Sunderland have been relegated a few times in the past, even with, on paper, enough quality not to. It's something perhaps, like West Ham, that hangs over their heads on season's of struggle. They do have a bit of the yo-yo about them.
But I do think they'll survive this year. O Neill will get money to spend in January. He needs a striker badly. Of course we know about his procrastinating, and chances are he'll sign a centre-back and then play him at right back, and a midfielder, and not play him at all, and ignore the fact he needs a front man...OR if there's a god, he'll sign Emile Heskey.
Actually, I'd fancy O Neill to take Delfouneso on loan, or cut price. IF he's willing to do business with us. I'd also expect Carlos to appear in a Sunderland shirt by January's end.
They'll survive though. In all honesty I think O Neill will probably pull off the January more akin to his first for us when he got us Carew and Ash Young.