Last Season - 15th in the Premier League - 39pts
Manager: Roy Keane

INS:
MF David Meyler - Undisclosed
AMF Steed Malbranque - Undisclosed
ST El-Hadji Diouf - Undisclosed
MF Teemu Tainio - Undisclosed
RB Pascal Chimbonda - Undisclosed

OUTS:
FW Andy Cole
LB Ian Harte
DF Stanislav Varga
DF Stephen Wright
DF Greg Halford

Possibles:
FW Andy Johnson - Everton
DF Dorin Goian - Steaua Bucharest
FW Darren Bent - Tottenham
DF Younes Kaboul - Tottenham
DF Taye Taiwo - Marseille
FW Louis Saha - Manchester United
FW James Beattie - Sheffield United
MF Darren Fletcher - Manchester United

What's Left in the Kitty - Unknown with string of 'undisclosed' deals - started with 90m US

What Lies Ahead:
Aug 16 Liverpool (H)
Aug 23 Tottenham (A)
Aug 30 Man City (H)
Sep 13 Wigan (A)
Sep 20 Middlesbrough (H)
Sep 27 Aston Villa (A)
Oct 4 Arsenal (H)

Possible Starting XI:
GK Craig Gordon
RB Pascal Chimbonda
CB Paul McShane
CB Danny Higginbotham
LB Danny Collins
RMF Grant Leadbitter
CMF Teemu Tainio
CMF Steed Malbranque
LMF Andy Reid
FW Anthony Stokes/Michael Chopra/Dwight Yorke
FW El-Hadji Diouf/Kenwyne Jones

How They'll Stack Up:
When I sat down just over a week ago and started hashing out a Sunderland preview, it was pretty easy.  No moves in, some moves out and what looked to be a battle to stay near 15th spot - where they finished last year.  Now, Manager Roy Keane has had a string of players come in with more on the way and by the looks of it, they COULD get into the top half if everything goes according to plan (it's a 3-year plan by the way).  Keane got the RB he wanted in Chimbonda, the attacking guile in Malbranque and the versatility of Tainio (Keane just hopes he stays healthy!).  If they can bring in some help up front - Saha, Bent or Beattie - they should definitely get into the mid-table range and perhaps break the top ten.  Keane's no-nonsense style as a player has also been the attraction as a manager and I like what he's doing with Sunderland.  They have a bit of a tough beginning but if they can get 4-6pts in those first few games, they should be well on their way to a better finish than last term.

Coming Up Saturday - Wigan