This is the final segment of our three-part 'Who Are You' series, looking at each of Sunderland's upcoming opponents for the Championship season. Today we will finish the list from Rotherham onwards, and speak about a few ex-Black Cats along the way...
ROTHERHAM: LAST SEASON 2ND (LEAGUE ONE)
Despite running away with the league at one point, Rotherham ended up limping over the finish line on the last day of the season. Just a point ahead of MK Dons, they’re destined to go back down as they do every two years. Especially if they sign our old friend Will Grigg on a permanent free transfer. He’s barely a League One striker at this point, never mind a Championship player. They bullied their way out of League One with powerhouses such as Michael Smith, but hopefully they won’t have the quality on the ball to compete at Championship level. Rotherham’s a pretty good away day. It’s one of the closest trips, just two hours away. The only problem will be the flashbacks and trauma after last season’s 5-1 hammering. It’s also close to Wakefield. What’s not to like, apart from last season’s score-line and the 1970’s hardmen to our left.
AWAY DAY RATING: 7
STOKE: LAST SEASON 14TH
There’s nothing about Stoke City that stands out. Since their relegation from the Premier League, they’ve finished 16th, 15th, then 14th twice. Michael O’Neill is a fairly uninspiring manager, and Stoke seem happy just plodding along and not pulling up any trees. Scottish striker Jacob Brown looks promising- he’s their top scorer with 14 goals. By all accounts Steven Fletcher has had a great impact off the pitch, although the 35-year-old will depart this summer.
They want to sign Josh Maja permanently as his Bordeaux contract expires- the former Sunderland academy graduate’s career hasn’t gone to plan since leaving Wearside. Perhaps we could bring him back to partner Ross Stewart... one last dance? The Britannia is a pretty good ground for the Championship, but the surrounding area leaves a lot to be desired. There’s no such place, and you have to work hard to find anywhere safe and decent within striking distance. They’re not that friendly either.
AWAY DAY RATING: 2
SWANSEA: LAST SEASON 15TH
The second Welsh team on this list, Swansea suffered a major hangover from their 2021 play-off final defeat to Brentford. Graham Potter and Steve Cooper both did great jobs in recent years, but have been poached by Brighton and Nottingham Forest respectively. Russell Martin arrived from MK Dons last summer, and is attempting a major rebuild this season. He’s confirmed that 18 players have been released (including academy prospects), but there are a further 9 players whose futures may be in doubt should the right offer come along. This includes striker Joel Piroe, who bagged 22 goals last year and is linked with several Premier League clubs. Swansea is quite the trek from Sunderland, and probably isn’t worth it. The creatively named Swansea.com Stadium (formerly the Liberty Stadium) is the third-largest in Wales, after the Millennium Stadium and the Cardiff City Stadium. Luckily for us, the locals aren’t as anti-English as the Cardiff lot. There’s a decent bus service from the town, which is worth a visit.
AWAY DAY RATING: 3
WATFORD: LAST SEASON 19TH (PREM)
Roy Hodgson’s gone, and he’s been replaced by former Forest Green gaffer Rob Edwards. Although he was promoted with the vegans last year, he’s a major risk in the Championship. We all know Watford’s reputation with managers, so don’t be surprised if he’s gone before Christmas. They have a quality squad for the Championship, especially if they can keep African superstars Ismaila Sarr and Emmanuel Dennis. Watford were winless in their last nine Premier League fixtures. But with a full pre-season with a new-look squad, Edwards will be hoping for a total refresh. They’ve already let go of first team regulars Nicolas Nkoulou, Peter Etebo and professional YouTube vlogger Ben Foster. Watford will probably be one of the most depressing away trips of the season, as we head to an ageing Vicarage Road. It’s a museum various styles of football architecture, the town’s a bit downbeat to say the least, and the netties in the away end are downright dangerous.
AWAY DAY RATING: 1
WEST BROM: LAST SEASON 10TH
Steve Bruce becomes a hated man wherever he goes. We hate him, the Mags hate him, and West Brom fans now hate him despite Bruce only taking charge in February. The Baggies have a few quality players for this league, including Karlan Grant, Callum Robinson and Grady Diangana. However, they are now playing a depressing brand of football that doesn’t suit the players. Bruce has taken them from fifth to 10th in the space of a few months. If they stick with him for the whole of next season, fans could be in for a very disappointing season. 12 players have been released, including the most notable names Andy Carroll, Romaine Sawyers and Sam Johnstone. But would anyone really trust Steve Bruce to replace these players? In terms of away travel, the Hawthorns is quite a nice ground. We’ll get around 3,000 tickets and it’s not too far, being in the Midlands. It’s a decent away end, and there’s a decent hostelry just up the road.
AWAY DAY RATING: 5
WIGAN: LAST SEASON 1ST (LEAGUE ONE)
While they were the most consistent League One team last season, that’s exactly what they are. A League One team. The likes of Max Power, James McClean and Charlie Wyke won’t be enough to succeed in the Championship. There’s a reason Power’s won League One three times with the Latics- he can’t compete in the Championship. Even Will Keane, who scored 26 goals last season, is 29 years old and hasn’t shown anything to suggest he can do it at a higher level. I worry for Leam Richardson’s side, and fans might have to prepare for a season down the bottom end of the Championship. I’m sure they’ll take that though, after several seasons facing financial turbulence to say the least. In League One, Wigan was always a stand-out away day and it’ll be no different as we join them in the Championship. Loads of pies and loads of tickets, as well as some smashing boozers in the town.
AWAY DAY RATING: 8
