Summer of frustration bursts into life as Sunderland makes double signing

Sunderland fans have been through a lot in the past. Within my lifetime, and those of fans much older than myself, the club has been the definition of a ‘yo-yo’ team. But there is a strange emotion brewing on the banks of the Wear. That is one of optimism. After a quiet off-season, the Black Cats have burst into life with a hectic day of business. Adam Johnson, England international winger, has signed from Manchester City for £10million (plus performance related add-ons). Steven Fletcher, formerly of Wolverhampton Wanderers, has signed for £12million. The club is on the up.

Some people have said Sunderland overpaid for Fletcher. The outlay of £12million (and reliable reports suggest that there are no add-ons despite earlier claims that the deal was £14million) is more than Sunderland would have liked to have spent. But at the end of the day, it doesn’t matter. Martin O’Neill has never spoken of a war chest given to him by Ellis Short, the Sunderland owner and chairman. No such cap on spending exists. O’Neill has been asked by Short to build a competitive team, knowing that he will have the funds to make it happen. O’Neill has now made this come to fruition. Short has backed O’Neill to the hilt. At times this summer there were concerns over Sunderland’s lack of business. But those thoughts are now well in the past. The signings of Fletcher and Johnson are the sign that Sunderland is ready to make the step up to the next level.

No doubts have been raised over the fee paid for Johnson. Not only is he a well-accepted, quality player, but to many he has been signed for a bargain price. Sunderland have benefited from Johnson being out of favour at Manchester City. He is also a local lad, raised in Sunderland by a Sunderland supporting family (though he himself was a Manchester United supporter growing up). Being able to see three locals making up the core of the side (in Johnson, Lee Cattermole and Jack Colback) is a mouth-watering prospect for Sunderland fans. Probably most significant is that Sunderland was one of five clubs vying for his signature. The four other sides who expressed an interest were Liverpool, Tottenham Hotspur, Everton and Newcastle United. All four finished above Sunderland last season. But Sunderland were bold in their pursuit. They made Johnson aware that they wanted him, and made it clear what they could offer. That the signing went through on the first day of talks shows that they were convincing. That no other club made a firm bid shows that Sunderland made a jump on their rivals for his signature. Johnson knew that the other clubs were interested, but he has chosen Sunderland. For that, the staff in charge of bringing him to the club must be commended.

Sunderland now has two more top-class players than the team did 24 hours ago. Only time will tell if the signings are a huge success, or a dismal failure. If it is the former, then 24 August 2012 will go down in history for Sunderland A.F.C. But the biggest bonus is Martin O’Neill. He took no time in making himself a club legend last year, bringing the team out of relegation trouble onto the verges of the top half. He made the club believe they could achieve better things. Never has the aura around the club been better than it is right now. O’Neill is the man to reignite Adam Johnson’s career, and to help Steven Fletcher make the step to become a consistent goal-scorer in the Premier League. As a Sunderland fan, I can’t wait to see how it is going to work out. I can honestly say that there is not an owner in the Premier League who I would swap for Ellis Short, nor a manager with whom I would replace Martin O’Neill. So let’s all Party with Marty!