Sunderland A.F.C. season 2005-06
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| Season 2005-06 | |
| League | Premiership |
| Manager |  Mick McCarthy Kevin Ball (caretaker) |
| Chairman | Bob Murray |
| League position 20th, 15pts | |
| Win-Loss-Draw | League: 3-6-29 Cup: 2-0-2 |
| Top goalscorer | League: Liam Lawrence, League:  Anthony Le Tallec,League: Tommy Miller (3)Cup: Anthony Le Tallec (2)Total: Anthony Le Tallec (5) |
| FA Cup | 4th round vs Brentford |
| Carling Cup | 4th round vs Arsenal |
The 2005-06 season was the 105th full season of league football for Sunderland A.F.C. They played in the The F.A. Premier League.
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[edit] Overview
Sunderland returned to the Premier League as champions of the Championship after a two-year absence. Before the season began fans were under no illusion that it would be tough. The heavy debts that they had been relegated with two-years before had still not been cleared, and as a result there was only a £5 million budget to spend on the transfer market. The £1.8 million spent on bringing Jonathan Stead from Blackburn was the highest fee paid.
The opening months of the season brought little cheer for Sunderland fans. A solitary away victory over local rivals Middlesbrough was the only league win before New Year. Most critics and fans agreed that in many games Sunderland had been playing well and were unlucky not to get results, for example the home game against Chelsea, and that defensive mistakes and lack of goals were their downfall.
As the season went from bad to worse, fans began to focus their anger on the board. Chairman Bob Murray strenuously denied reports that the club had planned for relegation from the beginning, and had used the season simply to pay off debts. Manager Mick McCarthy reportedly described his "hands being tied" in the transfer market, something which he later described as a misquote.
On March 6, McCarthy was sacked by the board as Sunderland went into the remaining games of the season with only two wins under their belt - both away from home. Former club captain Kevin Ball took over as caretaker manager, with little chance of keeping Sunderland in the Premiership. They were mathematically relegated on April 14th despite an impressive goaless draw at Old Trafford. Fans then suffered the humiliation of 4-1 home defeat to local rivals Newcastle United, the worst derby result in over 50 years.
It is a season that will live long in the memory of Sunderland fans for all of the wrong reasons. With a total of 15 points, the club broke their own Premiership record of attaining the lowest number of points in a season (19 in 2002/03), although they avoided the stigma of being the only club to go an entire season without a home win, due to victory in the final home game of the season.
On 9 May, Kevin Ball announced he would step down as caretaker-manager of Sunderland AFC.
Former player Niall Quinn confirmed that he was looking to buy the club with an Irish consortium[1].
[edit] Events
- February 7 - News broke of a bust-up between manager Mick McCarthy and chairman Bob Murray over newspaper reports that McCarthy had complained in a press conference about the lack of transfer funds [2]. The row was denied by both parties, with McCarthy claiming his words had been 'misconstrued' [3].
- March 6 - Mick McCarthy was sacked by Sunderland with 10 games remaining. In a statement, chairman Bob Murray apologised to fans for the position the club was in, and announced that a caretaker manager would be appointed for the remaining games. Kevin Ball was confirmed as caretaker manager later that day. Ball is the 30th manager to take control of Sunderland, and the 4th in only four years.
- April 1 - The most expensive buy of the season, striker Jon Stead, scored his first goal for the club in a 2-2 draw against Everton. The goal came in his 27th appearance.
- April 8 - Sunderland's game against Fulham was abandoned mid-way through the first half due to snow. Fulham were leading the game 1-0 at the time. Defeat in the game would have officially relegated Sunderland.
- April 14 - Sunderland were official relegated after drawing against Manchester United 0-0 at Old Trafford. Despite this being arguably the best result of the season for Sunderland, it was not enough to prolong their relegation to the Championship.
- May 1 - Sunderland broke their own record for the lowest number of points in a season after a 3-0 home defeat to Arsenal.
- May 4 - Sunderland win their first home game of the season at the final attempt. A 2-1 victory over Fulham in a rearranged fixture prevented the club for going the entire season without a home win, which would have been a Premiership record.
- May 7 - Sunderland finish the season with 15 points.
[edit] Transfer deals
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This section does not cite any references or sources. (June 2007) Please help improve this section by adding citations to reliable sources. Unverifiable material may be challenged and removed. |
[edit] Signings
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[edit] Released
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[edit] Sold
[edit] Transfer statistics
Total transfer fees paid:
£4.25 million
Total transfer fees received:
£675,000
Does not take into account undisclosed fees.
[edit] Cup competitions
[edit] FA Cup
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[edit] League Cup
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[edit] League results
[edit] Statistics[edit] Attendance
[edit] Matches
[edit] Players
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