Big Match Preview: Black Cats lowdown.NEW chairman/manager Niall Quinn
Niall John Quinn (Honorary) MBE (b. October 6, 1966 in Dublin, Ireland) is a former Irish international footballer, and the current chairman of Sunderland AFC. goes into the campaign with much the same side that got relegated with a dismal Premiership record that saw them finish rock bottom with just 15 points. Black Cats fans couldn't have had more contrasting fortunes from the previous season when they won the Championship in style with 94 points, seven clear of their nearest rival. But the dream step up quickly turned into a nightmare as the team managed just three wins all season, scoring just 29 league goals and shipping 69 in reply. And after a summer of uncertainty, club legend Quinn finally took control at the Stadium of Light with his consortium, and set about trying to bring about some sort of stability among the players who had gone through most of the pre-season without a manager. As such, although the club sold star player Julio Arca Julio Andrés Arca (born January 31 1981 in Quilmes, Argentina) is an Argentine footballer, also former Argentine Under-21 captain, currently playing for Middlesbrough. Arca's father was a bank manager. His Italian passport allows him to play in Europe without needing a work permit. and released former Coventry defender Gary Breen Gary Patrick Breen (born December 12, 1973 in Hendon, London), is an Irish footballer. He currently plays for Championship side Wolverhampton Wanderers. He has previously played for Maidstone United, Gillingham, Peterborough United, Birmingham City, Coventry City, West Ham , the only new signing as of the week leading up to the opening game at the Ricoh Arena Inaugural events The arena became the venue for Coventry City's home games at the start of the 2005-06 season, following 106 years at the Highfield Road stadium. The first competitive football match played at the Ricoh Arena was against Queens Park Rangers on 20 August 2005, in was Kenny Cunningham who joined on a free transfer from Birmingham City. Other than that, unless new faces arrive in the next 48 hours, Sunderland will field a largely unchanged side to the one that went down. However, striker Stephen Elliott missed most of last season through injury and to be fair to the club, may well have helped them make more of a fight of their top flight status had he been available. But he is fit and raring to go and will partner Jon Stead who, by all accounts, has recaptured his confidence and form that was virtually nonexistent non·ex·is·tence n. 1. The condition of not existing. 2. Something that does not exist. non in the Premiership. The other notable change is in goal where England under-20 keeper Ben Alnwick has been given the No.1 spot following Kelvin Davies's pounds 1.25m move to Southampton. The 19-year-old talent put in a failed transfer request in the summer as Arsenal and Spurs came knocking at his door, but the Wearsiders managed to fend off their advances. As far as injuries go, left-back George McCartney is sidelined, which, coupled with Arca's departure, leaves the side arguably weakened down the left. The dangerman STEPHEN ELLIOTT Age: 22 Games: 62 Goals: 18 Caps: 6 MISSED most of last season with injury but is fit and raring to go and expected to fulfil his huge potential this season. The Republic of Ireland international is a quick, skilful fox in the box who is regarded as a complete striker. |
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