In his nearly two years at the Academy of Light, the former Birmingham City man has overseen a radical overhaul of the club’s playing squad with the Wearsiders focusing on their academy, and buying young players to be nurtured and blooded in the first team.
It is a strategy that has produced results, with Speakman providing a squad that Alex Neil managed to brilliantly turn into promotion winners following Lee Johnson’s under-achievement.
However, with any recruitment strategy, there are pros and cons.
Indeed, Speakman has been criticised in some quarters for not providing Sunderland with enough depth, as evidenced by the injuries to Ross Stewart and Ellis Simms, leaving Tony Mowbray without any senior strikers.
Here, though, we drill down into every signing sanctioned by Speakman since his arrival at the club and rate them from one to ten.
However, with any recruitment strategy, there are pros and cons.
![The early signs on the Costa Rica international are extremely promising following his goal at Watford but the attacker needs to play more this season. 7.5/10.](https://www.sunderlandecho.com/webimg/b25lY21zOjE0NzdlMjM4LTNmNGYtNDgwNS04OTBiLWZhNDc3NDU5NDliODpkOTIxYmFlNy01NTI4LTQ2NDMtOWQzOS01YTM2ZGZmYTNiNDk=.jpg?crop=3:2&width=800)
21. Jewison Bennette
The early signs on the Costa Rica international are extremely promising following his goal at Watford but the attacker needs to play more this season. 7.5/10. Photo: Frank Reid
![Alese has looked good so far and the logic behind the transfer is once again clear to see. Similar to Ballard, had Alese not sustained serious injuries last season, his score could have been even higher. 8/10.](https://www.sunderlandecho.com/webimg/b25lY21zOjA0MDg4ZjMzLTk3ZGEtNGIwOS1iNGYzLWQ4NGJmNDg0MDJlNzpiYjljNTllZS1iNTU4LTRlMjktYjMyMi02ODU3NDI1YTY2YjI=.jpg?crop=3:2&width=800)
22. Aji Alese
Alese has looked good so far and the logic behind the transfer is once again clear to see. Similar to Ballard, had Alese not sustained serious injuries last season, his score could have been even higher. 8/10. Photo: Ian Horrocks
![Sunderland needed a second-choice goalkeeper and Alex Bass was available. Hard to judge him on one game against Sheffield Wednesday in the Carabao Cup. 5/10.](https://www.sunderlandecho.com/webimg/b25lY21zOjg0M2YyODQ3LTJiMTgtNDRlMi05NWFlLTgzMmJjZWIxZDgzYzo5NWQxZWQ3Yi1hZmI4LTRiOWUtYmJhZC1mYjhlY2I1NWIwMzc=.jpg?crop=3:2&width=800)
23. Alex Bass
Sunderland needed a second-choice goalkeeper and Alex Bass was available. Hard to judge him on one game against Sheffield Wednesday in the Carabao Cup. 5/10. Photo: Naomi Baker
![Signing Amad Diallo on loan from Manchester Unitec turned out to be a massive coup for the club. 10/10](https://www.sunderlandecho.com/webimg/b25lY21zOjk2ZjVhOTUxLWI1ZjgtNGY4OC1hYmZlLWVhYjQwMzc1OWI4Yzo0M2QzN2M5Ny00MGNmLTQ0ZGQtODUyNi1hMTZmZGMzY2ExZjU=.jpg?crop=3:2&width=800)
24. Amad Diallo
Signing Amad Diallo on loan from Manchester Unitec turned out to be a massive coup for the club. 10/10 Photo: FRANK REID 2022