As Simon Grayson's troops endure an intense Austrian training camp, safc.com reflects on how the 47-year-old fared in his opening presser with the dust now settled.
With pre-season, transfers and player development hot topics, here’s what the Black Cats boss had to say…
The challenge in hand
“When a club like Sunderland come knocking it is too good to turn down. It is a fantastic football club with history and tradition. This club is obviously in the Championship now but I want to make it proud again. I want the supporters to be proud of the football team that are going to go out there and obviously try and achieve success.”
A building job
“I want to concentrate on the players we will be bringing in and the ones who want to be a part of it. If this club gets going then it can snowball incredibly quickly as Sam (Allardyce) proved the year they managed to stay up and give the city something they can be proud of.”
Transfer talk
“We will bring a group of players in that are going to improve the squad. (We will bring in) different types of characters and players that will know the Championship. They might not be household names that people might be expecting but you don’t need household names to get yourself promoted out of this division. If you look at the last few seasons, Burnley have done it with real hungry young and experienced players who have got a real desire to succeed. Any player that will be coming to this football club under my regime will be coming to give everything for this football club and not just for the glamour or the money. It will be about hard work on the training pitch and a team spirit from a group of players who are willing to do anything for this football club. The ones that will be coming will be coming to play football and improve this football club. This is still a big football club and a big attraction for any manager, coach or player. We have got players in mind and we are hopefully going to move very quickly on decisions to enhance the squad and improve it.”
Blooding the youth
“The under-23s aren’t just here to make up the numbers. They are here to join in training and be in the team on the first game off the season. That is the big incentive for any player, whether it be an international player with 400 caps under you belt or you five appearances for the under-23s. If you do well in pre-season and I will consider you. That has got to be in the remit for all the players.”
Hopes, dreams and ambitions for the season
“(Promotion) has got to be the target. Any time Sunderland are in a division they need to be in the one above. (The Championship) is a relentless division because you are playing Saturday, Tuesday, Saturday and you have got teams who will spend large amounts of money. But, if you have got that togetherness and spirit then you have got an opportunity.”
