The Black Cats are a proper unknown quantity this season. There is no appetite on Wearside to navel-gaze about the bigger picture or embark on a recruitment drive that doubles up as an insurance policy in case they’re relegated.
Instead Sunderland have – in the words of one senior source – decided to “have a go” this summer, exhausting director of football Florent Ghisolfi’s contacts book and maxing out the club’s credit card to create an entirely new team.
The other thing that stands out is the youth of this side. With the exception of Granit Xhaka they haven’t signed a player over 30 this summer.
A bold philosophy
It’s a risky strategy. Not a bankrupt-the-club sort of jeopardy but having seven debutants on day one feels like a “Go big or go home” sort of philosophy. How refreshing, then, that the bravery of boss Regis Le Bris and recruitment team was rewarded with what felt like a statement win.
Xhaka’s experience will be vital (Photo: Reuters)
Even more worrying was Potter’s attempts to excuse it in the press conference afterwards, talking of fine margins, failing to cope in “moments” and suggesting Sunderland’s gameplan amounted to just swinging balls into the box.
In The i Paper’s pre-season predictions I tipped them to finish 14th this season, which drew comments from contacts. But this could be a strange old campaign, with nine Premier League teams in Europe and potentially vulnerable from midweek exertions.
It’s all hypotheticals in August but an opening day victory gives Sunderland some momentum and belief.
Add into that mix the wily old head of Xhaka – crucial during West Ham’s period of dominance in the first half – and 20-year-old Noah Sadiki and it feels like there are some foundations to build on here.
It was crucial that they got off to a good start. Much has been made of their gentle reintroduction to the Premier League – they travel to Burnley next before facing a Brentford side in a period of flux – but if West Ham are a mediocre side they’re still a Premier League staple.
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But neither, it seems, are Sunderland. After riding a period of West Ham pressure in the first half they emerged in the second period with more belief. Le Bris, whose reading of games is seriously astute, had made alterations and Eliezer Mayenda’s brilliant angled header was just reward.
The Stadium of Light was in raptures, with fans clad in red, white and the brilliant blue of their stylish away shirt singing about being top of the league (which they were, on alphabetical order).
They’re not daft enough to assume there won’t be hardship and suffering this season but, equally, there’s the potential for it to be an enjoyable ride for Le Bris’ disruptors.
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