Salut! Sunderland’s codgers on tour: looking ahead, predicting top 10

 
Pete Sixsmith and Colin Randall are rarely lost for words. Sixer was probably already thinking about his full-size preview of the season – see it at https://safc.blog/2013/08/they-say-weve-got-a-revolution-sixer-previews-the-new-season/ – when along came Espnfc.com with questions to us, and supporters of the 19 other Premier clubs, on how we reckoned things might go. Here is a synopsis of our responses* (we divided them up; Pete’s prediction, unseen here, was for us to finish ninth) …

What’s changed since last season?

Sixer: It would be easier to say what hasn’t. With any luck, along with the manager, back room staff and playing personnel, there has been a change in the mindset of the club so that the Black Cats can perhaps begin at last to reward the loyal 37,000 fans who turn up every home game only to be disappointed at the end of every season.

Key to this campaign?

Colin Randall: How Sunderland cope with a terrible run of home games that stretches from Arsenal on September 14 to Spurs on December 7, with only the opening game, against Fulham, and the derby versus Newcastle, against teams that finished lower then seventh last season.

Predicted finish/realistic goal

CR: If Sunderland cannot aim for top ten, the club ought to give up. It is the least the owner, Ellis Short, will expect as a return for all his investment … Provided the Black Cats are comfortable in the league, a decent run in one of the cups wouldn’t go amiss.

Make or break season for…

Sixer: Ellis Short. He has put a lot of time and money into something that he has no real connection with. After seeing Roy Keane, Bruce and Martin O’Neill give him scant return and even less pleasure, he may regard Di Canio as the last throw of his Missouri dice. As for PDC, he will never get a better chance to achieve something.

For the SAFC v Fulham Guess the Score and the Fulham ‘Who are You?’, just go to the home page – https://safc.blog – and locate it …

One to watch
Sixer:

… Connor Wickham. [If not,] he will be on his way to the Championship.

* See the article in full, with links to other teams’ prospects, at http://espnfc.com/blog/_/name/sunderland/id/1871?cc=5739

** See the SAFC vs Fulham ‘Who are You? at https://safc.blog/2013/08/sunderland-v-fulham-the-famous-who-are-you-is-back/

*** And Guess the SAFC vs Fulham score at https://safc.blog/2013/08/safc-vs-fulham-guess-the-score/

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