Sunderland have a new manager. They have found yet another contender that’s willing to take on the reputation grinder at the Stadium of Light.
When Dick Advocaat decided to return and lead the club out of the shite and into the promised land of an anonymous mid-table finish, many fans saw an end to the rotten run-ins and poor performances. Here was a guy that commanded respect from the players, the board and Sky Sports news pundits. Sunderland had no right to have a man of such stature at the helm, given the mess that they had created, but here was and thank God.
However, life is not that simple, especially on Wearside, and after only eight games the Dutchman has taken himself home. The club might be thankful that Dick wasn’t more stubborn. He has left Big Sam with 30 Premier League fixtures to hit that magic 40 points mark, which seems like plenty – but hang on, life’s not that simple. So what has Advocaat left for Allardyce?
The squad as it is
Many in the media have flippantly reported that Sunderland’s squad is just not good enough. The likes of Bournemouth, West Brom, Norwich, Watford, Aston Villa, and Newcastle United have too much for the red and whites to compete at this level. It’s lazy and typical and incorrect.
The truth is, the individual components are very capable of climbing the table. On paper when Sunderland line up against all of the teams mentioned above, the talent is there to win and win well. The problem is they are not a team – there is no balance. The squad has for some years resembled a rolling ball puzzle: tipping too much one way and losing, or tipping too much the other and losing, either way it’s always bloody losing and it’s always a struggle.
In its current slide, Sunderland have recruited goals and not clean sheets. Big Sam’s hands are tied with this one, so he’s going to have to make-do with what he’s got and concentrate on shut-outs and counter attacks. The team’s and the fans’ confidence are shot so any goal conceded normally results in catastrophe – Dick did not resolve this issue and to his demise. Sam will have to re-build belief in everyone from the back.
The spirit as it is
Everyone associated with the club needs a win. To look again at Jeremain Lens’ needless second yellow against West Ham, the root of the club’s collective stink lies in multiple individual errors. Allardyce will need to quickly drill discipline and concentration into the players. The starting 11 have to start playing for each other until the very final whistle. They have to take some responsibility and pride in their work. If they do, wins can and will follow, and they’ll have the hell-fire of Sunderland supporters behind them to create a fortress of the Stadium of Light and make themselves an awful team to play against.
Dick was naïve in the crucial games like Leicester and Norwich and Bournemouth; too gung-ho and too trusting that it would all suddenly click. He launched into competitive action without knowing the real health of the team until it was often too late. Sam has the advantage of looking back at these games and resolving, where he can, the issues that have left Sunderland firm favourites for the drop and himself as a leading contender for the sack.
Sunderland fans can now only wait and see and hope that Big Sam is the one. The manager who can be much more specific than the Little General about what is required to bring success back to this great football club.
