Premier League 2016-17 preview, predictions: No. 18, Sunderland
With the 2016-17 Premier League season kicking off this weekend, FC Yahoo is rolling out previews for all 20 teams. We’ll be working our way up from the bottom of our predicted table, all the way to the champions.
Last season: Would it really be a Sunderland season without a relegation scrap? The Black Cats again found themselves with significant ground to make up over the second half of the campaign, and again came alive in the spring, winning three and drawing three of their last six to survive.
What’s changed: Manager Sam Allardyce, who guided the escape, took the England job. He’s been replaced by David Moyes. Because of the protracted nature of Allardyce’s discussions with the FA, Moyes hasn’t had much time to add to a thin squad. The loan spells of DeAndre Yedlin, Yann M’Vila, Dame N’Doye and Ola Toivonen have expired, and the only replacement so far is center back Papy Djilobodji, who joined for £8 million from Chelsea. The latest news is that Djilobodji’s presumed partner in the center of defense, Lamina Kone, is on his way to Everton.
FC YAHOO TAKE
Alex Baker: Moyes is the perfect manager to help Sunderland kick on from where it has long dwelt, at the bottom rungs of the table, to a solid mid-table finish. Last season’s leading scorer Jermain Defoe has signed a deal to remain at the club, and the acquisition of Djilobodji should bolster the defense. While Moyes was out of his depth at Man United and Real Sociedad, guiding an underfunded club to a respectable mid-table finish is what he excels at, and his appointment as Big Sam’s successor provides him the perfect platform to do just that.
Shahan Ahmed: Moyes is a good manager, but Allardyce was the specialist that the Black Cats required to narrowly stave off relegation. When analyzing the squad, one cannot help but think Sunderland has one of the three weakest teams in the Premier League from a personnel standpoint, and unfortunately, Sunderland appears a prime contender to go down. After all, Defoe will turn 34 early in the 2015-16 campaign, so the goal-scoring savior of the past couple of seasons is due to slow down at some stage, right?
Bookmakers say: Point total over/under: 40.5 | Title odds: 1000/1 | Relegation odds: 5/2
FC YAHOO PREDICTIONS
Shahan Ahmed: 17 | Ryan Bailey: 19 | Alex Baker: 15 | Henry Bushnell: 15 | Joey Gulino: 16 | Joe Lago: 17 | Leander Schaerlaeckens: 15 | Average: 16.3 (18th)
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