10 Things We Learned From Sunderland Til I Die Season 2
6. Loyal Strikers Are Hard To Come By
It seems that Sunderland fans more than most must suffer from severe Déjà vu. Not only has the club suffered consecutive relegations, but both seasons of Sunderland Til’ I Die start with an in-form striker giving the club hope, before leaving in January.
In season one it was Lewis Grabban, the on-loan Bournemouth forward who hit 12 goals in 19 League games, whilst often dragging his beleaguered side out of trouble single-handedly. However, Grabban, presented in the series as a mercenary, requests to return to his parent club before turning out for Championship rivals Aston Villa that very same season.
Sadly, for the Black Cats lightning does strike twice, with the latest series chronicling the rise of academy product Josh Maja. 15 goals in 24 League One games made Maja a fan favourite, however his form put him on the radar of bigger clubs, with the previous regime failing to tie him down to a long-term deal. Cue Maja’s agent forcing a January move to Bordeaux after months of failed negotiations.
Non-Sunderland fans will be thankful they didn’t stick around- their departures certainly add to the drama.