Dan Neil’s surprise view on last season’s struggles and thoughts on Sunderland future

Dan Neil’s surprise view on last season’s struggles and thoughts on Sunderland future

DAN NEIL claims last season’s struggles could be a “blessing in disguise” for Sunderland as they look to mount a sustained promotion push under Regis Le Bris.

The Black Cats endured a bitterly-disappointing campaign last term, with their performances and results nosediving following the controversial dismissal of Tony Mowbray last December.

 

The ill-fated appointment of Michael Beale proved a disaster, with things getting even worse when Mike Dodds was installed on a temporary basis for the final two-and-a-half months of the campaign.

Sunderland eventually ended the season in 16th position, with a sense of anger and frustration amongst the fanbase carrying over into the summer.

 

The appointment of Le Bris as head coach helped draw a line under last season’s failings, with a transformation in playing fortunes in the current campaign completely changing the prevailing mood around the Stadium of Light.

Neil accepts that he and his team-mates should have done much better last season. However, he feels the experience of going through the bad times will help to ensure standards do not drop in the remainder of the current campaign.

 

“Look at the inside of this building (at the training ground), look at the style of play, look at recruitment and the commitment to bringing young players through,” said the Sunderland skipper, in an interview with the Daily Telegraph. “Each year there has been a general progression.

“Last year was a bit of a low, but I think it was a blessing in disguise. We did so well in our first year in the Championship, that brought people back to earth a little bit.

 

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“I don’t think it was a horrendously bad thing for the players because it showed them what the lows feel like. Everyone can see this club has changed for the better. There is a unity of purpose here, from top to bottom.”

 

There is also a steely determination to ensure the club’s strong start to the season does not go to waste.