Gav says...
Our start is obviously very favourable.
According to a bunch of different analytic websites, Sunderland actually have the most appealing start to the season of any club in the Premier League, which I suppose is a good thing. On the flipside, you look at Burnley’s first five games and can’t help but feel that we’ve done quite well out of the old Premier League SuperComputer on this occasion.
It’s not all sunshine and rainbows, though, as December looks really tough. Hopefully, by then we’ve got a good few wins on the board, which should set us up nicely.
As I write this, the game I’m most looking forward to is the opener against West Ham — our return to the big time and hopefully a nice summer’s day against a team who didn’t have a great season last time out.
I don’t want to get too carried away, but that’s about as good as we could’ve asked for.
Isn’t it nice to just see our name in amongst all the other big clubs again? I think today is finally the day where all of this has sunk in.
We’re a Premier League club again, baby. Let’s do this.
Sheffield United v Sunderland - Sky Bet Championship Play-Off Final Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images
John Wilson says...
Like a lot of people, I was straight on the website to have an early look at the fixture list.
Many podcasts (none as good as Haway the Podcast) were doing quick responses or even live commentaries and I was very pleased to see we have quite an attractive first fixture at home.
I was almost certain we would be at home because of the Women’s Rugby World Cup, but I didn’t want an ‘unattractive’ team so West Ham will do for me and it’s not beyond the realm of possibility that we can get something out of that game.
I’m already excited about the season opener: sunshine, red and white shirts on show, using the Keel Crossing, the noise, the Jimmy Montgomery Stand, and jumpers for goalposts!
Not living in the North East, I’m surrounded by other exiles. My neighbours to the left are Coventry and Liverpool; to my right I have Aston Villa and Manchester City, and it’s the Villa game I’m looking forward to out of that crop.
I’ve been with my neighbour several times to Villa Park, and he’s said he’d be interested in coming north with me for the Villa game, so it’ll be nice to be able to show off my club for a change.
As most people will have observed by now, the opening month has been ‘kind’ to us, whereas December is a stinker. Of course, it’s often the mid-table teams we don’t show up against, but these are the teams we desperately need to take points off.
It’ll be a hard ask but we have to be up for every game, and as fans, we need to back the lads every game and do our part — especially if times get rough — but I’m hoping for more than just survival.
It’s getting real now, so how will I get through July?
Season tickets are sold out. Bring it on, and haway me bonnie lads!
Malc Dugdale says...
In the grand scheme of things, I think we’ve done well in the fixture allocations. We could’ve had a nightmare entry into the Premier League, a godawful tail end (or both) but we don’t have either.
We have a decent initial month or two, not having to take on any of the big hitters until mid-to late September when we face Forest and Aston Villa — who were very impressive at times last season.
December looks like a massive challenge, with our first game against Liverpool, both Man City ties, Newcastle at home and our first encounter with fellow promotion winners Leeds.
Games like Leeds and Brighton around Christmas become must wins to prevent a very difficult end to 2025.
April is the other month when we could have a hard time, but with Spurs (who I fully expect to bounce back this season) and Forest at home with Villa away in between, you’d hope we can do OK in what’ll probably be our first International Fans’ Weekend in the top flight.
The run in isn’t too bad and if we can get to May with a chance of staying up — which will be very dependent on us recruiting well now and in January as well as keeping players fit — we could’ve had worse fixtures to fight our way across the finish line.
In terms of games I’m looking forward to (other than taking on the Saudi B team at home and away), I’m looking forward to Arsenal in November, Manchester City around new year and Liverpool in February.
I also have close family members who follow Forest so it’ll be nice to see us do well and hopefully we can flourish after playoff victory as they have in the last few years.
It’ll also be nice to see out the season at home against Chelsea, who we’ve played well against in the past — including that 3-2 thriller at the Stadium of Light.
That game was one of the games that convinced my young son that Sunderland were his club for life, and if this season’s end is anything like that, we’re in for a hell of a ride!
Sunderland v Chelsea - Premier League Photo by Matthew Lewis/Getty Images