Stadium of Light - The only way is up

[Earlzi]

*first season update will be brief​

Today Sunderland confirm former Notts County and GB u23 manager, Mike Earles as the successor to the first managerial casualty of the EPL season 2012/2013 manager Steve Bruce.

---

Earles enjoyed a brief playing career with Wigan Athletic and Leeds United, winning 23 caps and scoring 2 goals at u21 level for his country. Earles's playing career was brought to an abrupt end just weeks after signing for Leeds United in a horrific training ground injury, after making his 120k switch to Leeds Earles didn't make one single appearance.3 Years later and at the age of 25 Earles took the plunge into the fickle world of management and was giving the role at struggling League 1 side Notts County in december 2011. Although managing to guide Notts County to 14th place that season, Earles retired soon after and expressed his interest in the vacant job at the DW Stadium.Earles did not get given the desired job with Wigan and soon after was given the GBu23 job by Fabio Capello.Earles took team GB to 2nd place in the Olympic games, Losing 1-0 to Switzerland in the final, Resigning shortly after.

---

"I cannot wait to get started here, Im excited about rebuilding this team and making it my own. But the main focus this season is to remain in the premiership, the current squad is capable of that. We're 20th right now, the only way is up eh?"First training session

---

First 5 matches ​

Sunderland out!!Sunderland slump to 3-1 defeat at the hands of arch rival Newcastle!​

Results till january

Quite a mixed bag of results for us, Bolton and Wolves are the games we want to be taking points from but we were just so poor! But then against Liverpool we were terrific, we absolutely dominated them.

---

Earles improves Black cats FormSince taking over in late october Mike Earles has managed to take Sunderland out of the Relagation zone and upto 16th place for the start of the new year. Despite coming out the drop zone Sunderlands worries are far from over with lackluste performances against relgation rivals Wolves, Bolton, Blackpool and West Brom where the Black Cats took just 2 points from a possible 12.

---

January TransfersMichael Owen - FreeDarwin Quintero - 4.5mAdam Johnson - 2.2m

---

Results till end of feb​

Started off 2013 well. Climbed upto 12th.Pressure grows on EarlesAfter a great start to 2013, Sunderlands form dipped dramatically and the cracks started to show in Earles's methods, with some fans calling for his head! Earles has pleaded with fans to give him time to rebuild the squad and has reassured big changes will be made in the summer in attempt to change the clubs fortunes.

Holidayed the last 3 games of the season as i just wanted to get to pre season. ​

Sunderland finish the campaign in a respectable 14th posistion​

 

[Earlzi]

​The Revolution Begins
The major changes to personal which Earles promised fans at the back end of last season is now appearing to be in full swing at the Stadium of Light with many first team players shown the door.

Fans disappointed at the departure of Gyan and Quaresma

Sunderland welcome Kalou and Adebayor

Sunderland sign Salomon Kalou (4.8m) and Emmanuel Adebayor (1.8m) both on 3 year deals

---

All transfer in

Rest of transfers out

---

Sunderland fans can't wait to see new signing Shaqiri in action

 

[Earlzi]

---

"So we reach the end of october and after a quite surprising start by Sunderland, we see them sit at the top of the Barclays Premier League. Already beating there 2 closet rivals with relative ease, how long can Sunderland keep this up for"

"Your guess is as good as mine, gary. The way they're playing at the minute they look like they belong at the top, but you keep saying to yourself, its just Sunderland surely its going to end. And you look at the fixture list on a saturday morning and you thinking, today they'll come unstuck. But they keep rolling out the results and they're playing some fantastic football. But eventually they will get beat and lose a few on the bounce and there season on depends on how they bounce back from that"

"One of the questions everybody is asking now is how will they cope without Adam Johnson? he's been sensational so far this season"

"Yes, I personally think they're going to struggle now. He has been pivotal for them this season. He's scoring goals, he's creating goals. Its easy to see why he's picked up the player of the month award this month...

I mean, I know Earles has spoke about how they have adequate cover, but are Shaqiri or Wiess going to recreate the same form as Johnson, I think the answer is no."

"Thanks Alan, right its almost time for us to goal but before we do we'll leave you with the presentation of the Manager of Month award, which this month goes to Mike Earles, Good Night......"

---

​

 

[Jean-Luc]

HAHAHAHAH