Sunderland have entered crisis mode just two weeks into the new season. After a poor pre-season, the Black Cats have gone into the league in equally as poor form. Fans are beginning to worry, with a lack of investment, a poor squad of players, lacking quality and passion, whilst Dick Advocaat and his backroom staff appear to be perplexed with little clue in how to solve the issues at the club.
So where has it all gone wrong at Sunderland AFC? Read Sunderland take a look at the underlying issue at the club and what can be done about it with just two weeks left in the transfer window. The underlying issue is, of course, a lack of investment!
This is perhaps the biggest issue that rots at the club presently although there are others. Rival premier league clubs have invested big this summer, with deals for players such as Jordy Clasie, Xherdan Shaqiri and Yohan Cabaye passing Sunderland by without them even exploring the possibility. Instead, Sunderland have invested the odd two or three million per player. How can the club expect to progress without investment? Fans are starting to become frustrated at this, and voiced their concern during the 3-1 home defeat to Norwich yesterday.
Five players have entered the stadium of light this summer whilst Connor Wickham and Adam Johnson have left the club or been injured respectively. Sunderland have not significantly improved their squad from last season, a season which they once again narrowly avoided relegation. With a severe lack of quality in the squad, Sunderland surely must look for at least three or four top quality players before the window slams shut in their face. Names such as Charlie Austin, Mousa Dembele, Fabio Borini and Marcos Alonso have been linked and Sunderland fans can all agree that signing these four players would significantly improve the squad and Sunderland’s fortunes. However, Sunderland must comply with financial fair play and must also persuade Ellis Short to part with around £40 million of his beloved wealth.
Yes, the situation at Sunderland AFC is one no club envy. However, without any significant investment in the squad, can Sunderland fans really expect anything different? In between the defeats to Leicester and Norwich, Sunderland’s squad only became thinner, an injury to Adam Johnson was coupled by no new arrivals, so how were Sunderland ever going to improve? A lack of leadership and passion within the squad and particularly the first-team leaves the Black Cats with little hope on match day. Even the experienced Dick Advocaat is struggling to identify the source of the issue within the squad that has failed his predecessors.
Dick Advocaat and co have two weeks to invest largely in the squad, two weeks to find a team that will perform with passion and determination for the club, and most importantly they have two weeks to save Sunderland AFC.
