SUNDERLAND

LAST SEASON

LEAGUE ONE 5th FA CUP Second Round

LEAGUE CUP First Round TOP SCORER Josh Maja (16)

FANFILE TOM ATKINSON @Rokerreport

The big talking point among the fans is the potential takeover bid.

This season will be different because if new ownership does come in, then we should have a good transfer kitty.

I won’t be happy unless we seal automatic promotion. The club has completely turned itself around in the past 12 months, which softened the blow of our last-minute play-off final defeat to Charlton, but promotion this time is the be-all and end-all for fans. Our most underrated player is either Dylan Mcgeouch or Luke O’nien.

The pantomime villain will be Chris Maguire [below], for opposition sides. The Scot is the kind of mercurial talent and wind-up merchant you despise if he plays for anyone other than your team. The man is a legend.

Save the date for Portsmouth [August 17 and February 1] – we played them five times last term and our relations soured after the Checkatrade Trophy final, so those will be feisty encounters. The best Sunderland social media accounts are @Sunderlandafc – the club’s social media team have really stepped up their game – and central midfielder Max Power (@mp_1825), who is always interacting with fans and rinsing poor Donald Love.

The signature local dish is cheesy chips, with an array of sauces to suit every taste. This Michelin-standard cuisine is not to be missed.

Our key player will be Aiden Mcgeady if he stays, but Will Grigg could also be a star this season. Up to now he’s struggled with fitness and a system that didn’t suit him whatsoever; get him firing and we’ll be a real threat. The fans’ opinion of the gaffer is that Jack Ross splits opinion. I’m a fan, but he needs to be more adventurous. Often we’d be totally in control, only to then sit back and concede, leading to 19 (nineteen) draws in one league season. Still, taking us from a skeleton crew during pre-season to promotion challengers is impressive.

If he left, he should be replaced by Nigel Clough. Yes, his dad played here, but Nigel’s worked wonders at Burton. We’ll finish in the top two.