Black Cats

Sunderland next move & Celtic latest amid Newcastle & Boro links

30/06/2024 Raymond 0

This week’s North East Notes highlights the goalkeepers from Newcastle and Middlesbrough, but first, let’s focus on Sunderland, who have had an eventful week at the Stadium of Light. Hummel has rejoined forces with the Black Cats and has taken extraordinary measures to create a unique shirt specifically for Sunderland. On Friday morning, anticipation ran high as queues wound around the car park in anticipation of the official store opening.

Sunderland and England man and outlines first-team ambitions under Régis Le Bris after loan moves

25/06/2024 Raymond 0

Sunderland defender Zak Johnson has enjoyed a successful loan spell in Ireland and is now aiming for a spot in the Black Cats’ first team. The 19-year-old joined Dundalk for the 2023-24 season, where he made a significant impact by helping the team achieve a club record of eight consecutive home clean sheets. Johnson’s consistent performances earned him the 1903 Dundalk FC Supporters Club Player of the Month award and a nomination for the Soccer Writers of Ireland Player of the Month award for May. Reflecting on his time at Dundalk, Johnson emphasized the importance of playing as many games as possible and proving his reliability and maturity, regardless of his age. With these experiences, he hopes to secure a place in Sunderland’s first team under new head coach Régis Le Bris.

The Sunderland aspect Luke O’Nien has been proud of this season despite disappointing end

27/05/2024 Raymond 0

Luke O’Nien reflects on his position as a centre-back for Sunderland and the team’s defensive performance during the 2023/24 season. He acknowledges that Sunderland’s defensive statistics this season are commendable but believes there is still potential for improvement.

Throughout the 2023/24 campaign, the 29-year-old O’Nien started 43 league games at centre-back, frequently captaining Sunderland and often partnering with Dan Ballard. Despite setbacks from injuries to key defenders like Dennis Cirkin, Jenson Seelt, and Aji Alese, Sunderland achieved the fifth-best defensive record in the Championship. O’Nien expressed pride in the team’s defensive achievements and emphasized the importance of their strong statistics, while also stressing the need for continued improvement in the coming season.

O’Nien also spoke about the valuable contributions of Graeme Murty, the under-21s boss and former Premier League defender, who stepped up to assist the first team. He credited Murty with significantly enhancing his game both on and off the pitch, underscoring the importance of maintaining this collaboration to further develop their defensive capabilities.

Sunderland must not give in to Trai Hume transfer pressure: View

20/05/2024 Raymond 0

The Black Cats experienced a turbulent 2023/24 season, finishing in a disappointing 16th place despite initially appearing poised for a playoff spot. Managerial instability, with three different managers over the season, contributed to their inconsistency. Tony Mowbray began the season but was replaced by Michael Beale in December, who had a brief and unimpressive tenure before Mike Dodds took over temporarily. Despite having a squad rich in young talent, their inexperience was likely a factor in their struggles. Among their standout players was 22-year-old Trai Hume, whose exceptional performance this season has attracted interest from top clubs. Retaining Hume should be a priority for Sunderland as they prepare for the next season.

Sunderland Handed Boost In Pursuit Of Manager With 42.5% Win Rate

05/04/2024 Raymond 0

Following Tony Mowbray’s dismissal in early December, the Black Cats were positioned just three points outside the playoffs with a positive goal difference. However, the club’s fortunes took a downturn in the aftermath of Mowbray’s departure, resulting in Sunderland’s descent into the bottom half of the Championship table, perilously close to the relegation zone. Their aspirations of Premier League promotion have been dashed, particularly after suffering a humiliating 5-1 defeat at home to Blackburn Rovers, leaving them trailing 13 points behind Norwich City, who occupy the final playoff place. As the season progresses, Sunderland’s pursuit of a new manager continues, with speculation swirling around potential candidates.

Liverpool ‘join race for Sunderland’s Chris Rigg’

08/02/2024 Raymond 0

Liverpool is reportedly eyeing Sunderland’s rising talent, Chris Rigg, with several top European clubs closely monitoring the midfielder’s progress. The 16-year-old prodigy made his debut for the Black Cats under former manager Tony Mowbray at the age of 15 in December 2022, and has since made ten more appearances for the North-East club. Notably, Rigg etched his name in Sunderland’s history by becoming the youngest-ever goalscorer for the club at just 16 years and 51 days, finding the net in an EFL Cup clash against Crewe Alexandra in August.