Who made the grade & what it tells us about major rebuild
Sunderland’s long and bruising campaign ended in bitter disappointment on Saturday as the Black Cats were knocked out of the play off semi finals by Lincoln City.
A gruelling 58-game campaign featured two managers, a major takeover, a Wembley win and yet more significant upheaval in the playing squad.
A relatively sluggish start to the season left Sunderland well off the pace by the time a Covid-19 outbreak disrupted their progress even further at the start of 2021.
Despite a raft of defensive injuries under Lee Johnson the Black Cats surged to the brink of the top two, only to fall away with a desperately poor run of form at the crucial moment.
With only 12 players currently under contract for next season, and some of those facing uncertain futures, a significant summer rebuild is expected by all on Wearside.
Johnson has vowed to build on the intense pressing of the first half at the Stadium of Light on Saturday, which helped build on an already outstanding atmosphere in front of 10,000 fans at the Stadium of Light.
With that in mind, and with the disappointment of three failed attempts to win promotion fresh in the memory, the club are facing a number of significant calls with regards to the playing squad for next season.
As it stands, there are 11 players whose contract is currently set to expire at the end of June.
Here, in part one, we review the performances of each player to feature in the club’s senior squad next season, to assess how they fared and what the future might hold…
LEE BURGE
Responded superbly to being dropped at Shrewsbury Town earlier this year, going on to play a key role in the long unbeaten run that followed.
Like so many in the squad, wasn’t quite able to sustain those levels through the run-in.
Established himself firmly as number one over the campaign and was named in the team of the season across the league. B
REMI MATTHEWS
Was recruited to be a genuine contender for the number one shirt but arrived short of match practice and that proved key.
A good cup performance led to a big chance at Shrewsbury but that could prove to be his last Sunderland appearance.
Given the context of Jon McLaughlin’s departure, this was another big Phil Parkinson call that didn’t work out. D
ANTHONY PATTERSON
Didn’t get much senior action but it was a big campaign in that he made a significant impression in training on the first-team staff.
Whether or not he goes out on loan next season, he looks to have a very bright future at the club. B+
CONOR McLAUGHLIN
Comfortably produced his best football in a Sunderland shirt during the stretches when he was fully fit.
Unfortunately, that was not quite often enough, leaving the club with a big decision to make on his future. B
JORDAN WILLIS
There were some typically imperious performances along the way, highlighting his athleticism and quality.
Persistent knee trouble eventually caught up with the defender, though, and he would prove to be a big miss. C
TOM FLANAGAN
The second half of the season was blighted by a number of persistent injuries, and it was a tall order for him to return in the first leg at Lincoln with so little football under his belt.
Started well enough under a manager who rated him highly, but at this stage it is too difficult to tell where Johnson sees him in his plans. C+
BAILEY WRIGHT
Started the season in very strong form but injury impacted his reunion with former Bristol City boss Johnson.
Looked far stronger in a back three than a four, but fitness likely did play a part in that. Looks to have a role to play, though Sunderland need more pace in their backline. B
DION SANDERSON
Sunderland’s best loanee for some time in terms of both his on-pitch performances and off-pitch character. Just superb.
The onset of a back injury around the time of a defeat to WIgan Athletic proved to be a vital moment in the season.
The Black Cats never looked the same without him. That he barely featured until 2021 was one of the season’s strangest quirks. A+
ARBENIT XHEMAJLI
Has endured a torrid year, suffering a major injury after making a brave move to a new country and league at the onset of a pandemic.
Johnson has spoken enthusiastically about his potential, and so next season will hopefully be a major success.
OLLIE YOUNGER
Held his own when called upon and his U23 performances mean he looks to have a genuine future as an EFL defender.
Sunderland have a big call to make now as even when injuries struck, his senior involvement was relatively limited.
But has been a very good
all-round addition for the academy. B
CALLUM McFADZEAN Sunderland’s failure to secure a new left-back before the salary cap was imposed limited their options late in the window and so McFadzean arrived as emergency cover.
Ended up playing far more football than anyone had anticipated and in fairness, was a regular during the unbeaten run.
It’s nevertheless an area of the pitch where the club need to upgrade. C
DENVER HUME
Sunderland see a big future for Hume and that this season has been ultimately a frustrating one is a reflection of the injury problems he suffered, particularly through the second half of the campaign where he missed a significant amount of games.
Getting the balance right between promoting Hume, who has suffered injuries, and having strong back up, remains elusive. C+
JAKE VOKINS
Deeply unlucky. A little off the pace when he first arrived, perhaps understandable given how little senior football he had played.
Just when he looked to have broken through with a composed, tenacious showing at Accrington Stanley, Covid-19 complications effectively brought his campaign to an early end. C
MAX POWER
Featured in 53 of Sunderland’s 58 games across the game, which is testament to both his durability and his versatility.
Moved around the pitch and rarely let his side down.
Has been a good captain, though the need for more variety in midfield generally is clear. B
GRANT LEADBITTER
Few anticipated a major playing role when pre-season began but he ended up being integral, showing the composure in possession that has too often been lacking since the side dropped into League One.
Future is now uncertain but either way, his still obvious qualities will need to be replicated somehow next season. B
GEORGE DOBSON
After being a mainstay in Parkinson’s first-choice XI for the second half of last season, Dobson struggled to find a place in the team as the Black Cats boss tried to push one of his central midfielders further forward.
An excellent Papa John’s Trophy performance at Fleetwood hinted at a return but it never quite materialised and he featured just once under Johnson.
Made a big impression at AFC Wimbledon and with just one year left on his deal, a permanent move might suit all parties. D *See pages 22-23 for part two.