Keane happy for expectations to rise

Sunderland manager Roy Keane is not looking to dampen any high expectations on Wearside after the signing of quality playing staff this summer has seen fans season`s expectation rise.


He told the Sunderland Echo "Hey, look, I'm not here to dampen expectations, it's part of my job to have everyone going into the season believing we are going to have a good season."

"Whether that will be or not, I don't know. But I know that we have to look at it in a positive way and I've got to be honest and say that we go into this season with higher hopes than we had last season."


"Personally, I'm looking forward to it and I think we are a bit more confident here than we were last summer."

"I've got great hope for the season as well as them and fingers crossed we are going to have a good season."

"Every season is different. A lot of people tend to look back over the last one or two seasons."

"I'm not a great one for looking back. I'm not a great one for remembering too much."

"But I do know that going into this season we are obviously a lot more wiser than last season."

"I think the expectation from the supporters will be a little higher. I think this time last year, the words on everyone's lips was survival. It wasn't on mine but as the season went on I realised how tough football was at this level."

"We managed to finish 15th last season."

"But this season I'm sure with the players we've got in and the fact that the players have had a year in the Premiership, we can look to do better."

Vital Sunderland Says

The start of the brand new season is near and I can`t wait to getting back into my Saturday routine of either watching the lads or listening to them on the radio.

Let`s hope Keane can get the players to rise to the challenge and help the club finish in much healthier league position next year.

Click here to join in the debate on the club forum.