Sunderland AFC: 8 Bold Predictions for Sunderland in the 2011/12 Premier League

A rejuvenated Sunderland squad full of new signings will look to improve on last season's 10th place finish as Wearside brims with optimism and hope in the build up to the new season.

Boss Steve Bruce has been very active in the transfer market after American owner Ellis Short allowed Bruce to spend the £20 million Liverpool paid for the services of Jordan Henderson.

The former Manchester United defender has brought in nine new players and stretched the sum he has spent in three seasons with Sunderland to nearly £100 million.  Although some big sales have bankrolled much of that spending Sunderland fans and Ellis Short will be looking for a return in that investment with some positive displays on the field.

Here are eight bold predictions for the 2011/12 season...enjoy.

Captain Lee Cattermole is certain to be one of the first names on Steve Bruce’s team sheet on opening day, but with rumours already floating around it’s not certain just how long that will that last.

Cattermole flattered to deceive last season and when team performances were poor fans were quick to turn on Jordan Henderson, with Catts getting little blame.

The former England U21 International did make improvements last season, but with his occasional poor passing and often rash tackling he is not likely to last long this season. 

Unlike previous years Sunderland now have some depth in midfield. With Steve Bruce bringing in David Vaughan, Craig Gardner and Seb Larsson over the summer, it looks like Cattermole’s days in the first team, let alone as captain, are numbered.

This was a huge weakness for Sunderland last season, especially with both Kenwyne Jones and Darren Bent (who had accounted for over 40 goals the previous season) leaving the club and a lot of pressure was put on Ghanaian Asamoah Gyan to produce goals.

"Baby Jet" did enough to see Sunderland bag 10^th place, and became something of a fan favourite on Wearside with his cool demeanour. But after bagging 13 goals himself, the midfield did little to bolster that.

The addition of scoring midfielder Gardner, creativity of left-sided Vaughan along with the set piece accuracy provided by Seb Larsson, there will be a lot more goals from midfield this year, especially when Richardson or Sessegnon are deployed as attacking midfielders playing behind lone forward Gyan.

With attendances struggling to reach 40,000 for much of last season, average attendance was some 7,000 lower than stadium capacity, leaving Sunderland with the seventh highest average in the Premier League.

The key to filling a stadium is success and this season will see Sunderland build a successful team. 

With an opening home match against rivals Newcastle, and nine new signings, the club experienced unprecedented demand for tickets, with thousands of people queuing in the rain for tickets.

As the new men settle in to place the attendance will creep up higher and higher, and this will have a knock on effect spurring on the players, bringing more success on the field.  Sunderland will play more and more games in front of a full house, and will end the season with an average attendance of 45,000 pushing them up to either fourth or fifth in the league by May next year.

With the signing of ‘keeper Keiran Westwood, and the ongoing injury saga of Gordon, it looks like the Scotsman, who was signed as the most expensive British goalkeeper ever, is not likely to play much more for the Black Cats.

Simon Mignolet will have to perform well to keep Westwood out of the team, as the former Coventry man will look to earn a place in the Republic of Ireland squad ahead of ageing Shay Given.

Making a lengthy return from a series of injuries is likely to be difficult enough for Gordon given Sunderland’s recent injury record, but with two quality stoppers in front of him Gordon is likely to want away.

Once fit again the Scottish No. 1 will take advantage of the January window and move for a fraction of the £9 million paid for him, with Arsenal and Celtic as potential suitors.

We have already mentioned the departure of Craig Gordon in January, but that isn’t all that will be going on up in Wearside with January set to be a busy month for the Black Cats.

With a flurry of youth coming through the ranks at Sunderland, the first thing we will see is a couple of prospects heading out on loan. The most likely to go are forwards Ryan Noble and Craig Lynch as well as Louis Laing and Billy Knot who will head to the lower leagues to gain some experience.

On the way out permanently will be excess midfielders Jack Colback and David Meyler. The latter will be looking to regain the form that earned him a Republic of Ireland call-up in 2010, but struggles to lay claim to a first team start.

Other potential moves will see fan favourite Steed Malbranque looking elsewhere along with fellow Roy Keane signings Kieron Richardson and Anton Ferdinand as Steve Bruce looks to remove any memories of the Irishman's reign, although full back Phil Bardsley will prove too valuable to let go.

As for incoming expect the signing of a full back, with Wayne Bridge unwilling to take a pay cut and move up North, Bruce will stick with Eastlands and pick up prospect Greg Cunningham instead, although the deal is more likely to be a loan with an option to buy.

It must be one of the most used phrases in the second half of any season "we have a lot of injuries"…but despite Sunderland having had their share of bad luck last season, there is no sign in it stopping.

Defender Michael Turner missed much of last season after colliding with a goal post, whilst Frazier Campbell, Danny Welbeck, Craig Gordon, John Mensah, Lee Cattermole, Kieran Richardson, Asamoah Gyan and Titus Bramble all had spells on the sidelines with soft tissue injuries sustained in non or minimal impact situations.

With so many of these injuries many fans will be worried of a repeat performance in 2011/12. 

Unless the training programme and injury prevention rehabilitation/management programme has changed drastically at the club, then this season will once again be plagued by injuries to many of the squad.

The "bad luck" has already started with new signing John O’Shea already sent home from a preseason tour as a precaution following a muscle injury.

Fans should be prepared for frustrating absences from O'Shea as well as Wes Brown, Asamoah Gyan and Titus Bramble (as well as already injured Frazier Campbell) as the club fail to look after their fragile bodies.

OK...alright...I agree.  We all know Sunderland are not going to be "in" the title race fighting for the trophy but they will decide the title…literally.

With a home fixture against Manchester United on the final day of the season it will be up to Bruce’s men to decide the title.

Sunderland will have a strong home record and will have only lost one game at home before then, and with this in mind the Black Cats will hold United to a draw on the final day. If that will be enough for defending champions United, who knows, and who cares…we’re here to talk about Sunderland.

You may have been wondering why there are eight predictions?  Well here is the reason…Sunderland will finish the season in eighth place.

The makems will continue their curve of improvement that has been going since Bruce took over, but will not have enough in the tank to get up any higher and challenge for Europe this year.

The lack of two proven strikers and not having enough defenders (especially at full back) will see the Black Cats missing out on Europe.

Naturally they will be extremely strong at home and take a lot of points at the Stadium of Light, but injuries preventing any consistency in team selection, along with poor away days will lead to a number of disappointing results that will see a promising season fade into mid-table obscurity once again.

What are your thoughts? Let us know your opinion on these predictions and any predictions you might have for the coming season?