Have Sunderland really improved under O'Neill?

Failure to beat the 10 men of Norwich last weekend has ensured Martin O’Neill’s Sunderland really are in a relegation fight.

A combination of dull football, lack of goals and without a win since the 19^th January is far from the recipe for success. When you throw into the mix season ending injuries to both Steven Fletcher and captain Lee Cattermole, survival really is in doubt.

O’Neill’s appointment in December 2011 was the catalyst behind an incredible rise from 17^th to the top half of the Premier League. The feat was made all the more impressive given the fact it was achieved in just two short months. However since then the club have struggled and have won just seven of their last 38 Premier League games. Meaning should the season have started at the time of Sunderland’s decline, they would have been relegated.

Home matches against Manchester United and Everton are sandwiched with trips Chelsea and local rivals Newcastle, a daunting fixture list for any side! After these four games Sunderland, in all likelihood will find themselves below the dreaded relegation line, which beggars the question, have they really improved under O’Neill?

The sales of Darren Bent and Jordan Henderson severely hampered former manager Steve Bruce. And although numerous faces came through the Stadium of Light doors, not many commanded a high transfer fee. Despite a poor start to the season, Bruce deserved more time, with the high turnover of players always ensuring developing his side that season would take time.

It took Sunderland 18 months to really replace Bent

The people’s choice was then appointed in the form of the O’Neill, who supported the club as a boy. In the short-term it worked, Sunderland were never in any danger of going down.

However this was the season Sunderland were supposed to kick-on, which evidently they haven’t. Big name and money signings arrived in the form of Adam Johnson and Fletcher, meaning expectation levels at The Stadium of Light were high. Whilst Fletcher has done the business for the Black Cats, scoring a third of the clubs Premier League goals, his fellow capture hasn't done so well.

Johnson promised much and given frequent game time, many expected him to flourish at Sunderland. Yet inconsistency has blighted his season, a theme common amongst young British wingers.

O’Neill has struggled to address Sunderland’s real problems in the three transfer window’s available to him. The sale of Michael Turner to Norwich was strange. Turner is a solid if not spectacular Premier League centre half. Yet the injury prone Wes Brown is yet to feature this season, whilst the likes of Carlos Cuellar and Titus Bramble have proven to be inconsistent at best. 

Turner has helped Norwich keep nine Premier League clean sheets

The lack of a real creative playmaker has heavily exposed how unimaginative the Sunderland midfield is. Stephane Sessengon has the ability to be this, however similar to Johnson, a real lack of consistency has blighted his season. Having seen Sunderland a few times this season, I can assure you they aren’t the most pleasing on the eye. It’s not that they play long football, but their inability to string a succession of passes together is all too obvious. 

With just eight games remaining, Sunderland are only four points clear of Wigan in 18th, who also have a game in hand of the Mackems!

You only need to read O’Neill’s CV to see he’s a very good manager. However for some reason it’s not working at Sunderland at the moment. Neil Warnock once said it was harder to manage a club you supported and maybe that’s proving the case for O’Neill. 

Premier League tips

My weekend accumulator tips 

Liverpool, Manchester United,  Manchester City and West Ham to win. £5 returns £27. - Winner

Goals galore in the Tottenham, Swansea, West Brom, Norwich, West Ham, and QPR games. £5 returns £105.19 - Loss of a fiver

Saturday 20^th October

Tottenham vs Chelsea

Two in form sides meet at White Hart Lane in the early kick off on Saturday, with the Andre Villas-Boas coming up against the side that gave him the boot back in March of this year.

Chelsea will be without skipper John Terry who decided against appealing his four game ban for racially abusing Anton Ferdinand. A side from the long term injuries to Younes Kaboul, Spurs are at full strength and will fancy their chances of getting something from the game.

If either side are going to win I fancy Spurs to do so, however I can’t see anything but a score draw on Saturday.

Tottenham 1 Chelsea  1 - 13/2 with William Hill - Lose a fiver

Other tips
Both teams to score - 4/6 with Coral - Returns of £8.33
Gareth Bale assist a first goal - 10/1 with BoyleSports - Bet void.
Under 2.5 goals - 22/19 with Betfair - Lose a fiver

Match returns - Loss of £6.67

Fulham vs Aston Villa

Fulham’s home form as always is very good, with champions Manchester City the only side to take something from Craven Cottage this campaign, whilst Aston Villa’s away record has been poor for a while now; however they did impress, all be it in defeat away to Tottenham a fortnight ago.

Dimitar Berbatov will be back for Fulham and the Bulgarian international will look to continue his fine start to life at the London club. Paul Lambert has a decision on his hands whether to recall Darren Bent or stick with the Belgain Christian Benteke.

Lambert’s Villa are getting there slowly, and if they want to be able to move up the table they need to get something from these sort of games, and back them to get a point from Craven Cottage.

Fulham 1 Aston Villa 1 - 13/2 with Stan James - Lose a fiver

Other tips
Draw - 14/5 with Pinnacle - Lose a fiver
Dimitar Berbatov anytime goalscorer - 15/8 with Stan James - Lose a fiver
Under 2.5 goals - 21/20 with Bet Victor - Returns of £10.25

Match returns - Loss of £9.75

Liverpool vs Reading 

Liverpool’s home form has been poor for a long time now, registering just two Premier league wins at Anfield in 2012, both coming in romps against Everton and Chelsea last season. Reading are slowly adjusting to life in the Premier League, however they are yet to win and have blown leads in their last two outings against Newcastle and Swansea.

Reading stunned Liverpool at Anfield in the FA Cup in 2010

Prior to their draw with Stoke, Liverpool under BrendanRodgers had been improving and I fancy them to earn a routine win here, against his former club.

Liverpool 3 Reading 1 - 12/1 with Stan James - Lose a fiver

Other tips:
Luis Suarez anytime goalscorer - 5/6 with Bluesquare - Lose a fiver
Over 2.5 goals - 9/13 with Betdaq - Lose a fiver
Liverpool to win - 37/100 with Betfair - Returns of £6.85

Match returns - Loss of £13.15

Manchester United vs Stoke 

Sir Alex Ferguson’s side got back on track in their last Premier League match away to Newcastle in comprehensive fashion, whilst Stoke were solid and deserved their point away to Liverpool.

Danny Welbeck scored his first Manchester United goal against Stoke in 2008.

Despite losing less games then their illustrious opponents so far this season, Stoke have never registered a Premier League point at Old Trafford, and I don’t expect that to change here.

Manchester United 2 Stoke 1 - 17/2 with Stan James - Lose a fiver

Other tips:
Over 2.5 goals - 8/13 with Skybet - Returns of £8.07
A penalty to be awarded – 8/5 with Paddy Power - Lose a fiver
Stoke first team yellow card - 1/2 with Paddy Power - Returns of £7.50

Match returns - Loss of £4.43

Swansea vs Wigan

Swansea’s fantastic start under Michael Laudrup seems a long time ago now, with the club picking up just two points in their last five games. Wigan are as unpredictable as ever, but their performances have merited more points than they’ve registered so far this season.

Defensively both sides concede too many goals, with both shipping in eleven goals each in their last five games, meaning the both teams to score bet should be a banker.

Franco Di Santo and Arouna Kone have started the season in good form for Wigan and I fancy one of them to score in a Wigan win at the Liberty. 

Swansea 1 Wigan 2 - 12/1 with bet365 - Lose a fiver

Other tips:
Both teams to score - 4/5 with Stan James - Returns of £9
Aruona Kone to score first and Wigan to win - 8/1 with Betfred - Lose a fiver
Over 2.5 goals - 18/19 with 188 Bet - Returns of £9.73

Match returns - Loss of £1.27

West Brom vs Manchester City

Steve Clarke has taken to management like a duck to water with West Brom sitting comfortably in the top half of the Premier League. City are slowly finding their form this year, with the 3-0 victory over Sunderland their best performance so far.

West Brom have won all four games at the Hawthorns this campaign, however this will certainly be the sternest test the Baggies have faced at home so far. The champions have only registered one Premier league away win this season, but that was in their last away outing against a good Fulham side.

I fancy Manchester City to end West Brom’s fantastic home record here with a comfortable victory.

West Brom 1 Manchester City 3 - 14/1 with Stan James - Lose a fiver

Other tips:
Manchester City to win - 3/4 with 888Sport - Returns of £8.75
Over 2.5 goals - 3/4 with Coral - Returns of £8.75
Yaya Toure anytime goalscorer - 10/3 with BlueSquare - Lose a fiver

Match returns - Loss of £2.50

West Ham vs Southampton

West Ham’s unbeaten home start ended last time out at the hands of Arsenal, whilst Southampton needed a late Jose Fonte header to rescue a point against Fulham.

These two promoted sides have adjusted to life back in the top flight in differing fashion, granted the Hammers have had a much more favourable fixture list then the Saints.

Nigel Adkins will see this as a great chance to register their first away point of the season, however I reckon West Ham will just have too much at Upton Park.

West Ham 2 Southampton 1 - 8/1 with Stan James - Lose a fiver

Other tips:
Andy Carroll first goalscorer - 5/1 with Betfred - Lose a fiver
Both teams to score - 4/6 with Bet365 - Returns of £8.33
West Ham to win - 10/11 with Ladbrokes - Returns of £9.54

Match returns - Loss of £2.13

Norwich vs Arsenal 

Winless Norwich find themselves in the bottom three and in desperate need of points. Arsenal have impressed so far this year, but will feel their performances have merited more points.

Robin Van Persie struck twice as Arsenal won 2-1 away to Norwich last year

Arsenal won here 2-1 last year, and I fancy the same result.

Norwich 1 Arsenal 2 - 8/1 with Stan James - Lose a fiver

Other tips:
Norwich to score first and fail to win – 23/10 with Paddy Power - Lose a fiver
Both teams to score - 7/10 with Coral - Lose a fiver
Arsenal to win - 4/7 with Bet Victor - Lose a fiver

Match returns - Loss of £20
Liverpool, Manchester United,  Manchester City and West Ham to win. £5 returns £27.
Day returns - Down £32.90

Sunday 21^st October

Sunderland vs Newcastle

Combined these two sides have drawn seven of their 13 league games this season, and that is why they aren’t  higher in the league, with their inability to get over the line in matches cost them.

Newcastle have a good record in this game since their return to the top flight, securing eight points, whilst staying unbeaten. Both sides have goalscorers in their side, whilst having injury problems defensively, and I’m backing there to be goals in this game.

With the onus on Sunderland to attack as the home side, I fancy them to secure a narrow win.

Sunderland 2 Newcastle 1 - 10/1 with Ladbrokes - Loss a fiver

Other tips:
Both teams to score - 5/6 with Coral - Returns of £9.17
Steven Fletcher anytime goalscorer - 15/8 with Stan James - Lose a fiver
Sunderland + Newcastle double chance – 2/7 with Skybet - Lose a fiver

Match returns - Loss of £10.83

QPR vs Everton

It’s fair to say Queens Park Rangers haven’t had the best of starts to the season and will need to improve if they are to avoid a second consecutive relegation battle. Everton on the other hand have made a rare flying start to the season, and find themselves in the Champions league positions after seven games.

QPR were much better, although again in defeat, away to West Brom last week, with Estaban Granero and Adel Taarabt in particular very impressive. It was again defensively they were poor and the first two West Brom goals were very avoidable. Everton rallied well against Wigan last time out, and down the left in particular all season they’ve looked fantastic.

At Loftus Road QPR have shown they can compete with the league’s very best under Mark Hughes, and although Everton are doing very well at the moment, I fancy QPR to at least get a share of the spoils.

QPR 1 Everton 1 - 6/1 with Bet Victor - Returns of £35

Other tips:
Both teams to score - 3/4 with Coral - Returns of £8.75
Either Leighton Baines or Adel Taarabt to score from outside the area – 9/1 or 11/1 - Lose a fiver
Draw - 44/17 with Pinnacle - Returns of £17.94

Match returns - Profit of £41.69

Day returns - Profit of £30.86

Weekend returns - Loss of £2.04
Overall returns - Profit of £12.32

Premier League tips

Last week returns: Down £1.83

Overall returns: Down £1.83

Saturday 29^th September

Arsenal vs. Chelsea
Both scored late goals on the weekend to steal a draw and victory respectively, meaning both London clubs are unbeaten before they meet at the Emirates on Saturday.

Arsenal have looked fantastic over the last few weeks whilst Chelsea haven’t been at their best, despite topping the table! This is Roberto Di Matteo’s first real big game of the Premier League season and they’ll need to be better then they were vs. Stoke last week if they are to get anything.

Arsenal 1 Chelsea 0 – 8/1 with Bet Victor - Lose a fiver

Other tips:
Under 2.5 goals 68/67 with 188bet - Lose a fiver
Arsenal to win 5/4 with Coral - Lose a fiver
Highest scoring half Second 15/13 with bwin - Lose a fiver

Match Returns - Down £20

Everton vs. Southampton
Both sides were brilliant last week as they recorded three goal margin wins. Everton’s first game against a promoted side last year saw them lose at home to QPR; however they are in much better form now whilst Southampton are yet to get anything on their travels so far this season, granted they’ve faced both Manchester City and Arsenal away from home so far!

A little bit of me can see Southampton getting something here, but David Moyes’ side are on a roll and I fancy them to win here.

Everton 3 Southampton 1 – 11/1 with StanJames - Returns of £60

Other tips:
Both teams to score YES – 5/6 with 32Red - Returns of £9.16
Over 2.5 goals - 8/13 with Ladbrokes - Returns of £8.07
Kevin Mirallas anytime goalscorer – 15/8 with StanJames - Lose a fiver

Match returns of £57.23

Fulham vs. Manchester City
Fulham start this game on level points with Manchester City and given their form at Craven Cottage I expect that to be true come the end of the match.

Roberto Mancini’s men have conceded far too many goals so far this season, and Dimitar Berbatov has started the season in brilliant form for his new club. Manchester City have drawn both games on their travels so far this year and I expect Fulham to get a point.

Fulham 1 Manchester City 1 – 13/2 with StanJames - Lose a fiver

Other tips:
Draw – 11/4 with BetFred - Lose a fiver
Dimitar Berbatov anytime goalscorer – 3/1 with StanJames - Bet void as Berbatov didn't play.
Both teams to score YES – 8/11 with BoyleSports - Returns of £8.63

Match returns - Loss of £6.37

Two goals in two starts for Fulham's new main man

Norwich vs. Liverpool
Both sides have the same problem, putting the ball in the net! Norwich and Liverpool both deserved something from their defeats on the weekend; however missed chances cost them, and both are without a win so far this season.

Midweek Capital One wins with weakened/youth sides will boost morale, but, especially Norwich, they need to start picking up wins in the Barclays Premier League.

Last season Luis Suarez scored a hat-trick in this game as Liverpool won, and I expect Brendan Rodgers to record his first league win on the weekend.

Norwich 0 Liverpool 2 – 17/2 with Betfair - Lose a fiver

Other tips
Both teams to score NO -11/10 with Paddy Power - Lose a fiver
Luis Suarez first goal scorer – 5/1 with Coral - Returns of £30
Liverpool HT/ Liverpool FT – 2/1 with Blue Square - Returns of £15

Match Returns of £25

Reading vs. Newcastle
Reading are still searching for that illusive first win back in the Premier League whilst Newcastle have improved over the last few games and got a solid win against Norwich last weekend.

Brian McDermott’s side need to pick up points and victories at the Madjeski and will see Newcastle as a winnable match. Alan Pardew, who recently signed an eight year deal with the club, believes Newcastle can fight for a Champions League birth this year so they also need to win games like this!

Reading 1 Newcastle 1 – 6/1 with Blue Square - Lose a fiver

Other tips
Both teams to score YES – 4/5 with Bet 365 - Returns of £9
Draw – 41/17 with Pinnacle - Returns of £17.05
Papiss Cisse anytime goal scorer - 17/10 with Bet365 - Lose a fiver

Match returns of £6.05

Stoke vs. Swansea
Stoke were unlucky not to get a point away to Chelsea last week and were only denied by a late Ashley Cole strike, whilst Swansea themselves were lucky, lucky in the sense that they didn’t get beat by more then the three goals they did against Everton.

Stoke have made a solid if not spectacular start to the season, drawing four from five, whilst Swansea started brilliantly, but have only gained one point from a possible nine. Stoke at the Britannia should be too strong here.

Stoke 2 Swansea 1 – 8/1 with Betfair - Lose a fiver

Other tips
Peter Crouch first goalscorer – 9/2 with Paddy Power - Returns of £27.50
Stoke to win – 19/20 with William Hill - Returns of £9.75
Stoke first team booking – 6/5 with Bet 365 - Lose a fiver

Match returns of £17.25

Crouch has two goal so far this season

Sunderland vs. Wigan
Both sides have four points so far this season, though Sunderland have a game in hand following their cancelled match with Reading. Last season Wigan beat Sunderland at the Stadium of Light, and defeat brought an end to Steve Bruce’s reign in charge with the Black Cats.

Wigan thrashed West Ham mid-week in the Capital One cup and I expect them to get something from the match and will dominate possession, but creating and converting chances is still their Achilles heel. Only Steven Fletcher has scored so far for Sunderland and others need to help get the goals otherwise Sunderland will struggle.

Sunderland 1 Wigan 1 – 63/10 with Betfair - Lose a fiver

Other tips
Both teams to score – 10/11 with Boyle Sports - Lose a fiver
First goalscorer Steven Fletcher – 9/2 with Stan James - Returns £27.50
Sunderland HT/ Draw FT – 18/1 with bodog - Lose a fiver

Match returns of £7.50

Manchester United vs. Tottenham
Despite playing poorly both sides came from behind to win 2-1 last week and both are unbeaten since the first game of the season.

Manchester United usually overcome Tottenham at Old Trafford and back the same to happen here as Spurs will take time to become a real top force under Andre Villas-Boas.

Manchester United 2 Tottenham 1 – 15/2 with Bet Victor - Lose a fiver

Other tips
Both teams to score YES – 8/11 with Ladbrokes - Returns of £8.63
Robin Van Persie anytime goalscorer - Lose a fiver
Draw HT/ Manchester United FT – 15/4 with Bet Victor - Lose a fiver

Match returns of - Down £11.37

Day returns - Profit £75.39

Sunday 30^th September

Aston Villa vs. West Brom
Aston Villa’s second half showing against Southampton was poor last week as they let a one goal lead slip to lose 4-1, whilst West Brom won for a third successive time at the Hawthorns as they overcame Reading 1-0.

Villa need the win to move further away from the drop zone and their 4-2 midweek extra time win over Manchester City in the Capital One cup can only boost morale. I reckon Paul Lambert’s side will win here!

Aston Villa 2 West Brom 0 – 12/1 with Stan James - Lose a fiver

Other tips
Aston Villa to win – 6/4 with Skybet - Lose a fiver
Aston Villa HT/ Aston Villa FT – 7/2 with Coral - Lose a fiver
Darren Bent first goalscorer – 6/1 with Stan James - Lose a fiver

Bent got his first league goal of the season last week, back him to get his second vs. WBA

Match returns - Down £20
Day returns - Down £20

Monday 1^st October

QPR vs. West Ham
QPR have had a horrible run of fixtures; however that run is over now and at home to West Ham they’ll be looking to pick up their first three points of the season. West Ham are yet to win on their travels, but they did pick up a solid point away to Norwich in their last away game.

Both sides will be disappointed by their mid-week Capital One cup performance as they exited the competition; however QPR will be the one’s to bounce back the stronger with a win here.

QPR 2 West Ham 1 – 17/2 with Stan James - Lose a fiver

Other tips
QPR to win - 23/20 with Paddy Power - Lose a fiver
Bobby Zamora anytime goalscorer – 2/1 with Stan James - Lose a fiver
Both teams to score - 4/5 with Bet365 - Returns of £9

Match returns - Down £11
Day returns - Down £11

Weekend returns - Profit £44.39
Overall returns - Profit £42.56

Sunderland to push for top half finish.

Sunderland’s transfer activity really picked up as the window went on, and the additions of Steven Fletcher and Adam Johnson were brilliant. Martin O’Neill also added experience in the form of Carlos Cuellar and Louis Saha, both of whom were out of contract with their previous clubs.

Johnson will get more first-team action with his new club

O’Neill came in last year and turned Sunderland’s season around. Under Steve Bruce it appeared the Black Cats would be in a fight against survival; however the former Aston Villa manager made an immediate impact, as the club won seven out of the first 10 games under O’Neill to propel them from 17^th to 8^th! A poor end to the season saw Sunderland fail to win any of their last seven League games and eventually finished 13^th, but things looked a hell of a light brighter then they did at the start of December.

In Fletcher’s first game for his new club, he scored two goals, both superbly taken, and having scored goals for a struggling Wolves side last year, I expect Fletcher to at least get double figures, and maybe even get close to the 24 League goals a certain Darren Bent scored for Sunderland in the 2009-10 campaign. Johnson, their other key signing is also another one who should have a good year given a run in the side, something he never get close to at Manchester City.

Defensively Sunderland have a number of injury prone players; however in the form of John O’Shea and Wes Brown, both of whom fall into that injury prone bracket, they have two quality defenders with Champions League experience. The addition of Cuellar from Aston Villa is one that has slipped under the radar, as his versatility and solid defensive work will ensure he plays regularly for Sunderland this year.

Key player: Stephane Sessegnon – The Benin international is technically superb and should feature off Fletcher in a good looking forward line for Sunderland. His creativity shone through even during the disappointing periods of the Black Cats season, and if he can improve his goal tally then Sunderland should have a good year.

Sessegnon is a class act!

Prediction: 12^th – Before the additions of Fletcher and Johnson I did worry for Sunderland as I wasn’t sure where the goals would come from, and to be fair they’ve only scored twice so far this year, and both were from the man Fletcher! But with these two excellent additions they’ll be fine and Martin O’Neill will probably get them close to a top half finish!

View from a fan – Glenn Kidger @glenn_safc

What would be a brilliant year?
A great season would be finishing in the top eight as well as seeing Fletcher top the goal scoring charts.

What would be a nightmare season?
A nightmare year would be seeing our best players injured and losing against the scum Newcastle!

How would you rate your transfer window?

I am very happy with what Martin O’Neill has done this window, some quality transfers have been added and good money has been spent!

Do you have the right man in charge?
O’Neill is definitely the right man for the job! He plays mind games with the opposition and catches them on the attack.

Is Steven Fletcher worth the £12million Sunderland paid?
Fletcher is certainly worth the money! He’ll prove himself, and started brilliant with the double against Swansea.