Sunderland
New faces fail to brighten the Stadium of Light
Useful information
Sergeant Major Reid: the record-breaking expletive-merchent of the Premiership, it appears
Photograph: PAUL McFEGAN  |
Summer summary: Same as always; linked with the likes of Ray Parlour, Paul Scholes and Ugo Ehiogu, but sign the comparably unheralded Tom Peters and Stanislav Varga. Cue murmours of discontent from supporters, exacerbated by ordinary pre-season results, and a weary, knowing response from Peter Reid, the manager.
Transfers in: Don Hutchison (Everton) £2.5m; Tom Peters (KV Mechelen) £250,000; Jurgen Macho (FC Vienna) free; Stanislav Varga (SK Slovan Bratislava) £800,000; Julio Arca (Argentinos Juniors) £3.5m.
Transfers out: Allan Johnston (Glasgow Rangers) free; Gerry Harrison, released; Gregg Shannon, released.
Looking forward to: The debut appearance of Jürgen Macho, the goalkeeper signed from FC Vienna, whose name could double for a Village People song. A swearbox being installed in the home dressing-room, which could then comfortably fund the illustrious transfers craved by the fans.
Worried about: Whether last season’s success can be replicated. From Christmas on, Sunderland lost nine league matches compared to three before, a long run of frailty that was never satisfactorily rectified or explained. This time, there will be no buzz of being newly promoted and their rivals will be prepared for Kevin Phillips and Niall Quinn.
Tactical profile: Four-four-two, on pain of death. Pass and move, early delivery from the flanks, a nod-down from Quinn and on to Phillips. Aggressive when hunting possession, a quality that will be encouraged by the arrival of Don Hutchison from Everton. Expect at least one visit to Lancaster Gate.
Style: More boots and braces than Hugo Boss.
One player they need: Hutchison, Gavin McCann and Stefan Schwarz will offer plenty of bite, but the midfield would be lightened by a truly creative presence, something shared by most other English clubs. Individualism is not a key note of Sergeant Major Reid’s regime, however.
Fans’ gripe: That a club which now boasts a higher average attendance than Arsenal, Chelsea and Leeds United should continue to rummage in the bargain- basement of world football. Will their penny-pinching return to haunt them? As Phillips said recently: "If I was playing for Manchester United, Tottenham or Arsenal, I would have played in Euro 2000." A coded warning, perhaps?
Up-and-coming prospects: Greatness is predicted for Thomas Butler, the 19-year-old midfield player from Ballymun, Ireland. Has one league appearance to his name already (against West Ham United as a substitute) and more will undoubtedly follow. Other young talent waits in the wings.
Likely disaster: At the time of writing, Phillips, Quinn, Steve Bould, Chris Makin, Paul Butler, Kevin Kilbane, Danny Dichio, Schwarz and McCann were all nursing injuries of varying degrees of seriousness, while Hutchison and Alex Rae are both suspended for the beginning of the season.
A dodgy start and who knows what may follow?
Potential of new signings: Hutchison is an addition of proven quality, provided this new model of maturity - and self-confessed supporter of Newcastle United - stays clear of trouble in his native North East. The rest are, as usual, unknown quantities.
Sample headlines: "Hutch Don Good", "Macho Man".
Most appropriate Hollywood movie: The Blair Witch Project. Low budget and not for the faint-hearted, but brings in the public. Nothing shot in black and white, of course.
Least likely TV soundbites: “No, goodness me, I’m not disappointed, it’s only a game. It’s back to my house for tea and cucumber sandwiches,” Peter Reid. “I’m 100 per cent behind Kevin Keegan, probably the best manager England could wish for,” Phillips.
Lookalikes: Phillips and Quinn as Little and Large. Reid and, according to cheeky Newcastle supporters, a “monkey’s head”.
Most bizarre statistic: Reid uttered 121,684 expletives in the course of the 1999-2000 season, a record for the FA Carling Premiership. Apparently.
Prediction: Sunderland will be expected to build on last season’s seventh place, but their summer acquisitions have a distinctly low-key feel. Top half and a decent Cup run.
GEORGE CAULKIN
Useful information
Squad: 1 Thomas Sorensen; 2 Chris Makin; 3 Michael Gray; 4 Don Hutchison; 5 Steve Bould; 6 Paul Butler; 7 Nicky Summerbee; 8 Gavin McCann; 9 Niall Quinn; 10 Kevin Phillips; 11 Kevin Kilbane; 12 Danny Dichio; 13 Andy Marriott; 14 Darren Holloway; 15 Carsten Fredgaard; 16 Alex Rae; 17 Jody Craddock; 18 Darren Williams; 19 Eric Roy; 20 Stefan Schwarz; 21 Paul Thirlwell; 22 Neil Wainwright; 23 Chris Lumsdon; 24 George McCartney; 25 Mark Maley; 26 Thomas Butler; 27 Michael Reddy; 28 John Oster; 29 Tom Peeters; 30 Jurgen Macho; 31 Milton Nunez; 32 Stanislav Varga; 34 Kevin Kyle.
Stadium: Sunderland Stadium of Light
Capacity: 48,300
Address: Sunderland SR5 1SU
Telephone number: 0191-551 5000
Clubcall: 09068 12 11 40
Official website: www.sunderland-afc.com
Busy and packed with news and features. Loyal fans should head to the Roker Roar section and a useful list of supporters’ branches as far afield as Australia.
Unofficial site: www.safcnet.co.uk
The online fanzine provides match reports, polls and a forum. The daily news is also translated weekly into French and German, for those continental supporters. Sign up for the e-mail newsletter.
Manager: Peter Reid
Chairman: Bob Murray
Ticket details: 0191-551 5151 (ticket hotline); 0990 862015 (Ticketmaster, 24 hrs)
Ticket prices: £17-£23
Cheapest/most expensive adult season ticket: £325/£445
Recommended radio station: Sun 103.4 FM
Programme: £2
Fanzine: A Love Supreme
Cost of adult replica shirt: £39.99
Training ground: Charlie Hurley Centre, Whitburn
Directions to ground: A ten to 15-minute walk from Sunderland train station. Bus Nos. 131 and 538 run to the stadium from the Park Lane Bus Station. The stadium is by the River Wear, near Southwick Rd (B1289). Some street parking; a park and ride scheme operates off the A1231. At evening matches, look out for the Batman-style vertical spotlights beamed from the stadium high into the night sky.
Pubs near the ground: Few for away fans. Try The New Derby, Roker Baths Rd, or The Wessington (for families), Wessington Way.
