LASTSEASON
LEAGUEONE5thFACUPSecondRound
LEAGUECUPFirstRoundTOPSCORERJoshMaja(16)LASTSEASON
LEAGUE TWO 6th FA CUP Third Round
LEAGUE CUP First Round TOP SCORER James Norwood (32)70 Season Preview 2019-20 FourFourTwo
SUnDERLAnD TRAnMERE ROVERS
SKY BET LEAGUE OnE
2019-20
FFTVERDICT
2nD FFT VERDICT
20TH
The pressure is on Jack Ross, after
a disappointing first campaign in
League One ended with Wembley
heartbreak. Their marquee signing
Will Grigg really needs to hit the
ground running in 2019-20, but he
has scored 87 league goals in his
last five full seasons at this level.Micky Mellon’s men have secured
back-to-back play-off triumphs,
but for a second summer running
they’ve lost their talismanic striker.
Although James Norwood’s exit on
a free transfer was expected, it’s
still a mighty blow. The good news
is Manny Monthe’s new contract.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.The big talking point among the fans
is revelling in successive promotions
and pondering how we replace James
Norwood’s 32 goals from last season,
now that he has moved to Ipswich.
This season will be different because
in the space of two years we’ve gone
from playing Sutton United to playing
Sunderland – quite the turnaround.
I won’t be happy unless we avoid
relegation. It would be disappointing
to lose all our momentum and undo
the good work from the last few years.
Our most underrated player is David
Perkins, even at 37. His January arrival
was transformative to our campaign.
Our best celebrity fan is Mike Dean.
He gets to as many games as he can.
The criticism of his celebrations during
our play-off matches was ridiculous.
Look out for Harvey Gilmour, who,
as a technical midfielder, may suit
League One better than League Two.
The best away ground is Wycombe’s
Adams Park, or the Stadium of Light.Our key player will be Golden Glove
winner last term, Scott Davies [above].
The opposition player I secretly
admire is Peterborough’s Marcus
Maddison. It’s baffling that, as of yet,
no Championship club has taken
a gamble on his ability and potential.
Save the date for Bolton [August 17
and February 1], renewing a rivalry
that kicked off with our Third Division
play-off final in 1991. It’s been a long
time coming: it’s been 18 years since
we were in the same division.
The best thing about the matchday
experience at Prenton Park is the
fan park, run by the Tranmere Rovers
Trust. It welcomes home and away
fans pre- and post-match.
The best Tranmere social media
account is podcast @ThisIsTranmere.
The fans’ opinion of the gaffer is
that Micky Mellon [below] is a legend.
He’s put us back where we belong and
helped players hit heights they didn’t
think they could.
If he left, he should be replaced by
Dave Challinor, given his history with
us as a player and sustained success
managing AFC Fylde.
We’ll finish somewhere around 14th.FAn FILE
TOM ATKINSON
@RokerReport
FAn FILE
SAM ROBINSON
@SamRobinson9