The good
Sunderland can compete at this level. For 45 minutes, Dick Advocaat’s men were comfortably in the lead. They showed guts, dominated possession and created chances.
Before the West Ham game, Sunderland had been in the lead for three minutes in total this season– a shocking statistic considering they have played more than 630.
Saturday should have exorcised some demons.
They have the talent and ability to climb the table. It’s in the squad, it’s just regularly getting it out of the likes of Stephen Fletcher, Sebastian Coates, Patrick Van Aanholt, Lee Cattermole, Jermain Defoe, Jack Rodwell; all of them basically, bar Yann M’Villa.
Post West Ham, it’s evident that if it does click, Sunderland will win games, and might even play some attractive stuff too.
And it’s that if, or more accurately how, that should be top of the to-do list for the next manager through the revolving door at the Stadium of Light.
More on that later…
The bad
Sunderland are their own worst enemy.
It is difficult to avoid the word ‘typical’ but really, how typical that Sunderland tip over their best footballing display in 2015 by conceding with almost the last kick of the first half.
The second yellow card for Jeremain Lens simply restored the natural order of things, as fans were forced to endure some uncomfortable clock watching as the team hung on for a draw.
Referees have not helped Sunderland and neither have cruel deflections and parries. But the players and staff cannot feel sorry for themselves. Neil Swarbrick’s failure to issue Mark Noble with his second yellow card is just another example of when you’re at the bottom you have to be ruthless.
Something that Fabio Borini must take away with him after missing two opportunities, one of which really should have hit the back of the net to kill the game by making it 3-0.
Basically, if the club is going to claw out of this situation they’re going to have to be a bastard about it.
The frustration continues
The vultures in the media had been ominously circling all week.
First the news broke that Lee Congerton had cleared his desk, and then after a press conference walk out, the writing seemed to be on the wall for big Dick.
It is small comfort that manager and club appear to have mutually parted ways. It’s great to see tears and emotion, but this was not the plan at all.
If only the loveable Dutchman had left Sunderland fans shouting encore at the Emirates, and not been fooled into thinking Sunderland could be saved that easily.
It is interesting to re-visit the divided opinions’ of former greats Kevin Phillips and Niall Quinn. Quinn sat next to Thierry Henry and passionately made the case for the Dutchman to steady the ship and rise out of the annual relegation scrap.
Super Kev on the other hand, expressed concerns over a one-year contract and blatant short-termism that in reality seemed at odds with what Sunderland were crying out for – commitment and stability.
Whoever is appointed next, perhaps the first right move they and the club could make would be in the property market.
News of Dick Advocaat living in hotels and not laying down roots in the area are too close for comfort to the tales of fall out from Martin O’Neil and Roy Keane.
On Congerton, the circumstances surrounding his exit are less clear. Recent reports that Borussia Monchengladbach were sniffing around, mean there should be no surprise to find the former Chelsea and Wolfsburg man on a one-way flight to Germany right now.
Whatever happens next, the international break should be a busy one for the powers that be at Sunderland AFC.
It would be advisable that they take a look at the title of this column and spend some time pondering and reflecting before they make their next move…
…if they haven’t already done so. The club remains and enigma wrapped in a riddle: The frustration continues.
