Thursday 4 June 2015 22:01, UK
Sky Sports pundit Paul Merson believes Dick Advocaat’s main objective next season will be to keep Sunderland in the Premier League.
The Dutchman performed a U-turn on Thursday, signing a one-year contract with Sunderland after turning down a three-year deal last week.
Advocaat was brought in to address Sunderland’s slump last season and steered the club to safety despite at one point being odds-on to be relegated.
The club are set to support Advocaat by investing in the squad this summer, but Merson believes they need to focus on safety rather than looking beyond the top ten.
“If I’m being honest, I think Sunderland will be happy just to stay up next year,” he told Sky Sports.
“It’s so important to stay up next year, with the TV money that’s going to be coming in."
“Anyone who’s going to be in that bottom half of the table next season will be happy just to stay up, and that’s where I think they’ll be again.
“It’s so important to stay up next year, with the TV money that’s going to be coming in. The bottom 10 teams – and I put West Ham in that bracket too – just need to survive.
“Sunderland can’t get carried away, being over ambitious, because that’s when you get sucked in – they just need to stay up.”
Sunderland are rank outsiders to win the Capital One Cup (50/1) and FA Cup (50/1) next season, but Merson doesn’t have an issue with Advocaat targeting silverware as well.
He said: “They can have a go in the cups – Villa showed that you battle against relegation, survive and still give your fans a big day out at Wembley.
“So maybe they should have a go in the Capital One Cup and the FA Cup and see where it takes them, but league position has to be the priority, particularly with that TV money coming in the following season.”
Merson believes Advocaat already has the blessing of the current Sunderland squad, which should stand him in good stead for next season.
“It’s very good news for Sunderland – it seems as though the players really responded to him and really like him, so it’s a good move all around,” he said.
“It’s the Premier League – he’ll earn serious money – but he put a lot into the job last season and it seems as though he’s got unfinished business, so maybe that’s what made him change his mind.
“But, as I said, he’s got the players on his side already and that’s a massive starting point for next season.”
