Sunderland - fan's review of 2008/09 Premier League season
Sunderland - fan's review of 2008/09 Premier League season
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Tuesday, 02, Jun 2009 05:56
Good, bad or just the same old, same old? What the fans made of the 2008/09 season.
That wasn't how it was meant to pan out - the 2008/09 season was supposed to be the year in which Sunderland re-established themselves as a Premier League force.
Not necessarily as a team which was ready to challenge for the league title, one of the cups or even a Europa League place, but one which could at least finish in the relative comfort of mid-table obscurity and steer well clear of the scrap for survival.
Instead, the fans got another year of nail-biting tension; with dire winless runs only irregularly punctured by pockets of good form, the relegation battle went down to the wire and only the laughable ineptitude of north-east rivals Newcastle and Middlesbrough let the Black Cats off the hook.
That said, at least a place in the top division was secured for next season - the very least expected - so the year wasn't a total write-off.
And with new owner Ellis Short apparently ready to bank-roll a summer spending spree, mid-table mediocrity could be back on the cards.
The new season will also bring a new manager, with Steve Bruce hotly tipped to take over the Stadium of Light hotseat following the departure of Roy Keane and the inevitable resignation of Ricky Sbragia.
Grade: D
High Point
It was a long time coming - 28 years to be precise - but on Saturday, October 25th Sunderland beat Newcastle on their home turf.
As if that wasn't enough, the result was secured by an absolute thunderbolt of a free-kick from some-time England winger Kieran Richardson.
Of course, when Sunderland's disappointing campaign is put into regional context - the Mackems finished above Middlesbrough, Newcastle and Hull - the season as a whole could be considered as a high-point, especially considering Middlesbrough and Newcastle's eventual relegation to the Championship.
Low Point
There were a few.
Chelsea 5-0 Sunderland springs to mind. As does Sunderland 1-4 Bolton - the game that led to Keano's departure.
And allowing Afonso Alves to score in a 1-1 draw against Middlesbrough deserves an honourable mention.
But the worst performance of the season was undoubtedly West Brom 3-0 Sunderland on April 25th, when the Black Cats were played off the park by a side which would end up rooted to the foot of the table come the end of the season.
That day, it seemed that it wasn't just quality missing from the team but attitude and desire as well - a fact which, by apologising to the fans afterwards, boss Ricky Sbragia seemed to acknowledge.
The manager
Was it a surprise that Keane left mid-way through the season? Not really, given his history of unexpected exits and the poor run of form in the lead-up to his departure.
That said, Sunderland had started the season confidently enough so there was still hope the manager would turn things around before it was too late.
And, while he had spent around £70 million during his time at the club, Keane had proved his credentials as a manager by securing promotion at the first time of asking and guiding his team to safety in their first year back in the top flight.
His departure was therefore a blow, and while replacement Ricky Sbragia seemed to have the respect of the players he was not enough of a big name for an ambitious Sunderland hierarchy to consider as a viable alternative for next season. Cue another managerial change.
Fan's Player of the Year
- Kieran Richardson -
Danny Collins got the official award for the second season in a row, but in truth there was no outstanding candidate.
Anton Ferdinand started well but faded badly; Djibril Cisse occasionally sparkled but then went missing; Kenwyne Jones looked like he might replicate his form of the 2007/08 season but lacked consistency; and it was a similar story for Richardson.
However, his moment of individual brilliance against Newcastle elevates him above the rest of a misfiring pack.
Needs for Next Season
Where to start? Kenwyne Jones looks set to leave, with White Hart Lane the most probable destination, while the club has already parted company with Djibril Cisse after passing up on the chance to make his season-long loan permanent.
Reinforcements up front are therefore needed, with Darren Bent the most likely to make the move to Wearside. Wolfsburg's Bosnian striker Edin Dzeko has also been linked with a move to the north-east.
Elsewhere, a move for Rangers' Steven Davis is supposedly on the cards to add some craft to midfield and Zak Whitbread has apparently been lined up to plug a leaky defence.
However, much will depend on the new manager - and if that's Steve Bruce, then he'll be under pressure to unearth the next Wilson Palacios or Antonio Valencia.
Tim Lesnik