When Keano quit to walk the dog, leaving poor old Ricky Subbuteo to puff, pant and eventually collapse in a traumatised heap across the Premiership safety-line under the weight of Black Cat expectation, it was clear Sunderland, in order to reflect their oft-quoted ambition, needed a new direction.
Step forward Steve Bruce. Yup, Steve Bruce, the Newcastle-United-supporting-Geordie. Well, we all have our crosses to bear, I guess. But when it comes to experience, Sunderland fans should be reassured by the fact that chairman Niall Quinn has plumped for one of the most reliable heads in the domestic game. This is the same manager, remember, who led Wigan Athletic to eleventh place – five above Sunderland- last season, with a comparatively limited budgetary allowance.
Given license to spend by Quinn and club owner Ellis Short, it is intriguing, therefore, that the signing to kick off Bruce’s Wearside revolution was the acquisition of young English centre forward Frazier Campbell…
After three consecutive seasons of football farmed out on loan by Manchester United, one thing is for certain: this upcoming 2009/10 campaign is shaping up as Campbell’s chance to finally shine on the big stage. With Bruce shelling out £3.5m (rising to £6m) for his services, the 21 year old has at last a Premiership home where the manager’s faith in him is absolute.
Despite boasting a scoring record of a goal every other game at Royal Antwerp and Hull, Campbell was never given a chance at Old Trafford, and a stint at Spurs last season as part of the Berbatov deal only saw him caught up in the Ramos-Redknapp managerial merry-go-round. Resultantly, just one league start and nine appearances from the subs bench explains the paltry return of one goal and one assist, as he averaged just thirty minutes per game appearance.
This coming August, however, the pacy 5′ 11 front man can anticipate life at the Stadium of Light as an integral part of Bruce’s new-look team. The currently-in-transition Sunderland squad has already seen Michael Chopra, David Connolly and Djibril Cisse struck off the list of last season’s forwards, and Campbell’s keen eye for goal -illustrated in the clinical finish against Spain in the recent U21 Euro’s could perhaps see him dovetail with current incumbent Kenwyne Jones as part of a classic front two combination. Bruce’s eye for South American talent-spotting has now seen Paraguay international centre half and captain Paulo da Silva arrive at the club on a free transfer, and bids for the likes of Peter Crouch and Lee Cattermole are a signal of the Black Cats’ intent.
The new manager’s Premier League know-how and tactical nous will surely steady the Sunderland ship, meaning a mid-table finish is definitely a realistic expectation this time around. If Bruce can coax more consistency out of current midfield wide boys Kieron Richardson and Steed Malbranque or, better still, bolster the team with improved creativity, Frazier Campbell – available in the low-to-mid price bracket across the games (6.0 in the Fantasy Premier League, 4.5 in the Telegraph) – may well be one of the bargain front men of the season. And with a relatively straightforward opening seven game fixture list which reads, “bol, CHE, BLA, stk, HUL, bur, WLV”, Bruce may even have the type of season that could prove to be – in the demanding eyes of Roy Keane himself – successful.