Sunderland are this season’s big attraction in League One – these days there always seems to be a fallen giant in the third tier – but are the Black Cats strong enough to begin their resurgence?
Predictably, they have been installed as pre-season favourites to be crowned champions. But it’s not as cut and dry as that – it never is for the Mackems. After successive relegations the club has faced plenty of turmoil.
To be linked with such names as Charlie Wyke, Jack Baldwin and Luke O’Nien – and this is no disrespect to three very talented lower league players, with Baldwin’s capture from Peterborough an impressive one – does illustrate how they have fallen from grace. It is, afterall, just two years since Sam Allardyce kept the club in the Premier League with a stunning end-of-season run sparked by the form of England striker Jermain Defoe. A year later, England’s new hero Jordan Pickford became their number one.
The Stadium of Light has become a happy hunting ground for many a visiting side in the last three years. That must change and it has to be made an intimidating place again for the Black Cats to prosper. Not many players in League One will be used to a near 50,000 all-seater – and Mackems will back their side if they are winning games, regardless of the level it’s at.
It will not be easy for Sunderland, but they will fancy their chances of following former Premier League champions Blackburn Rovers in sealing an immediate return. Other ex-top flight clubs such as Sheffield United took a while to get back out. And the likes of Wolves, Leeds United, Leicester City and Nottingham Forest have been down here too. They’ll all tell you the attributes required, but it seems Sunderland have gone about it the right way this summer.
Jack Ross is a relative unknown manager but beat Brendan Rogers to Scotland’s Manager of the Year Award after taking Sr Mirren into the top flight. He has scouted well and identified players suited to the division without delusions of grandeur. Glenn Loovens and Tom Flanagan add steel and Chris Maguire and Jerome Sinclair some flair, with Baldwin giving knowhow and potential. Allied with a handful of young talent – their only bright sparks in recent seasons – in Lynden Gooch, Donald Love and Duncan Watmore, and they will be competitive enough.
But it’s not all about Sunderland. There are plenty of clubs who will fancy their chances. With a manager like Steve Evans, Peterborough United should be fancied to trouble the promotion spots. Since relegation from The Championship in heartbreaking circumstances in 2013, Posh have struggled to get back. Ever-bullish owner Darragh MacAnthony continues to put his money where his mouth his. As well as Baldwin, they have lost top scorer Jack Marriott to Derby County, but Evans – as he demands wherever he goes – has been backed to spend, too.
Posh are usually an attacking force, and Evans usually reaches at least the play-offs. He will demand it of his players again and the wily Scot is likely to deliver. They have bought plenty of promise and exciting young talent. Matt Godden could be a ready-made replacement for Marriott if he lives up to the potential shown scoring plenty for Stevenage, while Alex Woodyard has starred during Lincoln City’s recent rise and Siriki Dembele adds flair and pace on the wings. Jason Cummings should be too good for this level, on loan from Nottingham Forest.
In Derek Adams, Plymouth Argyle have a manager proving to be one of the best outside the top two divisions. After securing promotion from League Two, they very nearly gatecrashed the play-offs after recovering from a woeful start last term. The Green Army have momentum, still have the mercurial Graham Carey and have a returning favourite in winger Gregg Wylde. Simon Church adds knowhow at the top to get on the end of Carey and Wylde’s work. They will threaten the play-offs at least, as will Portsmouth – with the evergreen Brett Pitman continuing to lead the line and promotion expert Kenny Jackett having had another summer to shuffle his pack and employ his demands.
Charlton Athletic missed out in the play-offs last season and will be keen to themselves make a long-awaited return to the Championship. Another of the former Premier League mainstays to find themselves in the third tier, Charlton usually figure in the promotion hunt at this level. The Valley is another place where off-field uncertainty has affected their chances of on-field success, with manager Lee Bowyer still only in caretaker capacity and a takeover saga ongoing. Getting a good start could be crucial to uniting the club again. They have kept the side together that reached the play-off semi-finals, Bowyer is all the wiser for the experienced, and in Lyle Taylor and Darren Pratley they have added experience and quality for this level.
As outsiders, don’t bet against upwardly mobile Luton Town figuring in the shake-up. Having finally won promotion last term, Nathan Jones’ men have an attack-minded squad oozing quality in front of goal and will take the game to their opponents. The young boss is also backed in the transfer market, with the addition of Jorge Grant (20 goals from midfield for League Two Notts County last term) increasing their potency even further. More additions are expected to follow.
