Ranking Sunderland's Signings Of 2014/15 From Worst To Best

4. Sebastian Coates - On Loan From Liverpool

Of all the players to improve under Dick Advocaat's short reign, Sebastian Coates' rise was surely the most dramatic (and unexpected). A bumbling figure of immense criticism for much of the campaign, the Liverpool loanee infuriated fans with his lack of pace, extreme discomfort with the ball at his feet, and a tendency to lose concentration at the most important of times. Somewhere along the line, however, Coates seemed to remember he was a hulking 6'5" centre back, and proceeded to play like one. A heroic titan during a series of crucial season-saving results, he did all the things Sunderland fans had hoped he would upon hearing of his arrival - barging opposition strikers out of position, intercepting any stray passes to drift his way, and throwing himself in front of every shot. Although his weaknesses are still pretty glaring (especially that alarming lack of pace), Coates is suddenly a player Sunderland wouldn't mind keeping for another season or two.