It's all going wrong for Fulham isn't it, relegation beckons ... ... Jimenez hasn't scored a winning goal this season.
https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/s...was-wrong-sunderland-makes-europe-prediction/ BEFORE a ball was kicked this season, most pundits were tipping Sunderland for a scrap at the bottom of the Premier League. Pat Nevin was one of them, but the former Chelsea and Everton winger is happy to admit he was wrong, and not only does he now think that the Black Cats will finish well ahead of the bottom three, he's backing Regis Le Bris' side to compete for a place in Europe next season.... Nevin says: “I am comfortable in saying that Sunderland can compete for Europe. Before the start of the season, many people, yours truly as well, would have said they'll be fighting against relegation, but the Sunderland team I've watched this season is a completely different team to the one that played last season. I went to see the first game of the season against West Ham and I thought "we're going to find out a bit here" and they absolutely wiped the floor with West Ham. “Energy, keenness, bravery, everything. Now, let's be fair, West Ham haven't been brilliant this season. I was down watching them again at the weekend against Burnley, where they won 3-2, but it's the worst 3-2 I've ever seen. It stunk. “Watching Sunderland, even after that first game, I thought "Yeah, that's what happens, first game, all excited, that's not going to last." Okay, you have to put your hands up when you're wrong sometimes. They're a team, they're a good team, you don't beat Chelsea and draw away at Arsenal and not be a decent team and find yourself with the number of points that they've got so far." In conversation with CasinoHawks, Nevin added: “A lot of the players have really, really impressed me. Granit Xhaka and others, the energy levels in front of him are phenomenal. They're absolutely brilliant, and there's quality all over the place as well. Also, if you look at the team, you take Xhaka out of it, it's a young team. It's a really, really young team, so bits of naivety will come into play. “The exciting thing for Sunderland fans is, yes, you might sneak into European football, but you'll be better next year. You should be better next year if you can keep those players away from the big clubs. “I'm given games to do in my job and I can't wait to get another Sunderland game. I can't wait. They are that much fun to watch, and it's because of the bravery. Teams over the years have come up and thought: ‘We're not going to have a go,’ because we're against these big clubs. Sunderland have had a go. “I love them, and if they get into Europe I'd be delighted for them, and not even slightly surprised.”
