English Premier League: Sunderland

[dennison]

The most significant addition to the squad is without doubt Kieran Richardson.

That said, you would be best advised not to get carried away just yet. While Roy Keane's pedigree as a player is unquestioned, he is still a young and inexperienced manager. Sunderland performed impressively in what turned out to be quite a weak Championship. The Premiership is a whole different beast.

Also, keep in mind that a lot of Keano's standout players have been Man Utd loanees. These are players he had the luxury of having played with and has personal experience with, an advantage he will not have this season, with the exception of Kieran Richardson -- who, bizarrely, was one of the players he most strongly criticised in his TV tirade that eventually meant the end of his Man Utd career. While I rate Richardson as a player, I am perplexed by this signing. This is effectively Keane's first foray into the transfer market.

Sunderland have been a yo-yo club in recent seasons and it shouldn't be lost on you that they consistently post record low points totals in the Premiership. Realistically Keano will be looking to avoid relegation. A top half finish will be considered an unqualified success. I'll lay you 500/1 that Sunderland will not finish in the top 6.

Personally, I see them avoiding relegation and finishing in the 12-15 spot. Keano is inexperienced but his knowledge is current, having played with and against many of the Premierships current stalwarts. But lest not get carried away. Don't forget that pundits were predicting West Ham to be flying high in Europe with the signings of Tevez and Mascherano, yet they only avoided relegation on the last day of the season.

Either way, it is going to be interesting. It always is!

[DawnToDusk]

Ya. I dont see them finishing in the top 6 bar a miracle. And ya I don't want to get carried away here with myself either. Its one of the teams that was lifted up to the Premiership and I am trying to get familar with them. But at the same time I feel like they could make a strong showing.

Keane is young as a manager but he has a drive and won't settle for anything but a win. What worries me is that should Sunderland ever get to a slump for a while he will be to stubborn to try something new or heed other peoples advice.

The potential prospects of getting Craig Gordon and Leighton Baines really makes me think that, along with Russell Anderson and Greg Halford, that they will have a vastly improved defense from when they were in the champions league (which is good. they will need that now that they are in the premiership). With their added punch with the new striker Chopra (I don't expect him to perform miracles but he should easily contribute 10 goals this season) and their other strikers I think Sunderland will easily outperform the bottom half. I wouldn't be surprised if they did place 12-15 but I wouldn't be suprised if they went 11-9 place either.

Then again it is still in the air whether they will get Gordon or Baines but Keane has said he is looking to add 2-3 new players very shortly.

I guess if you had to rate Sunderlands goalies, defenders, midfielders, and strikers what ranks would you give them with the rest of the division?