Lazy Pundits, Again
· Yahoo Sports
What a truly tremendous season that has just ended. Emulating Peter Reid’s 7th-placed finishes in 2000 and 2001.
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At the beginning of the season, most commentators and pundits were writing Sunderland off. With a few notable exceptions, the lads were almost unanimously tipped to return from whence they came.
You’d think that once the club thumbed their nose at the doubters by producing a stellar campaign, the pundits would have learned their collective lessons.
Oh no – not a bit of it.
The bookmakers have Sunderland to finish in 17th place, with only the promoted clubs beneath them. Even that’s a bit lazy, because I fancy Hull might survive.
The latest supercomputer prediction is a little better, seeing the lads finish in 16th place.
Even Leeds are forecast to finish above us. On what basis? Have they not learned their lesson from the season just ended? Underestimate Sunderland at your peril.
The Mags and Spurs are predicted to finish in the top ten. On what basis?
Only Michael Walker in The Athletic has gone against the grain with his article entitled, “Sunderland were Premier League ready. Expect them to be Europa League ready, too”.
Sunderland don’t do their transfer business in public, unlike those up the road, where the club hierarchy makes public proclamation after proclamation, claiming to be signing the next big thing.
Last summer, we quietly assembled a very good team for a good price. Unlike those who shelled out £150m on three players who hardly played.
Generally, the first time we heard of players signing for Sunderland was when the official team photo was released by the club.
The Europa League will be a distraction. But expect Régis Le Bris to have already planned for this.
My two season-ticket mates and I have already booked hotel rooms in Frankfurt between 24 – 26 May next year, just in case we get to the Europa League final.
I’ll be putting a few quid on the lads with the generous odds on offer. More fool the bookies. And you thought the bookies were always right.