Paolo Di Canio’s Sunderland have been the most active club in the transfer market in England and after signing seven players, they would be looking to start the new season in style.
Unlike most of the Premier League clubs, Sunderland FC have gone about their business in the transfer market very quickly. Rather than sitting and waiting to see how things shape up, The Black Cats have taken swift action and have already confirmed the arrival of seven players with Italy international, Emanuele Giacherini getting closer to sealing a move away from Turin giants, Juventus.
Paolo Di Canio’s first summer transfer window at the Stadium of Light has been a very active one in terms of both ins and outs. So far, seven players have left the Tyne and Wear borough including Simon Mignolet, one of the few consistent and excellent performers from an otherwise disappointing Sunderland side last season.
Going back to the last season’s performance, Sunderland barely made it out alive and it was the controversial appointment of Di Canio that assured the Black Cats’ survival. Though the Italian has done quite a lot in improving the team’s morale and performances, a job half-done is far from well done. New faces were required at the club and the manager would be expecting nothing less than a hundred percent from the new arrivals.
The appointment of Roberto De Fanti as the Director of Football and Valentino Angeloni as the Chief Scout has been one of the decisive factors in sealing deals for players who otherwise, might not have joined a club that finished 17th last season.
Defence was the club’s biggest problem last season but with the arrival of Modibo Diakite and Valentin Roberge, the club could have more depth in defence. Both players arrive at the club on free transfer which means that Di Canio might have struck gold.
Absence of a solid holding midfielder was another problem why the Black Cats suffered a lot. However, with the arrival of Cabral, this problem might be sorted out considering the fact that the Swiss international has just come on the back of a stellar season for FC Basel in the Raiffeisen Super League.
The main reason why Sunderland were one of the lowest scoring sides from last season was the absence of enough creativity in the park. Apart from Stephane Sessegnon, no other player performed at his optimal best including Adam Johnson. And it was only after the arrival of DI Canio that the former Manchester City man started putting some consistency to his performances.
This problem might be solved once Italy international, Emanuele Giaccherini’s transfer is made official. The Juventus man struggled for game time in Italy last season but despite that, is an integral part of Italy manager, Cesare Prandelli’s starting eleven. The former Cesena man can operate as a winger and as an attacking midfielder and should be able to form a good partnership with Sessegnon. Just like that former PSG man, Giaccherini loves to cut inside and has an explosive right foot.
A true striker is something that Sunderland really needed last season. And this void has now been filled following the arrival of USA international, Jozy Altidore. After a very disappointing performance for Hull a few years back, the young American has shown great mental strength to become one of the most prolific strikers in Europe.
Last season, the youngster scored 31 goals in all competitions for AZ Alkmaar in the Dutch Eredivisie. Though he is no Benteke or Lukaku, Altidore is one of the most determined athletes in the game today and makes up for what he lacks in terms of technique by sheer hardwork, persistence, dedication and brutal strength, qualities that manager Paolo Di Canio simply adores.
Altidore has had two solid seasons in Netherlands which means that his second coming in the Premier League might not be a disappointing one.
Last season was a forgetful experience for Sunderland and all those connected with the club. However, under the guidance of Paolo Di Canio, the club could be in for better days ahead and with the signings that have been made, it would be unfair to mire in pessimism.
Paolo Di Canio’s first summer transfer window at the Stadium of Light has been a very active one in terms of both ins and outs. So far, seven players have left the Tyne and Wear borough including Simon Mignolet, one of the few consistent and excellent performers from an otherwise disappointing Sunderland side last season.
Going back to the last season’s performance, Sunderland barely made it out alive and it was the controversial appointment of Di Canio that assured the Black Cats’ survival. Though the Italian has done quite a lot in improving the team’s morale and performances, a job half-done is far from well done. New faces were required at the club and the manager would be expecting nothing less than a hundred percent from the new arrivals.
The appointment of Roberto De Fanti as the Director of Football and Valentino Angeloni as the Chief Scout has been one of the decisive factors in sealing deals for players who otherwise, might not have joined a club that finished 17th last season.
Defence was the club’s biggest problem last season but with the arrival of Modibo Diakite and Valentin Roberge, the club could have more depth in defence. Both players arrive at the club on free transfer which means that Di Canio might have struck gold.
Absence of a solid holding midfielder was another problem why the Black Cats suffered a lot. However, with the arrival of Cabral, this problem might be sorted out considering the fact that the Swiss international has just come on the back of a stellar season for FC Basel in the Raiffeisen Super League.
The main reason why Sunderland were one of the lowest scoring sides from last season was the absence of enough creativity in the park. Apart from Stephane Sessegnon, no other player performed at his optimal best including Adam Johnson. And it was only after the arrival of DI Canio that the former Manchester City man started putting some consistency to his performances.
This problem might be solved once Italy international, Emanuele Giaccherini’s transfer is made official. The Juventus man struggled for game time in Italy last season but despite that, is an integral part of Italy manager, Cesare Prandelli’s starting eleven. The former Cesena man can operate as a winger and as an attacking midfielder and should be able to form a good partnership with Sessegnon. Just like that former PSG man, Giaccherini loves to cut inside and has an explosive right foot.
A true striker is something that Sunderland really needed last season. And this void has now been filled following the arrival of USA international, Jozy Altidore. After a very disappointing performance for Hull a few years back, the young American has shown great mental strength to become one of the most prolific strikers in Europe.
Last season, the youngster scored 31 goals in all competitions for AZ Alkmaar in the Dutch Eredivisie. Though he is no Benteke or Lukaku, Altidore is one of the most determined athletes in the game today and makes up for what he lacks in terms of technique by sheer hardwork, persistence, dedication and brutal strength, qualities that manager Paolo Di Canio simply adores.
Altidore has had two solid seasons in Netherlands which means that his second coming in the Premier League might not be a disappointing one.
Last season was a forgetful experience for Sunderland and all those connected with the club. However, under the guidance of Paolo Di Canio, the club could be in for better days ahead and with the signings that have been made, it would be unfair to mire in pessimism.
