'Coxon's Comments' #10 The BIG Comment... Predictions galore as Sunderland's 17/18 season is previewed

I caught up with my partner in crime and Football Education contributor Ryan Coxon, to chew the fat over Sunderland's forthcoming campaign back in the second tier, the first time the club has been there since 2006. Here's how we got on...

Ryan, are you happy with the appointment of Simon Grayson? Is he the right man to steady the ship at Sunderland?

I feel that considering our current circumstances and history with managers over the last 5 seasons, has somewhat forced the club to employ a safe pair of hands; someone who'll play basic football with the aim of maximizing results. In the short term I'm yet to make my mind up about Grayson but I do believe he'll sort the club out, certainly the playing side, given time. Quite simply, this club needs to be gutted and refurbished.

What do you make of the signings that Grayson has made so far?

I'm pleasantly surprised! I think McGeady will be the leading light of the team going forward. We have been screaming out for players who'll make something from nothing, maybe even since we lost Stephane Sessengon. The other signings are safer bets; not a lot of money been put into them but they're here to play. If we can't get anyone else going forward, so be it, but they absolutely need to be the right players for SAFC.

Are there any areas of the side that remain a priority for strengthening this summer?

Where to start? A Goalkeeper certainly. I was gutted we didn't pounce on John Ruddy, there's a keeper I've always rated. A quality Centre-half who actually wants to be here would be a great boost throughout the whole team as well. We need to do what it takes to sign a striker with a guaranteed 20+ season in him. It remains to be seen whether we can achieve that kind of transfer, but such a player is crucial, even just for survival.

Who will be Sunderland's key players for our assault on a gruelling 46 game Championship campaign?

I think the central pair of Cattermole and N'Dong will be our base to build on, a player with steel and grit with an eye for a pass along side an athletic, confident player who's got time on his side and a league to flourish in. Those are my two to push SAFC up the table.

We have a promising crop of young players at the club, can any of them kick on and play a big part in our season?

I'm pleasantly surprised with Josh Maja. It has all been about Asoro for the last 6 or 7 months and he's looked like a boy amongst men at times in pre-season, but Maja has came into the team and put a marker down. It's has given the manager a bit of a dilemma, a nice one at that. I say either let the young lad give it a go or try and play it safe and hope Vaughan can step up a league. Maybe we could even see them paired together?

Can you see a future at the club for the likes of Lamine Kone, Wahbi Khazri and Jeremain Lens?

The only one of those three I feel will be still on Wearside come 1st of September is Whabi Khazri. He had a torrid time under David Moyes last season and even when he showed he could be the difference in games, he still wasn't getting into the team. I don't think Grayson will want to curtail Khazri's abilities by forcing his own ideas on a team not capable of playing the style wanted by the manager. The other two players well, they're footballers here for a payday, not for the love of the game or our football club.

Any predictions on how the season will shape up? Who are your tips to challenge for promotion; and who looks set to struggle at the wrong end of the table?

I think that unfortunately, this is that start of Sunderland's overdue stagnation; this is the season we firmly become a Championship Club. I can't see us pushing for promotion as things stand. I don't think the team is of a good enough standard to sustain a promotion push for 46 games and won't be until a plan is thought of and implemented at the club. I'll be watching Fulham and Reading this season, as I think they're the two for automatic promotion. A dark horse being Middlesbrough just down to Gary Monk's ability and they've gone and signed themselves a striker in Assombalonga, who I think has averaged a goal every two games throughout his career. I think the sides that will struggle year will be QPR and Burton Albion. QPR simply because they're still a team without clear direction and identity and are still suffering the fallout of relegation from The Premier League. They'll either splash the cash again and hope it works or they'll have to tighten up the purse-strings and hope the work ethic of players coming in is enough to push on. Burton Albion will struggle because well they're Burton Albion, and they will always fall a little short at this level.

Where do you expect Sunderland to finish this season?

I'm going specific here, 9th.

So there we have it folks, it's going to be a tough season; I think most of us envisaged that. Coxon thinks the drive of Catts and Didier N'dong in the middle of the park can serve us well, and with McGeady and Khazri we certainly possess a lot of creativity out wide. The need for more striking options is apparent, and we will all be watching with interest, the  early performances of James Vaughan and young Josh Maja. Will we bring in more firepower? The coming weeks have a lot in store for us all. I can't wait for the big kick off on 4th August...