'Sunderland defied all the odds and predictions'
- Published
Now the curtain has come down on the 2025-26 Premier League campaign, here is my end-of-season review - with a look back to what I predicted in August.
Prediction: 19th
Humble pie for me here. What a magnificent achievement to go from relegation tips - including my own - to qualifying for Europe.
Sunderland defied all the odds and predictions with an outstanding season back in the Premier League under the calm and understated, but very shrewd, guidance of Regis le Bris. He should be in any manager of the season conversation.
It is reward too for Sunderland's owners, who set out a bold transfer strategy last summer which was designed to stay in the Premier League.
Huge credit to all involved. Europe, here they come.
What I said in August: "Integrating so many new signings may actually prove a problem."
