Roker Rapport

Well…our Chris Wynn sat down to chat with one of the classiest defenders Sunderland have ever signed, embarking on a journey through the life and career of the absolutely f***in delightful Emerson 'Paredão' Thome!  What's the crack?  The journey from Porto Alegre; what made a young Emerson - raised in Brazilian football's golden era - want to play a more direct, combative and aggressive style?  Batismo de fogo - The fight to stand out in a crowd of 700 hopefuls in the vast youth trials of Brazilian giants Internacional, and the influence of the Grenal on his young mind; Moving away from his family and friends to fight for a career in Europe, starting with trying to get the attention of the biggest sides in Portugal's Primeira Liga; Accepting the challenge set by a typically bullish Ron Atkinson at Sheffield Wednesday - with assistance from handy personal interpreter Paulo Di Canio - and proving he had what it took to play the English game;  Frustrations with what is in his