Football Manager 2018: 10 Challenging Teams You Will Need To Use

2. Sunderland

FM 2018 Clubs
2016 Getty Images

Finally relegated from the Premier League after years teetering on the brink, Sunderland are in a miserable state at the moment. After sleepwalking their way into the Championship, the Black Cats now seem hell-bent on sabotaging their upcoming season through further inactivity, and while the board have set a June deadline to conclude takeover talks, they’re still to appoint a new manager, and have already lost Jordan Pickford, with Jermain Defoe set to follow him out the door.

They’re in a remarkably similar position to local rivals Newcastle following their relegation in 2009, but it’ll be extremely difficult for Sunderland to pick up the pieces. The Championship looks stronger than ever next season, and if Ellis Short isn’t able to sell the club, those playing as them shouldn’t expect significant transfer funds to play with.

Their tiny squad needs a host of new faces, but you may be restricting to trawling the free agent market for bargains. A season of consolidation may be in order, and while Sunderland’s prospects should improve in the event of a takeover, their first in-game season has the potential to be absolutely brutal.

Channel Manager
Channel Manager

Andy has been with WhatCulture for eight years and is currently WhatCulture's Wrestling Channel Manager. A writer, presenter, and editor with 10+ years of experience in online media, he has been a sponge for all wrestling knowledge since playing an old Royal Rumble 1992 VHS to ruin in his childhood. Having previously worked for Bleacher Report, Andy specialises in short and long-form writing, video presenting, voiceover acting, and editing, all characterised by expert wrestling knowledge and commentary. Andy is as much a fan of 1985 Jim Crockett Promotions as he is present-day AEW and WWE - just don't make him choose between the two.