cr7torossi
30 Jul 2007, 12:45 PM
Sunderland
Odds on championship: 2,000-1.
Odds on relegation: 100-30
Manager: Roy Keane (since August 2006). Odds on first out the job: 20-1
Last season: Championship first, 88 points; FA Cup third round; Carling Cup first round
In: Michael Chopra (Cardiff, £5m); Kieran Richardson (Manchester United, £6m); Dickson Etuhu (Norwich, £1.5m); Greg Halford (Reading, £2.5m); Russell Anderson (Aberdeen, £1m); Paul McShane (West Brom, £2.5m)
Out: Stephen Elliott (Wolves, undisclosed); Tommy Miller (Ispwich, free); Kenny Cunningham, William Mocquet (released); Jonny Evans, Danny Simpson (both Man Utd, end of loan)
To state the blindingly obvious, managers are key figures at every club. Still, there are few more central to their team's chances than Roy Keane. Steve Coppell, perhaps, but football's most famous dog lover could give the Reading boss a run for his money. Last August, eyebrows were rupturing ceiling panels at the news of his appointment by Niall Quinn, but everything that has happened since has proved the sceptics (present company included) wrong.
It is hard to know what is most frightening about Roy Keane (and his dogs), but there is a case that it's the eyes (of the master, not the canines). I can never tell who he is looking at when he's interviewed, but I'm glad it's not me. In John le Carre's Tinker, Taylor, Soldier, Spy there is an espionage double act described as "the iron first in the iron glove". That is Keane, all by himself. Who would dare draw, let alone lose, heaven forbid get relegated, if you had to face that stare in the dressing room?
Yet if you strip away the RK factor, Sunderland's squad does not look like one to trouble the top half. And if you can't trouble the top half then you're in trouble yourself.
Keane has tried to strengthen the squad and the board have put their faith in the manager. The problem is that having money doesn't mean you can spend it.
First there is location, location, location. Sunderland fans may want to rip my heart out for the comparison, but Kieron Dyer's reported desire to leave Newcastle for the south as his family are still in Ipswich illustrates the problem for clubs on a geographical limb.
Second, the new TV deal and the arrival of assorted foreign gazillionaires means that the Premiership is awash with cash, devaluing money. Niall Quinn has been faced with some eyewatering wage demands that he doesn't feel able to match. Third, though some players will chase an extra few grand as if the world depended on it, plenty realise that one of the luxuries of being rich beyond your ability to spend is that you don't have to.
In all these circumstances, even offering over the odds is no guarantee of success. Sunderland are far from alone in facing some of these problems and repetition of these points will be limited in future previews. But some apply most strongly to the Wearsiders.
Yet perhaps I've looked into those eyes for too long and am about to order the cheapest items on the menu, because I think Keane will lead Sunderland to safety. I even think that his most notorious buy will prove a success.
Kieran Richardson has been widely mocked - and on the basis of some of his performances for Manchester United, that's no surprise. I am sure Sir Alex was pleasantly pleased with the £6m he picked up. But at last Richardson is going to know that he is playing as a first choice. He also knows that if he doesn't succeed now then the next stop is the Championship.
Keane's other big buy is Michael Chopra. Signing a former Newcastle player is creating another hostage to fortune, but if he and Richardson can make a success of it then the January window may prove less frustrating.
Russell Anderson was a key player for Aberdeen last season and perhaps Keane has hit upon a bright idea there, shopping in even more geographically challenged areas. He has also picked up Paul McShane from West Brom - players whose team missed out narrowly on promotion may also be good bets to plunder and those who have not secured a move elsewhere may be more willing to consider Sunderland the closer the transfer deadline comes.
Richardson and Keane will make an early return to Old Trafford, on 1 September. The fixture list has handed Sunderland a mixture of the daunting and the significant. Spurs and Liverpool travel to the Stadium of Light, while they visit Birmingham and Wigan - how much does Keane wish the venues for those four matches could be reversed?
But no-one will welcome a trip to Wearside in the opening weeks, and possibly not at all. Keane will duck no challenge and whatever happens in August I expect to be anticipating his team's second season in the Premier League this time next year. If so, then a charismatic manager building a reputation for success in front of a heaving stadium will seem more attractive to transfer targets.
Opening matches: 11 Aug, Spurs (h); 14 Aug, Birmingham (a); 18 Aug, Wigan (a); 25 Aug, Liverpool (h); 1 Sept, Man Utd (a)
For those who don't know about it, there was a 5-year plan when the Drumaville(sp) consortium bought Sunderland. And according to the initial plan, they were supposed to get promoted in their second year. So, they have been ahead of plan but it also makes survival so much more crucial because if they go down(again!), they would not only be one year behind but also the damage done to the image of the club would be irrepairable, atleast during the proposed 5-year time(Keano and Quinny have already experienced how difficult it is to convince players to come to a club with a yo-yo reputation and a poor location). This is IMO, the big reason why they are willing to spend, and spend big this season.
I think the point about the fixtures being reversed is very true. Recent history has shown that it is absolutely essential for a promoted team to have a good start if they have to avoid relegation. But, that's where Sunderland might struggle. Their team is desperately short of premiership quality right now and even if he does buy some quality players now, it will be difficult to gel them into a well-drilled unit for the early part of the season.
As for their signings, most of them seem to be good Championship players but IMO have big question marks on whether they can step up.
Their defence is dodgy, Anderson though unspectatular would give his best every time, McShane and Nos(which might be their starting CB pairing as per DS) would be quite good in the air but is still very unconvincing on the whole. Upfront too, you have to wonder where the goals are going to come from. Their star player last season was Edwards, but will Halford provide the same support as Simpson?
Too many question marks, but the good thing going for Keano is that the consortium is going to support him in the transfer market and there are quite a few teams comparable in quality right now.
Odds on championship: 2,000-1.
Odds on relegation: 100-30
Manager: Roy Keane (since August 2006). Odds on first out the job: 20-1
Last season: Championship first, 88 points; FA Cup third round; Carling Cup first round
In: Michael Chopra (Cardiff, £5m); Kieran Richardson (Manchester United, £6m); Dickson Etuhu (Norwich, £1.5m); Greg Halford (Reading, £2.5m); Russell Anderson (Aberdeen, £1m); Paul McShane (West Brom, £2.5m)
Out: Stephen Elliott (Wolves, undisclosed); Tommy Miller (Ispwich, free); Kenny Cunningham, William Mocquet (released); Jonny Evans, Danny Simpson (both Man Utd, end of loan)
To state the blindingly obvious, managers are key figures at every club. Still, there are few more central to their team's chances than Roy Keane. Steve Coppell, perhaps, but football's most famous dog lover could give the Reading boss a run for his money. Last August, eyebrows were rupturing ceiling panels at the news of his appointment by Niall Quinn, but everything that has happened since has proved the sceptics (present company included) wrong.
It is hard to know what is most frightening about Roy Keane (and his dogs), but there is a case that it's the eyes (of the master, not the canines). I can never tell who he is looking at when he's interviewed, but I'm glad it's not me. In John le Carre's Tinker, Taylor, Soldier, Spy there is an espionage double act described as "the iron first in the iron glove". That is Keane, all by himself. Who would dare draw, let alone lose, heaven forbid get relegated, if you had to face that stare in the dressing room?
Yet if you strip away the RK factor, Sunderland's squad does not look like one to trouble the top half. And if you can't trouble the top half then you're in trouble yourself.
Keane has tried to strengthen the squad and the board have put their faith in the manager. The problem is that having money doesn't mean you can spend it.
First there is location, location, location. Sunderland fans may want to rip my heart out for the comparison, but Kieron Dyer's reported desire to leave Newcastle for the south as his family are still in Ipswich illustrates the problem for clubs on a geographical limb.
Second, the new TV deal and the arrival of assorted foreign gazillionaires means that the Premiership is awash with cash, devaluing money. Niall Quinn has been faced with some eyewatering wage demands that he doesn't feel able to match. Third, though some players will chase an extra few grand as if the world depended on it, plenty realise that one of the luxuries of being rich beyond your ability to spend is that you don't have to.
In all these circumstances, even offering over the odds is no guarantee of success. Sunderland are far from alone in facing some of these problems and repetition of these points will be limited in future previews. But some apply most strongly to the Wearsiders.
Yet perhaps I've looked into those eyes for too long and am about to order the cheapest items on the menu, because I think Keane will lead Sunderland to safety. I even think that his most notorious buy will prove a success.
Kieran Richardson has been widely mocked - and on the basis of some of his performances for Manchester United, that's no surprise. I am sure Sir Alex was pleasantly pleased with the £6m he picked up. But at last Richardson is going to know that he is playing as a first choice. He also knows that if he doesn't succeed now then the next stop is the Championship.
Keane's other big buy is Michael Chopra. Signing a former Newcastle player is creating another hostage to fortune, but if he and Richardson can make a success of it then the January window may prove less frustrating.
Russell Anderson was a key player for Aberdeen last season and perhaps Keane has hit upon a bright idea there, shopping in even more geographically challenged areas. He has also picked up Paul McShane from West Brom - players whose team missed out narrowly on promotion may also be good bets to plunder and those who have not secured a move elsewhere may be more willing to consider Sunderland the closer the transfer deadline comes.
Richardson and Keane will make an early return to Old Trafford, on 1 September. The fixture list has handed Sunderland a mixture of the daunting and the significant. Spurs and Liverpool travel to the Stadium of Light, while they visit Birmingham and Wigan - how much does Keane wish the venues for those four matches could be reversed?
But no-one will welcome a trip to Wearside in the opening weeks, and possibly not at all. Keane will duck no challenge and whatever happens in August I expect to be anticipating his team's second season in the Premier League this time next year. If so, then a charismatic manager building a reputation for success in front of a heaving stadium will seem more attractive to transfer targets.
Opening matches: 11 Aug, Spurs (h); 14 Aug, Birmingham (a); 18 Aug, Wigan (a); 25 Aug, Liverpool (h); 1 Sept, Man Utd (a)
For those who don't know about it, there was a 5-year plan when the Drumaville(sp) consortium bought Sunderland. And according to the initial plan, they were supposed to get promoted in their second year. So, they have been ahead of plan but it also makes survival so much more crucial because if they go down(again!), they would not only be one year behind but also the damage done to the image of the club would be irrepairable, atleast during the proposed 5-year time(Keano and Quinny have already experienced how difficult it is to convince players to come to a club with a yo-yo reputation and a poor location). This is IMO, the big reason why they are willing to spend, and spend big this season.
I think the point about the fixtures being reversed is very true. Recent history has shown that it is absolutely essential for a promoted team to have a good start if they have to avoid relegation. But, that's where Sunderland might struggle. Their team is desperately short of premiership quality right now and even if he does buy some quality players now, it will be difficult to gel them into a well-drilled unit for the early part of the season.
As for their signings, most of them seem to be good Championship players but IMO have big question marks on whether they can step up.
Their defence is dodgy, Anderson though unspectatular would give his best every time, McShane and Nos(which might be their starting CB pairing as per DS) would be quite good in the air but is still very unconvincing on the whole. Upfront too, you have to wonder where the goals are going to come from. Their star player last season was Edwards, but will Halford provide the same support as Simpson?
Too many question marks, but the good thing going for Keano is that the consortium is going to support him in the transfer market and there are quite a few teams comparable in quality right now.