Sunderland Season Preview

Brucey is putting together a nice little squad of players, isn't he? Of course, his signing as manager was a boost to the club. He knows his business, can recruit players and can get a team punching above their weight... if he/they are also prone to lose the plot from time to time. It also helps that he has the continued financial backing of the Sunderland board. But so far his purchases seem cannier than his predecesors.

In attack, Bruce has KJones and Darren Bent. While it remains to be seen how they gel together, both can play as a lone striker. Frazier Campbell is a good change of pace (literally) guy off the bench. Kieran Richardson can play attacking midfield or as a support striker, which is VERY interesting for fantasy purposes. On the wings, KRich is also an option on the left with Big Fat Andy Reid. On the right there is Malbranque and Carlos Edwards in reserve. The middle of the park is getting mighty crowded all of a sudden. Cattermole has just been brought/bought from Wigan, and joins Leadbitter, Cana and Tainio. I figure Lee the Catt will be an every week starter, but I don't know who his partner will be. And, if as seems likely, Bruce opts to play a 4-5-1 often, there may be room for two of those three.

The keeper situation is interesting. Last season Gordon was hurt and Fulop came in and did reasonably well. As well as Gordon ever did really. I'm not sure who the presumptive starter is, but if it is Gordon - and he's the bigger name and transfer fee - he's cheap at 4.43. Fulop is more expensive, but still cheap for a starting (if he is starting) keeper.

The backline should be helped by McCartney's return to fitness. Ferdinand should continue to improve and Collins is an under-rated player at center or left back. There will also be competition for places with Da Silva joining the party. And I would assume, based on the middies discussed above, that team defence will be a priority this season.

All in all, I think Sunderland should expect improvements this season and there should be opportunities for fantasy managers to capitalize.

Possible Starting XI:  Fulop, Bardsley, Ferdinand, Collins, McCartney, Malbranque, Richardson, Cattermole, Reid, Jones, Bent

Players to Watch:

Kieran Richardson - KRich has been nothing short of infuriating in the real and fantasy worlds alike.  He has shown flashes of being a very good player followed up by anonymous performances and/or spells on the injury list.  He is priced accordingly to start the season.  If you asked me if I'd consider making him a permanent fixture on my roster, I'd have to say "no" unless someone guaranteed me that he would remain healthy.  If I were looking at the schedule and saw that Sunderland had a stretch of matches coming up against middling or worse opposition and KRich were currently healthy and priced under 10, I'd definitely start thinking about how to add him to the team.

Kenwyne Jones - Thus far we've seen two KJs in his two seasons with Sunderland.  The first was a pretty strong option at a pretty good price as he consistently provided phantom points from SOTs and CWs while contributing goals regularly enough for you to be pretty happy you had him in the 6s or 7s and maybe even up to 10.  Last season was a bit of a lost year for KJ.  He was injured for a fair stretch of matches and when he did play he wasn't nearly as successful as he had been the year before.  Was this him reverting to his mean performance level? or a one year abberation due to injury and changes at Sunderland? My guess is that with the addition of Darren Bent KJ will look more like the guy who burst on the scene two seasons ago and made everyone who criticized the price Roy Keane paid look silly.  That said, I think his price of 10.88 to start the year is just about right if not a little bit on the high side based on last year's production.  If he dips below 10 at some point and Sunderland aren't facing a trip to Old Trafford then I'd definitely think about picking him up.

Frazier Campbell - Even with Keano in the rearview mirror apparently Sunderland have not lost their taste for ManYoo trainees.  Campbell didn't really make too much of his loan spell at Spurs last season but given the drama there, I wouldn't read too much into that.  The real problem he is going to face is that with the money spent on KJ and DBent, he's going to be no better than a relief striker getting 20 or 30 minutes on an average day and then the occasional start when one of the starters is rested/suspended/injured.  If that happens and it looks like he's going to get a stretch of playing time then I'd recommend giving him a shot at his current price.  For now though, try to ignore the rock bottom price and focus on how little he's likely to play.