This Sunderland are unlike anything the Premier League has witnessed ...Middle East

The Premier League needs Sunderland back in it.

It is eight years since they were relegated, the start of a precipitous fall that saw them tumble into League One and suffer a contraction in both ambition and status. But a glorious, sun-kissed night on Wearside confirmed they are on the way back, a very different club from the one that seemed to have the life sucked out of them when David Moyes oversaw an igonominious demotion in 2017.

Back then it felt like the Black Cats had used up all of their nine lives in a succession of great escapes. Their recruitment was risible, a jigsaw where none of the pieces fit and the finances made no sense. What they represent now is night and day from that mess. It is a project unlike anything the Premier League has witnessed before.

And Sunderland fans deserve to savour the moment, having largely taken the leap of faith with club owner Kyril Louis-Dreyfus and his all-powerful sporting director Kristjaan Speakman, who defied the doubters to restructure a football club to become more daring and dynamic than many of their rivals would ever dream of.

I’ve lost count of how many times people in football have scoffed at what Sunderland have been doing. The general consensus when their policy of bringing in hugely promising young players first began was it was an attempt to do things on the cheap dressed up as being smart. But it could be about to pay off in spectacular fashion if they can overcome a decent Sheffield United side.

The way they got there sums up so much of what is admirable about Sunderland. At the stadium the atmosphere was as electric as any in the Stadium of Light’s 30 years, but when Coventry began to edge the game the sell-out crowd had to stay with it. That is the way with young players – the average age of Sunderland’s XIs this season is just a shade over 22 – and a manager in Regis Le Bris who is still feeling his way in English football.

The reward for 90 minutes of torture and the edgiest of extra times was a moment for the ages as the clock ticked to 10.32pm on Wearside’s longest night. Enzo Le Fee, an elegant midfielder who was unable to gain a foothold on the game, swung a corner into the penalty area for Dan Ballard to steer the steeliest of headers past Ben Wilson in the Coventy goal.

It was utter chaos in the stands and on the pitch. The noise was defeaning as the Stadium of Light descended into bedlam. No VAR, no camera phones, just the sweet, temporary release of 40,000 people from their senses.

The Premier League needs a bit of that. Dress it up however you like but this season has been stale, the promoted clubs offering up the feeblest of efforts to stave off what always felt like an inevitable relegation. The title race was sewn up in the spring and Gary Neville isn’t far wrong when he railed against players being programmed to play like robots. It needs an injection of new blood.

Sunderland would offer fresh plotlines and passion and a new cast of young and hungry players. And just like Leeds, there’d be spite and emotion connected to the return of one of English football’s most historic names to the top flight. Who wouldn’t want to watch the box office return of the Tyne-Wear and Wear-Tyne derbies, which captivate the region and have a history of scrambling brains and changing careers?

The armchair critics will point out – fairly, it must be said – that Sunderland will have to move through a few gears to beat the Blades on Saturday week. And if they do that, the Premier League might chew them up and spit them out as it did Ipswich and Southampton. But I’m not so sure. Promotion might just set a snowball rolling at the club.

Louis-Dreyfus is the key man here. Those close to him believe he is unlikely to suddenly sanction huge spending if the Premier League comes calling. His family wealth is measured in the billions but he is either unwilling or unable to bankroll the club in that way – although a big (but sensible) recruitment drive would be sanctioned.

Your next read

Nottingham Forest striker Taiwo Awoniyi in induced coma after surgery

Steve Coppell’s big regret over Ian Wright and the 1990 FA Cup final

Trent was Liverpool’s perfect Scouser – that’s why his exit hurts so much

Man Utd should sack Ruben Amorim before it’s too late

And Sunderland have advantages that other promoted clubs don’t. They are not over-reliant on one particular player so while a big sale (and Jobe Bellingham is the one they fear might go) would dent them it would not wreck what they have built. It would also keep their position with regard to profit and sustainaibility regulations (PSR) healthy.

Could it also lead to further investment? It has always been the talk in takeover circles that there are those willing to do a deal or put money in at Sunderland but to match Louis-Dreyfus’ terms the club needed to be back in the Premier League. It will be fascinating to see whether anything happens there but the Netflix series Sunderland ‘Til I Die has given them profile in America, even inspiring Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney to invest in Wrexham. Let’s just put it this way – their rise would be a welcome new plotline Stateside.

Before Sunderland can contemplate any of that, they need to win the play-off final. But given where they have come from, suddenly anything seems possible.

Read More Details
Finally We wish PressBee provided you with enough information of ( This Sunderland are unlike anything the Premier League has witnessed )

Also on site :

• Thumbprint on cigarette carton leads to arrest in 1977 death of young woman
• ARI vs MAL Dream11 Prediction Today Match, Dream11 Team Today, Fantasy Cricket Tips, Playing XI, Pitch Report, Injury Update- ECS T10 Sweden 2025, Match 11 and 15
• Car crash injures two pedestrians in Isla Vista