Sunderland AFC has become one of the more intimidating teams in this Premier League season. They’re the best-performing newly promoted team since Phil Brown’s Hull City in 2008. As the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) nears, the club readies for a challenging month ahead. Luckily for them, they’ve already established a ten-point cushion above the relegation zone and are just ahead of their arch-rivals. The coming weeks will test Sunderland’s resilience and strategic depth as they navigate one of the hardest runs of fixtures in the league.
Now, Sunderland have been one of the biggest success stories since being promoted last season, under the management of Regis Le Bris. The club’s recruitment plan, led by the head of recruitment Stuart Harvey, zeroed in on reliable defensive signings that’ve all worked out. Among these new, fresh faces is Granit Xhaka, a new, wizened midfielder who joined the would-be champions this summer at 33. His competitive streak, experience and leadership have equally been a critical factor in Sunderland’s strong run of form lately.
Defender-turned-goalkeeper Robin Roefs has been the star of the team, starting and finishing every match this season. His level of play has been a key to the Caps staying competitive in the league that values defensive consistency more than any other.
For all of Sunderland’s wonderful defensive organisation, this is the crux of the issue. The team has created the lowest expected goals tally in open play of any side in the Premier League and scored just seven more goals than relegated Plymouth last season. This is a troubling statistic that should give pause to their attacking prowess as they head into a gauntlet of challenging matches.
Sunderland coach Kevin Ball hopes victory over Chelsea can lift his side’s spirits before a crucial Tyne-Wear derby with Newcastle next week. This second win, of course, would ensure that they finish this season with more points than any of the three clubs which gained promotion last season. This derby is super special. Seven Sunderland players will be leaving to join up with their respective national teams after the match, potentially missing up to six league matches.
Recent performances have been encouraging and many of the new signings have made early contributions on the board. Sunderland’s recent recruitment hit-rate has been extremely impressive, with nine new signings playing in 10+ league matches so far. Of everyone in the league, Lutsharel Geertruida stands out the most—literally. He’s actually completed the fifth-most percentage of passes while under pressure. This number showcases Sunderland’s focus on disciplined defensive structure while successfully orchestrating the build-up from the back.
“The club knew exactly what they are buying, who they are buying, who is fitting in this team,” – Granit Xhaka
On and off the field, Le Bris has been adamant about setting a pragmatic tone, understanding what their club can achieve but accepting what they can’t do.
“We will not play like (Pep) Guardiola or (Roberto) De Zerbi, because we are Sunderland and I am Regis Le Bris,” – Regis Le Bris
As Sunderland prepares to face a run of challenging fixtures during the AFCON period, they must remain focused and resilient. Their forthcoming schedule very well could be one of the roughest stretches we’ve witnessed in any recent memory. The lack of a couple of critical players could further muddle the waters.
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