Although you can never assess a season by the first game, sometimes it can give you a flavour of what to expect.

With two managers at the helm of two clubs that struggled and disappointed their fanbase last season, the possibility is that both David Moyes and Ronald Koeman have more on their hands than they bargained for.

Ronald Koeman was settled and comfortable at St Mary's with a Southampton side punching way above their weight. Good individuals who played for each other and who elevated the club to European competition yet again with the ability to go on and unsettle the big boys.

It was always on the cards that a few of the Southampton players would move on, primarily because it happens every single season, but they've always re-built and come back stronger.

On the verge of a new contract, The Toffees waived a bigger salary and a huge war chest at the Dutchman- and he ran as fast as he could to Merseyside.

Trouble is, Koeman hasn't landed the big targets that he set out for. You can argue that Bolasie is a good signing for him, but £30m? Really? Where is Witsel? Where did Pelle go? Where are the big signings?

Reality is a hard truth and Koeman is now resorting to his Plan B list. It may yet prove to be a good decision, time will tell, but with money being thrown at the manager, expectation the highest at Goodison Park for many a year, will all of that prove to be Everton's undoing?

He has already put into practice his pressing game and his tactics worried Spurs at the weekend, but not every team is like Tottenham and as the season wears on, teams will work out how to beat Koeman's charges, just like they did when he was with the Saints.

A much bigger job is the one on Wearside, though. Sunderland lack confidence thanks to season after season of relegation worries and the fans will hope that David Moyes is the saviour after Sam Allardyce left them for the England job.

After already bringing in the Manchester United trio of Love, McNair and Januzaj, Moyes still has work to do. To convince new players to join his North Eastern revolution will be more difficult than he imagines, as the brighter lights elsewhere will sway new faces away from the Stadium of Light.

Sunderland are perennial strugglers, expect that not to change this season, as the club goes through yet another transition that will mean time to gel the individuals into a team. Moyes will need all of his expertise from his Everton days, to guide the Black Cats up the table.

The Scot's reputation has been knocked by a difficult year as Manchester United boss, followed by an equally chastening twelve months at Real Sociedad.

Thank goodness for Jermaine Defoe because yet again Sunderland will require his goal-scoring talents.

With Manchester City not looking at their best on Saturday, Sunderland were still unable to see much of the ball for large parts of the game and despite only losing to an own goal, this is going to be another season where stability is the objective.

Both men will largely succeed eventually, but this season will be one to test their nerve and managerial abilities to the very last day.