Sunderland fans will be left enraged after what Stan Collymore said about Black Cats
Stan Collymore has predicted where Sunderland will finish ahead of the 2025/26 Premier League season.
The Black Cats returned to the summit of English football after beating Sheffield United in the play-off final.
Regis Le Bris' tactical expertise guided Sunderland back to the top flight, and he will hope to keep them there.
Sunderland fans will be enraged as Collymore backs them to get relegated
Sunderland fans will be frustrated with Collymore’s prediction of a 20th-place finish in the Premier League, despite the club’s significant investment of over £130million in signings like Granit Xhaka, Simon Adingra and Marc Guiu.
This hefty spending, coupled with Le Bris’ successful Championship campaign, has raised expectations for a competitive return to the top flight after an eight-year absence.
Fans see the squad’s youthful energy and the manager’s tactical acumen, demonstrated by a strong pressing game and low xG against, as signs of potential to defy relegation odds.
Collymore’s pessimistic outlook dismisses these improvements, ignoring the club’s ambition and Le Bris’ new three-year contract, which signals stability.
Supporters feel this prediction underestimates their revamped squad and the momentum from their playoff triumph, fueling disappointment and a desire to prove doubters wrong.
Le Bris has a tough job on his hands to avoid relegation from the Premier League
To steer Sunderland clear of relegation, Le Bris must maximise his squad’s potential through tactical discipline and strategic integration of new signings.
His 4-3-3/4-4-2 pressing system, which made them tough to play against in the Championship, must be adapted to counter Premier League quality.
| Club | Appearances | Yellow cards | Double booking | Red cards |
| Arsenal | 297 | 76 | 0 | 5 |
Key signings like Xhaka and Adingra need to anchor midfield and attack, providing experience and creativity.
Le Bris should focus on maintaining defensive solidity while ensuring new players like Reinildo Mandava and Habib Diarra gel quickly.
Regular squad rotation to manage fatigue, coupled with exploiting home games at the Stadium of Light, will be crucial.
Le Bris must also foster a resilient mentality to handle the top flight’s intensity, drawing on his Lorient experience.
By balancing attacking flair with a compact defence, he can target points against mid-table sides to secure survival.