Sunderland Season Preview: the big re-building job

With the 2018-19 League One season coming up, The Football Lab spoke to Sunderland fan Michael Oates (@afootyeducation) from the superb Roker Report.

For some time there have been cultural problems at Sunderland, off the field as well as on it. Do you think new owners Stewart Donald and Charlie Methven could provide the drive the club needs at boardroom level?

I have to say I already believe they’re doing so; I’ve been very impressed with what they’ve done already in their short time here. The culture of the club is a great place to start. There’s been a cloud of negativity surrounding SAFC for such a long time we’ve almost accepted it as the norm. The lack of a clear plan and direction. The silence from the board and lack of communication and transparency. The wasting of transfers on the wrong types of players; the wrong characters. That has culminated in back to back relegations. As fans, we just need to be proud of our club again. There are early signs that Donald and Methven are the guys to bring back that feel good factor. They promised that in terms of players, wages etc, that ‘the piss-taking party is over’. They have been transparent and very engaging from the off. I think we’re all looking forward to seeing how it all develops.

Donald has been able to attract Jack Ross, who was named PFA Scotland Manager of the Year after leading St Mirren to the Scottish Championship title. You must be delighted with that appointment?

I am yeah, he comes highly rated north of the border and everything I’ve read about him over the summer from former team mates, players and other coaches all seems to be positive. To win manager of the year when up against the likes of Brendan Rodgers and Neil Lennon speaks volumes. His man-management skills are a main attribute, as are the training sessions and his engagement with the players out on the training field itself. I was a fan of Chris Coleman, and given time I feel he would certainly have steadied the ship and adequately prepared for our League One campaign. It’s early days for Jack and he has a huge job ahead of him, but he strikes me as a man who is certainly up for the challenge. He was sought after by other clubs, and the new owners have done extremely well to bring him in.

Your academy appeared to be one of the bright points of your season. Do you think because so many of the senior players didn’t put the effort in, fans showed extra appreciation for the likes of Joel Asoro, Josh Maja and Ethan Robson?

To be honest, I think the younger players really upstaged some of our more senior pros last season. Everyone loves to see an academy product come through and play in the first team, and for many of them it was their first season as full time professionals playing week in week out. Lamine Kone quite simply didn’t perform, and he should have been comfortably one of the best centre backs in the division. Unfortunately we’ve had issues with his attitude and commitment before. Ditto Didier Ndong, and the less said about Jack Rodwell, the better. With the exception of Asoro who has joined Swansea, the rest of them look to be sticking around. I couldn’t question the commitment of any of the young players during a difficult campaign and I’m sure last season’s experiences will benefit them all in the long run.

You appeared to suffer from not having a commanding goalkeeper last season. How do you feel about the signing of Jon McLaughlin?

Again, like our new manager, he comes highly rated in Scotland, recently picking up his first international cap. He is someone with plenty of experience and a player that Jack Ross will know a lot about. All I can say is that after some of the performances from messrs Ruiter, Steele and Camp; he’s surely got to be an improvement on those three. Steele has moved on to Brighton and Camp has returned to Cardiff. McLaughlin has came here to play and put some pressure on Ruiter, and competition for places is always healthy. We have promising Polish stopper Max Stryjek also, who I expect to get an opportunity too.

You seemed to struggle with basic crosses into the box. Do you think the signings of Alim Ozturk and Tom Flanagan will solve that problem?

I think that it has to. Improvement at the back is imperative. We have ambitions to win promotion and having a solid defence is a must in order to do that. I’m not sure that those two will be the only signings in that area either. Jack Ross is still in the market for one, possibly two more centre-backs, so it will be interesting to see what develops in that area before the summer window closes. Flanagan can operate in both full-back positions as well as in the middle; so he gives us greater options in that respect. The squad remains relatively small despite the signings we’ve made, and I believe there will still be a few more to come in throughout all areas of the side.

Left-back Reece James signs from Wigan. Are you hoping he’ll offer a bit more energy than Bryan Oviedo?

Yeah I’m pleased with the signing of James. He was a big part of the Wigan side that gained promotion from this league last season, which is exactly the type of player we need. Oviedo, like a few others, struggled at times last season. The intensity wasn’t there at times and that frustrated Chris Coleman on more than one occasion. Having said that though, there is a question mark over Reece James’ fitness as he’s picked up one or two injuries in recent seasons, meaning he’s missed a lot of football. But if we can keep him fit, he could turn out to be a good signing for us.

The right-back spot looks up for grabs at present. Do you see Adam Matthews or Donald Love taking it?

Matthews played a lot more football that Love last season, and I think that will be the case this campaign. I see Matthews getting the nod on the opening day against Charlton.

Chris Maguire can be a talent at League One level but he’s the type of player who needs to be surrounded with willing runners to get the best out of him. Do you think Ross will build a team around him?

I think the signing of Maguire has slipped under the radar a little. I liked him at Sheffield Wednesday and he seems to have lost his way a little. He has spoken of the big challenge here at Sunderland and how excited he seems by it. He struggled at times during a difficult spell at Bury but if we can get the best out of him he will be a real asset in this league. I think he will play a lot of games this coming season. The younger lads; your Honeymans and Goochs will have to provide the legs for him!

You’ve not at the time of writing added a central midfielder (assuming Dylan McGeouch is more attacking). Is the club hoping that Lee Cattermole or Didier Ndong will step up in League One?

Ndong wont kick another ball for Sunderland; I’m sure of that. He was disinterested last season and will be keener than ever to head through the exit door. There has been interest from Atalanta, Trabzonspor and Cardiff without anything materializing. A £6m move to Torino fell through in early summer as personal terms couldn’t be agreed, which was frustrating for all parties. The funds would be a great boost to the coffers, but I still believe a buyer will be found. Lee Cattermole had a poor season in The Championship and he divides opinion on Wearside. He is not the player he once was. Those combative, driving, all-action displays are becoming less and less frequent. There has been no concrete interest, but it would be intriguing to see how Jack Ross and the club react should any inquiries be made. It’s looking likely that Reading’s George Evans will join us, and I would expect another midfielder to join before the window closes.

You’ve not got any left-footed wingers in the squad at present. Is that an area you need to strengthen?

That’s a very good point, one I’ll admit to not giving too much thought to throughout the summer! We need to strengthen all over the squad, that much is clear, and we are prioritizing some areas over others, which is understandable. We have Honeyman, Maguire, Gooch, McGeady and even McManaman who can all play there, and Duncan Watmore to a certain degree when he returns to fitness. I wouldn’t say it’s an area we are genuinely lacking in, but that’s not to say that should the right player become available, I’m sure Jack Ross will take a look.

Are you hoping another striker comes in, too?

Yeah, at the moment that is the main area that needs our attention and focus. As a club, if you are serious about mounting a promotion push, then securing the services of a front man who can bag you 15-20 league goals is a must. There are irons in the fire at the moment, Charlie Wyke from Bradford being one of them; there is firm interest there and not just from us either. We have also bid a reported seven figures for Cheltenham’s Mohamed Eisa as well so our need for attacking reinforcements has certainly been cranked up a notch or two in recent days. I like what I’ve seen from Eisa, and stepping up to play for a club the size of Sunderland will take some adjusting to. He looks an exciting talent though, and if we can get that one over the line, he could be turn out to be a shrewd piece of business. I have a feeling we will be busier still this summer.

Black Cats aside, what are your thoughts ahead of the League One season as a whole?

A genuine hard slog; a 46 game marathon where winning ugly away at some tough, unfamiliar places will define your season, at both the top and bottom of the league. Its very competitive and not for the faint hearted by any stretch. It’s not going to be a stroll in the park for anyone that’s for sure.

Any potential dark horses for you?

I think Charlton and Portsmouth will be our main dangers, maybe even throwing Barnsley into the mix as well. Dark horses? I’ll go for the two promoted teams, Luton and Coventry. They look like the types of clubs that can carry on their momentum from League Two.

Where will you finish?

My head says play offs but my heart says top of the league! Ask me again when the window shuts and all the deals are done!

Thanks to Michael for his answers. The Football Lab’s verdict on Sunderland can be found on We Love Betting from late July.