Season shape-up - Sunderland

We look at how sides are gearing up for the new campaign

By Rob Parrish   Last updated: 18th June 2009   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Season shape-up - Sunderland

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Sunderland supporters head into the new Premier League season basking in their new-found and undeniable status as the leading club in the North East. Steve Bruce's appointment has given further cause for optimism, coupled with the takeover of the club by Ellis Short, and a busy summer can be expected in the transfer market.

What's happened so far

The dust had barely settled on Sunderland securing their Premier League survival despite a final day defeat by Chelsea when manager Ricky Sbragia announced he was stepping down.

The popular Scot, who stepped into the breach from his coaching role following Roy Keane's sudden departure in December, admitted the nail-biting battle to beat the drop had taken its toll and he was keen to step out of the firing line.

Chairman Niall Quinn immediately began the search for a successor with Wigan manager Steve Bruce emerging as the club's leading target following his impressive work at the JJB Stadium and previously with Birmingham.

Despite being a boyhood Newcastle fan, the Northumberland-born Bruce is confident Black Cats supporters will overlook his loyalties to their bitter rivals and give him their full backing. Whether this happens remains to be seen.

Bruce can expect to receive a sizeable transfer budget from new club owner Ellis Short, who completed his takeover at the Stadium of Light shortly after the end of the season, with the Texan businessman eager to avoid a repeat of the tense fight against the drop which went right down to the wire.

Short has also pledged to remain in the background on Wearside - adopting the approach taken by compatriot Randy Lerner at Aston Villa as opposed to media-hungry Liverpool duo Tom Hicks and George Gillett - leaving Quinn to retain full control of football matters.

With Newcastle and Middlesbrough unable to clamber out of the drop zone on the final day of the season supporters on Wearside had greater cause for celebration, with the loss of two derby dates off-set by the joy at witnessing both of their bitter rivals consigned to a stint in the Championship.

What they need

Quality reinforcements throughout the squad are required for Sunderland to fulfil the ambitions of their owner, chairman and manager who are all eager to establish the club in the top half of Premier League and shake off their tag as relegation battlers.

Bruce has pledged to give all the players currently on the books a chance to impress but is certain to dip into the transfer market this summer with defence and attack his most pressing areas of concern.

An established central defender to play alongside Anton Ferdinand is essential, while a partner for striker Kenwyne Jones following Cisse's failure to secure a permanent move to the Stadium of Light is another must.

Quinn admitted that the Black Cats were 'brittle' last season and were missing 'steel', so there is every chance that some players with an uncompromising approach to the game will have been earmarked by the Wearside hierarchy.

What they'll get

Bruce has gained a reputation for unearthing hidden gems such as Wilson Palacios, with Wearside fans hoping their new boss can bring the same level of talent to the Stadium of Light, as opposed to the likes of Luciano Figueroa, who completely failed to impress at St Andrews.

The Black Cats boss also has the luxury of a substantial budget - a situation he has likened to shopping at Harrods rather than Tesco - although with clubs now alerted to the fact he has funds at his disposal, some asking prices could be inflated accordingly.

Manchester City defender Richard Dunne has been strongly linked with a £5million move to the North East and would be an excellent acquisition, while Calum Davenport is known to be keen on a permanent move following his loan switch from West Ham.

Bruce has, somewhat inevitably, been linked with a raid on his former club Wigan, with tough-tackling midfielder Lee Cattermole and much-maligned central defender Titus Bramble two strong candidates to follow their former boss in turning their back on the Latics.

Darren Bent was reported to be on Sunderland's radar last summer, and the occasional England international is once again being tipped to leave Tottenham, although North London sources claim no contact has been made by the Black Cats despite talk of a £10million bid being tabled.

Fan's view - John Thompson

Sunderland fans have several reasons to be cheerful heading into what should be another summer of frantic transfer activity at the Stadium of Light.

Last season's final-day survival, coupled with the demise of Newcastle, the arrival of Steve Bruce and Ellis Short's takeover have reinvigorated those weary from the dross served up under Keane and Sbragia.

The capture of Bruce will be welcomed by all except the most parochial. He will instil a work ethic not always evident last season and, hopefully, get more out of talented players such as Kenwyne Jones, Steed Malbranque and Kieran Richardson.

And he will be lauded as a genius if he can draw a Titus Bramble-style improvement out of Anton Ferdinand, a player who possess all the attributes of a top-class centre-half yet undoes much of his good work with lapses in concentration.

Ferdinand needed an experienced partner last year and that is one area Bruce will look to address with Manchester City's Richard Dunne set to feature highly on his wish-list.

Pace in wide positions was also sorely lacking last season. Stewart Downing, when fit, and Antonio Valencia would be welcome additions, although the latter may have better options!

The tough-tackling Lee Cattermole should also be on Bruce's radar, along with Darren Bent, and why not make audacious bids for Roque Santa Cruz, Javier Saviola and Rafael van der Vaart?

Another option is to try to do a deal with Tottenham, who had a £20m bid for Jones rejected in January. Send Jones to White Hart Lane and take Bent and Jermaine Jenas in return.

Bruce is renowned as a clever operator in the transfer market and it will be intriguing to see what he produces over the next couple of months.

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Comments (17)

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Simon Tenwick (Sunderland fan) says...

I'm happy with Bruce joining tbh. I think he'll be more prudent than Keane. Instead of getting rid of Kenwyne, he should just get him concentrated. We should sign Bent and Fraizer Campbell as a goalscorer and back 3rd choice respectively. We were right to get rid of Cisse (couldn't score a goal in patches). We need someone like Richard Dunne, not Bramble, although they are both error prone at times. But Bruce is a good man manager so that may not be a problem if we have Dunne and Ferdinand. Get rid of Bardsley or just bench him. I find it painful to watch him because he tries hard but is pretty clueless. I don't know who can replace him tbh because I'm not a pro-scout but we need someone. Possibly Alan Hutton. I'd persist with Gordon because he obviously has potential. I think Bruce could reveal this. Please not Pennant. I'd think about Zokora and Cattermole but only if they want to join and wouldn't cost too much. Otherwise I wouldn't complain if Bruce found a new Palacios. I haven't watched Kovac too much, apparently he's handy. A cheeky little bid for Delph but we need one holding midfielder and a creative midfielder or left midfielder like Jenas or Stephen Hunt, hopefully someone who knows English football. I'd be tempted to cash in on Richardson because it won't take too many more games for people to realise he's garbage for 90% of the games. We need to get off to a flyer next season. My lineup would be: Gordon, New RB, Ferdinand, Dunne, McCartney, Malbranque, Jenas, Zokora, Hunt, Jones, Bent. p.s. why do we only trade with spurs?

Posted 22:25 30th June 2009

Jack Eaglesham (Sunderland fan) says...

Just read a few comments but the quote below i believe is rubbish. To bring a defender in who on average scored about 4 own goals a season is riduclous and bobo balde simply could not keep up with pace of the english game. Yes a strong centre back is needed but to sell a solid fan favourite such as Nosworthy who yes has his akward moments is nonsense. Since his 1st season to settle in with Sunderland, Nosworthy has been a constant performer and was performing very well with Anton Ferdinand until his injury. The left back position is no question. Danny Collins has won the player of the season award for SAFC two years running and to replace him is the most stupid thing Steve Bruce could do. Into the midfield teemu taino has been exceptional in his 1st season but was unlucky with a reccuring injury. Dean whitehead should be kept on the bench as he is still a good solid captain who is mistaken as clumsy and not a captain but is often seen giving encouragement to all players. Perhaps huddlestone, jenas would fit well. Up top there is only one man to partner Kenwyne Jones. Darren Bent as his pace will match Jones' power superbly and because of Bent's proven premiership quality unlike Cisse will lead to a thirty goal partnership for Sunderland Players To Get In : Davenport, Micah Richards, Huddlestone, Jenas, Bent, Pennant, Darren Gibson(Youngster), O'Shea On Loan,

Posted 22:00 30th June 2009

James Hughes (Sunderland fan) says...

I think we gonna finish in the "second" part of the league between 8th and 13th which makes a good season for me, its not going to be easy as it never is!!, too many times last year we missed a good solid central midfield partnership, experience at the back, and goals from midfield dont put all the pressure on Jones. I'd love Cattermole at the stadium hard worker type us fans love, has come of age in Sweden!!, given the right service from the likes of Richardson/Malbranque Bent and Jones would get goals, id like one or two from Arsenal on loan that never done Bruce any harm before??, and id love Frazier Campbell up here my view the man is gonna be class has all the cradentails to be a great goal scorer.

Posted 19:05 29th June 2009

John Fitzpatrick (Sunderland fan) says...

Sunderland need to improve every area in on the pitch to challenge the top ten. Gordon should be swapped for kirkland. Nosworthy should be sold with dunne and bobo balde been brought with dunne lining up with ferdinand and balde been backup with excellent experience. A new left back is needed so nuno valente or gareth bale should be brought in. Pennant is available for free so he should be brought in. A new holding midfielder is needed so kovac should be brought in with taino and whitehead being sold. Up front healy and murphy should be sold so either andy johnson,eideur gudjohnsen,darren bent or frazier cambpell should be brought as should marlon harewood as an impact player.

Posted 22:52 27th June 2009

George Moutter (Sunderland fan) says...

Just been reading some of the fans views and some of them must have been at different matches to me last season if they think that not buying Cisse was a mistake. He and Jones proved time and time again they could not play together. As with the appointment of Steve Bruce, he is from the North East even if he was/is a Newcastle supporter, he knows what football means to the local supporters from all the North East sides. Which in my opinion was not evident from most of the players last season and as he has shown at Wigan he can get the best from his players , Titas Bramble for example, when other clubs have not. If he can do this with certain players we have at present we will not have a repeat of last seasons relagation battle.He is saying the right things now it is time for every Sunderland supporter to back him 100%. I don't think that we need wholesale changes to the side, just look what happened last season when Keane brought in all those players, we just need a few quality players to have 'quality in depth' which we lacked last season

Posted 05:11 27th June 2009

Keith Turner (Sunderland fan) says...

for me bruce is a great signing as manager, he's done well at wigan and hasnt really had any decent transfer budgets to spend so therefor had to make do with mid range transfers..(valencia, zaki, palacios) all of whom made a great impact at wigan last season, but to be succesful at sunderland i think he should be aiming to grab players who have already played in the premiership, ie hunt, doyle, dunne, jenas, bentley, bent, armand traore, cattermole, a new keeper is also inevitable as gordon cant kee his mind straight and fulop although decent isnt premiership quality, for this position i would be looking to take either schmeichel or kirkland. our outgoing transfers should be connolly, stokes, murphy, halford, nosworthy, gordon.

Posted 10:27 26th June 2009

Mohhamed Fitz patrick (Sunderland fan) says...

Sunderland should sign Salvador Cabanas, Darren Bent or Henrick Larrson to play alongside Jones. Thye should offload players such as edwards, nosworthy etc. Also if healy was given a chance he would do well. Pennant would be a good signing as he is an excellent crosser to get service into jones and aholding midfielder such as kovac or cattermole to sure up the midfield. Dunne would be good to defence due to his leadreship skills and also Michael Ball as he is versatile to give cover to the center and left back positions. Sunderland starting line up Gordon Bardsley dunne ferdinand ball richardson kovac malbranque pennant Bent Jones subs fulop cattermole collins healy mcartney reid Henrick Larsson

Posted 20:10 25th June 2009

Steve Binks (Sunderland fan) says...

I was not impressed when i first heard of Bruce joining us, however i am now of the opinion to give him a chance. The few times he has been interviewed he seems to say the right things, lets get rid of the dead wood, Murphy, Edwards,Connelly, etc etc. and bring in some new, how about Kirkland (the new Monty) Frazer Campbell(the new Kevin Phillips) Richard Dunne (the new Charlie Hurley) jermaine Pennant (the new Bobby Kerr), Lee cattermole (the new Mickey Horsewill). Starting team Kirkland Bardsley, Dunne, Ferdinand, McCartney Pennant, Malbranque, cattermole, Richardson Jones, Campbell. subs collins, whitehead,gordon,healey,Davenport(if we sign him), Colbeck,Reid. Seems a decent enough side to start the season. Seems like a top 12 side to me

Posted 15:45 22nd June 2009

Mike Stephenson (Sunderland fan) says...

What we need are four things at Sunderland. One a new Jimmy Montgomery in goal, secondly a new Charlie Hurley at centre half, a new Kevin Philips to feed off Jones and finally a winger like Bobby Kerr or Billy Hughes. Most of the team are okay but I cannot understand releasing Tal Ben Haim or Cisse back to their clubs as they had the one ingredient really necessary they wanted to play for Sunderland and were not just chasing money. Go to the players evenings and see the old players who still love Sunderland the Horswells, Gary Bennett, Rowell that is the kind of player we need who will fight and stay with the club for the rest of their lives. Collins has this spirit as has Leadbitter and as Collins has shown if you try hard eventually you will become a very good player.

Posted 11:17 21st June 2009

Xav Tait (Sunderland fan) says...

I am extremely happy with Streve Bruce's appointment, and I am not remotely put off by his childhood loyalties, in fact quite the opposite, after all Bob Stokoe, arguably our most successful manager, was a skunk himself. As a firm football fan I am willing to accept any superstition that's in my favour!

Posted 05:50 21st June 2009

Gary Wilson (Sunderland fan) says...

Good article. We do need both steel and creativity in midfield, so Cattermole and Pennant could fit the bill. I agreee about an experienced defender being needed, Dunne would be a good buy as would Campbell, not too sure about Bramble. I hope Bruce will get rid of some of the poor signings from the Keane era who are not Premiership material. I hope Bruce can attract the players who would probably not come for Sbragia and get us off to a good start rather than previous seasons. Pity about the Mags tho'!!!!!!!!!!

Posted 21:15 20th June 2009

Billy Musk (Sunderland fan) says...

If we are to move to the next level we need alot of quality signings. We need 2 centre backs and a left back, a quality play maker in midfield, a left winger and 3 strikers. Is Steve Bruce the man to do this? I don't think so.... He's never bought a big name player before and has never managed big name players. I think we'll struggle to make the top half if we buy players such as Lee Cattermole and Titus Bramble. These are hardly the big name players Niall Quinn said we would be trying to attract. As for Jones, if he plays like he did in his first season with us then there's no way we should sell him. However, if he plays like last season then yes, we should get rid.

Posted 22:04 19th June 2009

Adam Ball (Wigan Athletic fan) says...

You will never get Bramble. Purely because of the fact that Bramble is playing his best football ever in Wigan, and he is happy with us. Don't forget, it wasn't so long ago that you Sunderland supporters was chanting 'Titus Shamble' Bramble won't forgive and forget so soon As for Cattermole, Wigan will never sell one of our best players. He is important to us. You can have Kapo though. I feel that with Bruce at the helm, you won't do well. Bruce hasn't been proven that he can spend money on good players. Dunne would be a smashing signing for you though. I think Wigan will do better than Sunderland again. I predict a 14th place finish for Sunderland and a 13th place finish for Wigan

Posted 19:08 19th June 2009

Ben Lyons (Sunderland fan) says...

If Bruce gets rid of Jones he will have all the fans on his back, he is our best player by far, this is why redknapp bid 20 Million. I think not taking up the option to buy cisse will come back to bite us, should we fail to replace him with Bent or an otherwise proven striker. Dunne would be a good buy, not sure if Man City will be willing to give up their first choice centre-back and captain though? Anyway, Bruce needs to get a good few names in fairly quickly to get me on his side.

Posted 14:24 19th June 2009

Gary Rackstraw (Sunderland fan) says...

I think the article has hit the nail on the head. The most important area for improvement is certainly in the back four. Although I would rather see Titus Bramble filling the role than Richard Dunne as the latter made many mistakes over the last campaign. Bramble had a rough time when last in the North East with the mags but has shown what a good player he is by taking the captaincy and player of the season at Wigan. Lets not foget Danny Collins though. He was our most consistent defender last season and at the moment would be first choice in my back four whether it be central or on the left. Lets look let forward to what could be a very good season and lets make the most of what looks like a very inviting fixture list for the first couple of months. Good luck Brucey and you have the full backing of myself ans hopefully the rest of the Mackem faithful.

Posted 08:01 19th June 2009

Campbell Thomson (Sunderland fan) says...

Well I certainly thought we could do better then Bruce, he has only really had one good season with any of his clubs which was Wigan. The proof is in the pudding and Bruce will only turn the myself and the Sunderland faithfull if he gets us into the top ten. I really hope he does not go on a crazy spending spree for awful players only to leave half way through the season (ala Roy Keane) My prediction is a 15th place finish.

Posted 19:40 18th June 2009

Greg Smith (Sunderland fan) says...

Great article, hopefully Sunderland will finish in the top-half of the table but it's not going to be easy, rather than selling Jones to Spurs Bruce should be trying to get him in the right frame of mind, when he's focused he's a fantastic player, we just need a high-quality striker to partner him and I believe Darren Bent would be a great addition to the club.

Posted 12:26 18th June 2009
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