Sunderland Championship Odds: Question marks remain over young Black Cats

Potential seems to be the buzzword around Sunderland at this moment in time. There is a hope in some quarters that this will be the season they break back into the Premier League for the first time since 2017. However, it has been another summer of change of Wearside as Regis Le Bris becomes their fourth permanent manager in the last two and half years. 

With a young and emerging squad, Sunderland feel like a club that could progress massively this term - but where do I think they will finish? Below you can find out, as I take a look at the Sunderland Championship odds and give my views on this squad. 

Last Season: 16th

Top Scorer: Jack Clarke (15)

Transfers In: Alan Browne - Preston (free), Ian Poveda - Leeds (free), Simon Moore - Coventry (free), Blondy Nna Noukeu - Stoke (free).

Transfers Out: Jack Diamond - Stockport (free), Ellis Taylor - Harrogate (free), Alex Bass - Notts County (free).

First Game: Cardiff (A)

Prediction: 10th

Championship Odds

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Sunderland 16th-place finish last term was utterly disastrous. Tony Mowbray had led them to the play-offs in the previous season with a very young squad, and they nearly beat Luton Town over two legs to make it to Wembley. Despite rumours of unrest, Mowbray remained as manager into the new campaign, but was sacked in December with the Black Cats in ninth. Mick Beale came in and was unpopular from the first minute, lasting just 12 matches before he was dismissed. Mike Dodds oversaw the final 13 games of a dreadful season, as they slumped to 16th with a talented squad.

The hunt for a new manager has been long, and unfortunately I can’t shake the feeling that Regis Le Bris wasn’t one of their first choices. His appointment came a few months later than I expected and his underlying numbers at Lorient were hardly inspiring. His side conceded an awful lot of chances, but he is known for his youth development, which will be important in the north-east. 

The highly-respected EFL pundit Gab Sutton, who features regularly on The Sportsman Untitled with me, has actually predicted the Black Cats to win the league this season based on their young and emerging squad. It’s a bold prediction, but one I can’t quite get on board with based on the outstanding questions that still remain.

Football Odds 

But there are plenty of positives. Dan Neil, Dan Ballard, Jobe Bellingham and Chris Rigg are all young talented football players whose ceiling is ultimately higher than the Championship. Owner Kyril Louis-Dreyfus and technical director Kristjaan Speakman have almost solely focused on bringing young players to the club, and it feels like this term we could see the fruits of their endeavours. 

Luke O’Nien and Patrick Roberts bring great experience and know-how, while in Jack Clarke they arguably have the best individual player in the division. He got 15 goals in a poor side last season, and - if he stays - is likely to beat that number in a more consistent side this time around. 

Trai Hulme is another who can perform at the top end of the Championship, while the addition of former Preston captain Alan Browne, is a fairly sizeable coup for the Black Cats. He offers huge experience, and should raise the level of everybody around him. He’s also a no-risk signing. He was performing at a high level for PNE for a decade, while Sunderland also need that level of experience to drive the young stars on. 

So with all this positivity, why don’t I have the Black Cats finishing in the top six? Well, as of yet, they haven’t got a top class number nine on the books, and it hampered them last term. That’s a position that needs filling, while if Clarke leaves, he simply is irreplaceable. 

I’ve also got major concerns over the man in the dugout. He could be phenomenal, but I think it is far more likely that Sunderland dispense of him during the season. For all of the above, I’ve popped them just inside the top 10, which will mark significant progress from last season.

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