for adapting so well to the Premier League, because last season he wasn’t even really first choice in the Championship.

He could’ve quite easily fallen by the wayside and out of the picture altogether, but it’s to his credit that he’s stepped it up so significantly and I have to wonder if that’s largely due to the fantastic coaching of Régis Le Bris and his staff. Ballard is probably a £50 million defender now and there haven’t been many — if any — better in the Premier League so far this season.

He gave me the greatest moment I’ve ever experienced inside a football stadium with the header against Coventry which sent us to the playoff final, and for that I’ll be eternally grateful to him.

Here’s to the next hundred!

John Wilson says…

I’m going to choose something that brings us right up to date — something I observed in the match against Bournemouth on Saturday. It reflects more on what he’s become and the respect he now commands from the opposition.

It was 2-2; Enzo Le Fée came to take the corner and it immediately evoked memories of the Coventry semi-final.

The Ballard chant started — “Dan Ballard, Ballard. He’s big and he’s very hard” — you know the one! But here’s the thing that made me smile watching the highlights: at least three and possibly four Bournemouth defenders were around big Dan, blocking his every move.

That was their remit, because the crowd reminded them they’d have to be tight on him for corners, and Le Fee’s cross found the relatively unmarked Brian Brobbey at the near post. Can the supporters claim an assist? Whatever. Ballard drew the defenders to himself, making more space for others.

I always knew he could make the step up to the Premier League and the fact he’s done it so easily and with such an impact is a measure of the man. I can see some of Granit Xhaka’s influence in his play this season, and his delicate chips down the wing to bring in the strikers are getting better as the weeks pass.

He’s got his own chant, his own ‘muscle man’ goal celebration, and surely his own club for many seasons to come. Our own brick wall!

Jon Guy says…

Well, that goal will surely be the moment that will be remembered by every one of us — but it doesn’t tell half the story.

We knew he was a player with huge potential when we signed him from under the noses of Millwall, and his time on Wearside has seen him develop as a giant for the club. Time and time again, he’s been the difference between victory and defeat — and he’s also become the backbone of the Northern Ireland side.

We’ve acquired some quality in the centre of defence this season but for me, he belongs in the team.

His performance against Arsenal was a case in point: solid at the back, scoring a brilliant goal and then providing the vital assist for Brian Brobbey.

Congratulations to Dan, and here’s to the next one hundred games in red and white!