After another season of struggle last time out. Sunderland are looking at this season with a renewed sense of hope even after an indifferent pre-season on the pitch.
Sunderland Pre-Season And The Season Ahead
Last season’s saviour, Dick Advocaat, did the club and its supporters a massive favour by completing a u-turn on his decision to retire from club management. Talks between himself, sporting director Lee Congerton and owner Ellis Short as well as a few words with Mrs Advocaat convinced him to return to the role of Sunderland Head Coach. It is understood that Advocaat believed that the Sunderland first team required six new signings to avoid a repeat of last seasons and other season’s struggles that are still fresh in the memory.
Advocaat, Congerton and Short got to work on identifying the players that would improve Sunderland’s starting 11. Several weeks went by with many players rumoured to be on Sunderland’s radar. The first player to put pen to paper was last season’s loanee Sebastian Coates. The defender signed a four year deal for a fee of around £2 million. Soon after Celtic full back Adam Matthews signed for £2 million on a four year deal. With Sunderland getting their transfer dealings underway, the rumour mill went into overdrive, however the next bit of business didn’t happen for another couple of weeks when two players signed in the space of 24 hours. Flying winger/forward Jeremain Lens signed from Dynamo Kiev for a fee in the region of £8 million and then ex Tottenham captain Younes Kaboul came in to bolster the defence for £3 million.
While Lens and Kaboul were finalizing their deals, Sunderland had already got the pre season underway. Darlington were beaten 4-2 before they headed off for a tour of North America. Defeats in their first two games was not impressive but at the same time not entirely important at that stage. Jeremain Lens and Younes Kaboul joined up with their new team mates but did not feature in the last game of the tour where Sunderland beat Toronto to head home on a high note.
Sunderland returned home after their tour and immediately began work on player recruitment and trying to find new clubs for players deemed surplus to requirements. It has been reported that Advocaat still wants at least an attacking midfielder and a new striker to add to his four new recruits. It is understood that transfer funds are available but with no new signings looking imminent it maybe the case that the club are trying to off load players before bringing in new ones. With the season now very close, the pace will need to quicken on the transfer front if players coming in and out will be finalised before the first game of the season.
The high note of the Toronto game did not last long as a strong Sunderland side were beaten 2-0 at Doncaster Rovers. However there was a silver lining, new signing Jeremain Lens was very impressive on his debut. Sunderland will complete their pre season away at Hannover 96.
Looking at the pre season so far, once again it is obvious that Sunderland need another striker. Seven goals have been scored so far in five pre season games, four against non-league opposition. Reports coming out of the club indicate that Advocaat would like to sell one striker already on the books. If that is the case, one of the miss-firing pair of Steven Fletcher and Danny Graham could be heading out of the Stadium of Light.
With Dick Advocaat back in charge, more signings expected and deadwood to be moved on, Sunderland fans are optimistic once more that the upcoming season will put slightly less strain on their hearts and livers. A pre season that although may not have gone entirely well results wise has seen three new defenders come in and a winger/forward in Jeremain Lens that can finally solve the left-sided problem that has been troublesome for some time. Advocaat has stated that pre season is not necessarily about winning its about getting the players fit and getting them minutes on the pitch so they are ready for the first game of the season away at Leicester City. All Sunderland supporters will be hoping he is right and the team come out of the blocks flying as in recent seasons it has taken the club too long to get points on the board.
This time around supporters will be hoping to see a few more wins, only seven games were won last term, four at home. Out of these games two were victories of rivals Newcastle United. Although these games are great to win, Sunderland must turn up for games other than against their rivals. 17 games were also drawn, the most in league by quite a way. Sunderland are not too far away from taking the next step in the Premier League and if Advocaat can work his magic, Lee Congerton and Ellis Short can recruit the other players Advocaat requires then maybe that step can be taken. Along with that next step being taken, making it seven wins in a row against Newcastle would also help make next season a good one for all connected with Sunderland.
SUNDERLAND, UNITED KINGDOM – MARCH 20 : (EXCLUSIVE COVERAGE) New Sunderland manager Dick Advocaat during a Sunderland AFC training session at The Academy of Light on March 20, 2015 in Sunderland, England. (Photo by Ian Horrocks/Sunderland AFC via Getty Images)
