Keane aiming to build upon 'satisfactory' campaign

A YEAR ON THE WEAR: AND NOW the end is near. A season that began with a north London giant arriving on Wearside, Tottenham Hotspur, ends with their neighbours Arsenal at the Stadium of Light.

The sold-out signs are up and so, still, are Sunderland. Back on August 11th everyone around here would have taken that, perhaps even deep down, Roy Keane.

So, in that respect, the season has been a success, mission accomplished. But Keane demurred when offered "success" as a description. "Satisfactory" was the alternative he used.

But, if you happen to be a Wearsider, that will do. They have found satisfaction harder to come by than a Rolling Stone. To be kicking off against Arsenal without the threat of relegation is a blessing no Sunderland follower will ignore and gratitude to Keane, Niall Quinn, the Drumaville investors and the players will be expressed freely tomorrow. Providing they are not battered of course.

Then people will retire to their pubs and clubs and think about what has just gone and what might lie ahead. That can be done in some relaxation and yet Keane's presence means that will always be a short experience. After the dismal performance at Bolton last Saturday, Keane looked at his squad with fresh menace this week and, if he can, will pick up an axe and use it.

Keane would then hope to be precise but that is not always possible. Essentially his next task is to build his second Sunderland team, but even Alex Ferguson accepts team-building is reliant upon luck as well as planning.

Ferguson only got Eric Cantona because he couldn't get David Hirst. Keane knows that already. If he had been able to get David Nugent last summer, would Keane have gone for Kenwyne Jones, voted player of the season this week? Had Jussi Jaaskelainen been buyable, would Craig Gordon have become Sunderland's record signing? Yet Gordon and Jones end their first season proper in England's top flight as Keane's "untouchables". They are surrounded by touchables and Keane is expecting a high turnover this pre-season. Harte, Cole, Wright and Varga - they're already gone; Greg Halford, Paul McShane and Russell Anderson should follow, while Anthony Stokes . . .

Dwight Yorke is another in an uncertain position, so too Ross Wallace. Keane wants to "replace quantity with quality" but said he will not make a wow-factor signing "because someone has a fancy name or long hair".

And then there is Liam Miller. In any review of Sunderland's season, Miller features and not because of that looping volley he scored at Middlesbrough back in sunny September, Miller's only goal. Miller was in and out of the team before that and after it. But his career appeared to have changed dramatically in February when the midfielder was, without warning, placed on the transfer list. His crime? Lateness.

"If you are driving to work don't get in the car with Liam Miller, because he has more car crashes than anyone I know," Keane said memorably.

This felt like a huge day for both Corkmen. For over two months Miller was out in the wilderness, training with reserves and youth teamers. Then, at St James' Park of all places, Miller came back. Back he has stayed and stay he might.

"Liam has done okay," Keane said on Thursday. "He's shown a good attitude. Liam's got another year; we'll see how it pans out over the summer. Most importantly he's been on time. Don't laugh. If you're on time you give yourself a chance."

Thus timekeeping joined timing as a theme of the season. It began on day one when Michael Chopra set the tone for late goals with his injury-time winner. Four days later Stern John scored a 90th-minute equaliser at Birmingham and after two games Sunderland were fourth with four points. They never had it so good again.

Three days on came an enlightening 3-0 defeat at Wigan. Another pattern was set, failure on the road. That reached a low at Everton on November 24th when Sunderland were beaten 7-1, a landmark defeat.

"I take full responsibility and I am comfortable with that," Keane said, uncomfortably.

The following Saturday Derby County were beaten 1-0, arguably Sunderland's most important victory of the season. Stokes got the winner, in injury time. He was subsequently banned, for his own good, by local bar Glass Spider after Keane described it as Stokes's "obvious pitfall".

By Christmas, when they were thumped 4-0 at home by Manchester United, Sunderland were second-bottom. Bolton in the next game had to be beaten and they were, 3-1. It was the first of four consecutive home wins that ultimately turned the season. With a game to go, Sunderland have 25 points from the second half of the season; 14 from the first half.

The team adjusted. Injured players returned and in January the acquisition of Phil Bardsley, Andy Reid and Jonny Evans (on loan) stabilised the side. But it was touch and go until that savoured moment when Chopra scored the only goal at Aston Villa in March. A first away win. Momentum regained, Sunderland won three in a row and if the performance at Newcastle was a scar on the season, it did not define it.

So a job has been done. The mission was accomplished and the club continues to represent its area like no other institution there. They urged locals not to vote British National Party in the recent election and Quinn was on an anti-racism work again yesterday at the Stadium of Light.

"Sunderland being in the Premiership has raised the profile of the area on a global scale," said a council spokesman. "Roy Keane has given the city a massive lift by keeping us in the Premiership. Money cannot buy that type of profile."

Two years ago this club was in meltdown. Quinn, Keane, Drumaville and Sunderland's fans have staged a transformation. Most satisfactory.