In his time 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. Speakman has been criticised in some quarters for not providing Sunderland with enough depth, as evidenced by the injuries to Ross Stewart and the recall of Ellis Simms which left Tony Mowbray without any senior strikers for large parts of last season. Sunderland then failed to sign an experienced striker during the last January window.
Here, though, we drill down into every signing sanctioned by Speakman since his arrival at the club and rate them from one to ten.
17. Patrick Roberts
Another player with undoubted quality signed for a minimal financial outlay. It is a huge positive that he has now committed his future to Sunderland with a new contract. 9/10. Photo: Warren Little
18. Alex Pritchard
An absolute wizard in League One and the Championship and Sunderland signed him on a free! It is just a shame his Sunderland career ended the way it did. 9/10 Photo: Clive Brunskill
19. Trai Hume
Trai Hume was a revelation on Wearside last season with several eye-catching performances. His good form has continued into this season and the right-back is now worth a lot more than the minimal fee Sunderland paid Linfield for him. 9/10 Photo: FRANK REID PHOTOGRAPHER 2022
20. Dan Ballard
Dan Ballard is one of the first names on Michael Beale's teamsheet currently and is another player Sunderland would stand to make a huge profit on in the future. It is pleasing that his recent injury issues seem to be behind him 9.5/10 Photo: Stu Forster