We can’t pred this early into
Two games into the 201718 season, cautious optimism seemed reasonable. Hands up: I wrote in this column a year ago: “I suspect Sunderland have already shown that the very darkest fears of some supporters for this season will prove unfounded.
“Sunderland will not be relegated.”
So there you have it. Even I am wrong occasionally.
I can’t deny it. However, mine was not an uncommon view. Really, anyone now claiming to have predicted differently is either a liar, or one of those dreary people who never say anything positive about the club they claim to support.
Some of the latter have been heard having their customary whinge about “only” drawing at Luton.
Luton Town are currently Sunderland’s peers. You don’t have to like this fact, but a fact it is. Despite claims you may hear that ‘Sunderland belong in the Premier League’ – they don’t.
Both clubs belong in League One because that’s where they deserve to be.
In fact, every team contests the league they deserve to be in: with the exception of Sunderland Ladies.
How “terrible” are Luton? They came at Sunderland in the second half, much as expected of a team trailing by one goal at home.
They weren’t sublimely skilful, but played to their (mainly physical) strengths and took advantage of a misguided substitution as well as their opponents’ errors at both ends of the pitch. It was a fair result.
Furthermore, I can’t claim detailed knowledge of Luton from watching them in one game. But the bookies make them 12/1 fifth favourites to win the league.
If this is anything like accurate, then Sunderland had a decent, though not wonderful result at Kenilworth Road.
There are myriad improvements for Jack Ross to make and Jermain Defoe isn’t coming