Graeme Atkinson

Yahoo Sports Lead Football Blogger for Sunderland. Blogging on the highs and lows of supporting the Black Cats. Follow on Twitter @_GraemeAtkinson

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Black Cats star Jordan Pickford ‘could be one of the best in the world’

The Black Cats’ result against Swansea should not have surprised anyone. To lose just when you begin to think a page has been turned is after all, a characteristic very much associated with Sunderland football club.

For those of the red and white persuasion the heavy defeat will still sting despite the sense of inevitability of it. As often is the case when supporting the club it feels like one step forward and five back.

However, when matters look bleak it is important to pick out the positives, as difficult as that can often be. One huge plus for David Moyes this season has been local stopper Jordan Pickford.

The young goalkeeper has shown that his performances out on loan over the last few seasons have not been a fluke. Bradford, Preston North End et al have benefited from his talents and in turn Sunderland now gain from the experience they afforded him.

Cream always rises to the top and for the time being at least the Black Cats can provide Pickford with a platform to demonstrate his skill at the highest level. That is of course until a bigger club come calling.

Pickford is showing stunning form despite Sunderland’s struggles and, ironically, this could bring the Black Cats further misery.

Given the quality of his performance teams are of course casting sideways glances at Pickford. He is no doubt being scouted extensively, attracting more and more attention. A number of sides will be keen to offer him a chance to compete higher up the league and very soon. Ex Liverpool goalkeeper Chris Kirkland was speaking about Pickford over the weekend,

“I told Liverpool to sign him last summer. He will have all of the top clubs looking at him - not just in England, but in Europe as well.”

“He definitely won’t be there (at Sunderland) next summer. I wouldn’t be surprised if he is not there come January. For me, he could be one of the best in the world – he is the best I have worked with, that’s for sure.”

“He would make saves like that all of the time at Preston. I think he has made the second most saves in the Premier League this season.”

Kirkland is not alone in his views in fact his opinion is likely to be mirrored up and down the land in the minds of scouts looking to add his strengths to their own ranks.

Sure, there has to be pride playing for your hometown team. Even though more goals have been conceded than he would like, Pickford must feel top of the world. However, a decision to leave may be taken out of his safe pair of hands.

As things stand Pickford is one of the very few saleable assets Sunderland have within the squad.

It is a cynical view admittedly but at time when owner Ellis Short is looking to sell up and is reportedly struggling to obtain the £170million he is looking to recoup, perhaps Pickford may just find himself up for sale.

Let us hope that the young stopper remains on Wearside for as long as possible, whichever league Sunderland find themselves in come the end of the season.

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Yann M’Vila shuns Black Cats

Yann M’Vila will not be returning to Sunderland after a change of heart by the player. Chief Executive Martin Bain confirmed the club’s decision not to enforce a three-and-a-half-year contract that was apparently in place.

However – and here’s the rub – I am not disappointed. Not as much as I thought I would be anyway.

The decision does not come as too much of a shock either given the way in which the Black Cats’ summer transfer window concluded. M’Vila infamously posted via his Instagram account that he was ‘heartbroken’ that a proposed move fail to materialise on deadline day.

The midfielder returned to Russia and parent club Rubin Kazan in the summer following what can only be described as a resoundingly successful loan spell. His time on Wearside seemed, on the face of it, a perfect marriage.

Up until that point the French international, who was considered in the same regard as the likes of Paul Pogba during the early stages of his career, struggled to find a club he could really settle at. M’Vila found himself courting controversy with more than one manager choosing to remove him from their squads at various stages of his career.  Inter Milan, Dynamo Moscow and Rubin Kazan have all elected to pass on the burden of managing his alleged challenging behaviour.

If we are honest, perhaps it was for that reason he ended up at Sunderland. However, M’Vila seemed to use the move to re-ignite his career, and in doing so his performances certainly lit up the Stadium of Light throughout the season. It is difficult to remember a midfielder more technically gifted to wear the red and white stripes and for that reason he is a great loss to the squad.

As the loan deal concluded all signs seemed to point to a swift return as both Sam Allardyce and the player made positive noises about making the switch permanent.

Unfortunately, Big Sam’s departure ruptured a huge hole in the club’s transfer plans and perhaps the M’Vila deal, or lack thereof, was symptomatic of that.

Once David Moyes took over the reigns at Sunderland he will have rightly looked to assess the squad he inherited and the options available to him in terms of transfer targets. The fact that a contract was in place suggests that the M’Vila was in the Scot’s thinking.  Of course the burning question now is if that was the case then why did the move not get sanctioned during the summer.

It is certain to be a combination of issues but high on that list is likely to be money. Rumours abounded that Rubin Kazan were holding out for a significant sum despite M’Vila’s contract coming to an end in the new year. This would have left the Frenchman free to join Sunderland without the Black Cats paying a penny to the Russian side. The decision making process seems to have been based largely on why pay a fee for a player who will be available for nothing in a short space of time.

Purely from a speculative point of view the Black Cats look to have taken a gamble to try and save money - and it has not paid off.

However, putting all of the challenges around the transfer to one side, I cannot say I’m too concerned. When you distil the matter down to its simplest form the player has publicly stated he did not wish to join the club. All this, despite claiming he was ‘heartbroken’ not to join only a few short months ago and having an agreement to do so in place.

Whether there is a valid claim to suggest that the change in the player’s thinking is down to the way in which the transfer was managed by the club in the summer is anyone’s guess.  However, if a signed agreement can collapse at this stage of proceedings then I would have significant concerns about that player’s ability to give 100% to the cause should the deal have been enforced.  

The fact of the matter is, as the Black Cats themselves have declared in a statement on the club website,

“Any player that we bring to Sunderland Football Club must be wholly committed”

On this basis perhaps the decision is best for all parties. Everyone can move on with the no doubt significant wages set aside for M’Vila being freed up for exciting fresh talent in the January transfer window.

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Papy picks up pace as Black Cats triumph

The fact that Papy Djilobodji was thrown straight back into a revitalised Sunderland side at the weekend is testament to the improvement he has shown in recent weeks. His performance was pivotal during Sunderland’s 2-1 victory against Leicester City.

The towering Senegalese international, who was shown a red card during the Black Cats’ triumph against Hull City, has largely been regarded as a flop to date. At £8million it would be fair to say his transfer fee flattered the defender during his first run of games in the red and white. His individual errors cost David Moyes’ men points in several of those games and supporters were beginning to lose patience.

Djilobodji – who is one of Sunderland’s most expensive defenders - replaced the well regarded Younes Kaboul. The former Spurs man left a huge hole in the squad after his heroics in helping keep the Black Cats in the Premier League.

The price tag, in tandem with the questionable performances, certainly could not have helped Djilobodji’s cause in making a positive impression. The deal just did not seem to make business sense given the significant cost and his lack of experience over Kaboul.

Yet, recent performances may have just shown why Sunderland made their move.

Moyes seemed to make it clear that he considered his acquisition a diamond in the rough despite Djilobodji’s age and naivety in the ways of the British game. The Scot spoke of the transfer at the time,

“He needs a lot of schooling, and I’ve got an awful lot of work to do on the training ground just to get the Britishness into him. It’s going to take a lot of work.”

However, at the weekend against Leicester City the Senegalese defender looked more comfortable and assured than he has done all season. Perhaps he could have done better for the goal Sunderland conceded but then so could one or two others in the Sunderland side too.

It is not just his defensive abilities that have been effective though. Overall, he enjoyed an 80% pass completion rate, making 23 of those forward. Djilobodji’s delivery of the ball from deep up to Victor Anichebe on the left and the advancing Billy Jones on the right caused problems for the Champions all afternoon.

Sunderland fans do not expect miracles of course. Djilobodji is likely to make further mistakes in the future. But, the fact that he has improved his game in such a short time is perhaps a good omen and proof that the player is keen to develop further from Moyes’ coaching methods.

Whilst Lamine Koné has at times looked a shadow of his former self, alongside Djilobodji there does now appear to be the beginnings of an effective defensive partnership. It is certainly no coincidence that the Black Cats’ run of positive results is in part down to looking far more defensively solid.

It will be interesting to see whether the Djilobodji can maintain the level of performance he has shown in recent weeks for the remainder of the season. If this is the case perhaps Sunderland can once again escape the Premier League trap door.

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Selling Sunderland Short?

It would seem Ellis Short is keen to sever ties with Sunderland. The American owner has now enlisted New York-based investment bank Inner Circle Sports to help conclude a sale, according to reports.

It is also rumoured that Short is holding out for £170million for the club, having already turned down £150million from a Chinese consortium led by Wang Hui, owner of Dutch side Ado Den Haag.

To help generate interest in the Black Cats Inner Circle Sports have drafted a short prospectus, setting out the most marketable attributes of the club to any prospectus purchaser.

Admittedly - on the face of it – it must be a hard sell when you consider the position in which Sunderland find themselves. Any side propping up the table with yet another relegation battle firmly underway and no guarantees of survival can only attract the keenest of suitors.

Of course, the financial incentives that the Premier League can offer any cash rich investors are now unprecedented. Each side lucky enough to be amongst the 20 teams competing in the English top flight receives in the region of £120million. On that basis it becomes easier to see why buyers are considering even perennial strugglers like Sunderland.

Any sale would not just include the team but also assets associated with the club too such as the Academy of Light - which is Sunderland’s training facility - and its surrounding land.  Over the last few years the club have also attracted a host of music stars to the Stadium of Light during the quieter summer months. Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band, Beyonce, Oasis and Foo Fighters etc have all played to a packed house, which in turn has generated significant income for the club and helped the city’s economy.

Therefore, commercially there are a number of opportunities interested parties would be eager to explore further and a decision will no doubt be taken on the wider merits of any potential ownership not just on the Premier League table alone.

Fans may have mixed feelings about the reports. Whilst Short has been heavily criticised in some quarters for a perceived lack of investment he has not yet become as unpopular with supporters as say Liverpool’s Tom Hicks and George Gillet or the Venky family at Blackburn Rovers. Despite any frustrations with Short’s reign there does feel like there is a genuine fondness for the club and the area from the billionaire owner.

Where does this all leave the all important team? Well, until any deal is concluded it will be very much business as usual.

However, whilst David Moyes has spent a large part of his Sunderland managerial career fearing the sack, he may soon come under further scrutiny from any new owners wanting their own man at the helm.

Stability has always seemed to be an issue on Wearside and so it may be again very soon.

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Sunderland revival stalls against the Reds

After having enjoyed two victories back to back Sunderland would not have wanted to visit Anfield.

Liverpool is a difficult place to go and try to get a result at the best of times but at the moment Jurgen Klopp has his side fired up and looking like serious title contenders.

However, the German had to stir up the Anfield faithful who were growing restless as a result of Sunderland’s game plan. Despite frustrating the Reds for 75 minutes the Black Cats’ defence was eventually breached by Divock Origi.  His shot appeared to defy the laws of physics such was the angle of the strike and sometimes you just have to accept that your side has succumbed to a well taken goal.

Much has been made about the amount of possession Liverpool had with something like 80%. However, stats do not always tell the whole story and yes, whilst Klopp’s side outplayed Sunderland, some of that possession was inevitably surrendered on purpose. Moyes clearly set his stall out defensively to frustrate his opponents and it nearly worked.

The last two games saw the Black Cats secure all of the spoils against Bournemouth and Hull City and this was a very different ask. It would have been naïve of Moyes to configure his side in gung-ho fashion. In his post match interview Klopp said Sunderland are

‘the most defensive team I ever saw’.

This probably was not meant as a compliment either but if Sunderland had decided to go marauding forward then Liverpool would have likely picked them off at every possible moment. The score would certainly not have been limited to 2-0.  It is not the job of the opponent to make it easy for the stronger home side.

Sunderland were not without their own chances and Victor Anichebe – who has shone for the Black Cats recently – once again was involved in their attacking threat. Duncan Watmore squandered an important opportunity having been played through by the Nigerian but lacked that decisive moment of clarity when it mattered most. Unfortunately it is becoming a regular habit for the youngster but his pace and effort are still vitally important to his side’s chances of Premier League survival.

At half time results seemed to be going in Sunderland’s favour. That was not necessarily the case after 90 minutes with Swansea City in particular pulling of a spectacularly dramatic 5-4 victory to once again send Moyes’ men bottom of the league.

Premier League Champions Leicester City are next up for the Black Cats. They are not the same force of last season but are still capable of getting a result. Perhaps their exploits in Europe are taking their toll. Let us hope that defeat to Liverpool was just a blip in what had appeared to be a Sunderland revival.

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Anichebe lights up Stadium of Light

The floodlights may have gone out during Sunderland’s victory over Hull City but yet again Victor Anichebe shone brightly.

Importantly for the Black Cats, despite struggling to secure a win all season now two have come along at once. Sure, special mention has to go to Jermain Defoe who notched up his 150th club goal and Jordan Pickford who was key to both the positive results against Bournemouth and again at the weekend. But it was another man of the match performance for the big Nigerian striker that made the real difference.

It is 3 goals in two games now for Anichebe who, despite an earlier embarrassing Twitter faux pas, seems to be enjoying life on Wearside. Moyes has said that he is the type of player that needs to be loved and if those displays continue in the same vein then Sunderland supporters will certainly shower him with all the affection he craves.

Hull’s defenders just could not cope with his strength and size. Anichebe’s ability to hold the ball up looked effortless. The way he makes the ball stick is something the Black Cats have missed for a long time.  It allows the team some respite, which it just was not getting prior to his arrival in the side.

David Moyes had this to say after Anichebe’s goals helped ensure the vital win against Mike Phelan’s side,

“I’ve got to say Victor was very good too. He was a good team player for us and he was like a young Drogba at times for us today, he was that good. He's been a bit unlucky with a few other chances but he's helped us find a way to win this game. When we've needed people that can finish we've had them."

Although Moyes’ comments may come across like an overblown soundbite for the benefit of the press, it was no exaggeration to say that his performances have been that good.

The secret though - as with any aspect of following Sunderland – is to not get carried away and simply enjoy the success in the moment.

And of course, there is a reason that at 28 years of age the former Everton striker was a free agent during the summer - consistency has been his nemesis. A similar bright start to his time at West Brom quickly fizzled to nothing and whilst injuries have played their part there have been question marks over his ability to really focus on his football over the course of a season.

For Sunderland’s sake it is hoped that the striker stays injury free for a sustained period of time and that his concentration is fixed on the task in hand – namely keeping the Black Cats in the Premier League for another year.

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Will Black Cats miss injured Lee Cattermole?

Lee Cattermole will be missing from action for a further four months following surgery. The question now is - just how big of a miss will he be to the Black Cats?

We know it will come as a huge blow to David Moyes who has had torrid luck when it comes to injuries since his arrival on Wearside.

The more comprehensive answer is, it likely depends very much on which Lee Cattermole would have been on the field. If it is the effective, industrious midfielder who breaks up play and sprays passes around the pitch, then his absence could well have a massive impact on the course of Sunderland’s season.

However, if it is the Lee Cattermole that runs around like a puppy chasing a balloon whilst allowing the game to pass him by, then his continued presence on the sidelines is not as much of an issue as some would have you believe.

There is no denying that Cattermole has been a key figure for Sunderland throughout their annual relegation battles. But, he only really shines towards the end of the season once matters really begin to hot up. In those moments there is a metamorphosis. Suddenly the player you always thought threatened to emerge sparks into to life only for the same pattern to repeat itself the following season.

With Kirchhoff and loanee Yann M’Vila consistently showing both endeavour and quality on the ball, there seemed to be a more pressing need for an attacking threat to sit at the tip of a midfield triangle. Certainly, when Sunderland were at full strength towards the end of the last Premier League campaign, Cattermole was the midfielder that looked most likely to lose out on his place longer term.

However, the landscape has since changed considerably. M’Vila’s return to the club failed to materialise and Kirchhoff has blown hot and cold in between his own injury concerns.

More than anything Cattermole’s long lay off simply emphasises the fact the Black Cats do not have a consistently effective midfielder in their ranks to call upon. Kirchhoff, Steven Pienaar, Jack Rodwell, Whabi Kahzri, Sebastian Larsson, Adnan Januzaj, Paddy McNair and Fabio Borini have all been in and out of the side so far this season for one reason or another.

It has become almost impossible for Moyes to determine his best midfield as he simply does not have the opportunity to regularly pick from the same players.

The key to any momentum for the Black Cats will be for the Scot to find a midfield that is both effective and that can gel together over a sustained number of games in the way that Sam Allardyce managed to achieve during his tenure.

Of course, this may be easier said than done. The next test for Sunderland’s midfield will be Hull City and having come off the back of victory over Southampton it will not be an easy one.

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Black Cats to hail ‘The King’

Sunderland’s next home game is against Hull City. David Moyes will be anxious to get two wins on the bounce and the outcome may well be important once the final points are totted up at the end of the season. However, there is also now a welcome distraction on the day.

The Black Cats have declared the Hull fixture ‘Charlie Hurley Day’ in honour of the club legend.

There is often much negativity associated with supporting Sunderland. It seems that is just part and parcel of being a fan. It has become easy to get lost in the gloomy here and now.

Sometimes it is important to take a step back and remember the successes as well as individuals we hold in high regard. Personally I think it is a great idea and there should be more similar events recognising those that have served the club well.

The great man will appear on the pitch with other former players from his era prior to kick off. They all should receive a raucous reception but particularly the Irishman, as he is considered the greatest player to ever wear the red and white stripes of Sunderland.

Hurley - who is celebrating his 80th birthday – first arrived on Wearside having already established a reputation for himself as a great young prospect. But, perhaps in typical Black Cats fashion that potential seemed to evaporate almost immediately. Sunderland capitulated 7-0 and 6-0 during his first two performances. You wonder what sort of reaction those displays would have garnered now under the intense glare of the Premier League.

Roker Park was Hurley’s stomping ground and you would be hard pressed to find a better centre half in the country during the early part of the 1960’s perhaps save for Bobby Moore. The fact that Sunderland had such talent at their disposal at the time is in stark contrast to the squad currently calling the Stadium of Light home.

Although Hurley - nicknamed ‘The King’ - was well before my time his image is still recognised by those from my generation and younger. Indeed, the fact that we are still talking about a player that graced the turf some 50 years ago is testament to his ability and his achievements.

While he lacked pace especially towards the end of his career he should be regarded as an all-rounder. He is not just a hero to Sunderland supporters but a great of the game. Hurley is considered a pioneer of centre backs who could dictate play and also favoured coming forward for set pieces - something that is commonplace today.

The salaries players can command nowadays have only distanced them from those that watch in the stands. They have become ‘mega stars’ more akin to Hollywood celebrities than professional athletes.  Charlie Hurley was one of the last true working class heroes and was at the height of his powers at a time when players and fans seemed to have more in common than not – an era that has well and truly been resigned to the past.

A celebration of Charlie Hurley’s career may well just remind the latest generation of Sunderland players of just what can be achieved with talent and hard work.

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Black Cat goes AWOL on international duty

Since his arrival on Wearside there has always been plenty to occupy David Moyes’ time. In between trying to capture three points and rebuilding an injury stricken team he can never claim to be bored.

The latest matter brought to his attention is the early return of midfielder Didier Ndong from international duty. The combative midfielder was expected to feature for his country as part of Gabon’s World Cup qualifying campaign. The 22 year old would have also likely taken part in Gabon’s friendly fixture against Comoros on Tuesday, yet oddly neither will now happen.

Despite making the lengthy journey back to Africa, Ndong bizarrely failed to report to the Gabonese Football Federation which is understandably far from pleased about the situation. The following statement was released by Gabon,

“FEGAFOOT is surprised that by Wednesday afternoon the player has not responded to his obligations of selection, nor informed the federation of possible trouble that had come to him. All his other teammates at the time had already joined the camp without exception. It was decided in agreement with the technical staff to inform the Sunderland the player that he has been sent back to England.”

A player going AWOL is never something to be taken lightly and with 18 caps to his name there will now be doubt cast over whether Ndong will feature in Gabon’s plans going forward.

Ndong is still new to the Premier League of course following his record signing, and whilst he has not been the worst in a red and white shirt over recent weeks, selfishly he could still benefit from focusing more on club than country. The  current situation arguably works in Sunderland’s favour.At the moment the Black Cats require all hands to the pump and for Moyes, having extra time to coach a player that he thought he had lost for a while can surely only be of benefit. Right?

Well, conversely it does rather bring into question his professionalism and general attitude. Given Ndong’s apparent lack of desire to play for his own country and assuming of course this lack of professionalism also extends to his club then Moyes may have further problems to deal with in the future.

Sunderland have already had to contend with the petulant antics of Lamine Koné this summer and his apparent desire to engineer a move to Everton. The transfer failed to materialise after Moyes’ firm approach and the defender signed an improved contract with Sunderland. However, TV pundit Jamie Carragher and others have questioned his commitment given his performances have so far failed to live up to last season’s high standards.

Didier Ndong may well be about to give Moyes a further headache. This is something which the Scot most certainly does not need, as he tries to get Sunderland’s season off the starting blocks.

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Can Anichebe light bonfire under Black Cats’ season?

Let us not get carried away, it was only one victory but nonetheless if you are a Sunderland supporter doesn’t it feel great?

With no win since last season it is easy to forget what it is like to watch your team take all three points. However, it was the manner in which the Black Cats went about securing them that was the most pleasing.

Once Moyes’ men went a goal down early in the match it unfortunately looked to be business as usual and a long arduous trek back from the south coast for all those who made the extraordinary effort.

Conceding in games of course usually means capitulation quickly follows for Sunderland. This time matters were different with the Black Cats finding an unlikely hero in the form of Victor Anichebe. The striker arrived on Wearside as a free agent with a point to prove having been released by West Brom in the summer.

Perhaps as an indicator of things to come Anichebe spoke to the club website upon his arrival at Sunderland saying,

“I’m at a point in my career where I feel I need to do it, I feel I really need to do it. Maybe in the past I might not have concentrated on it as much as I probably should have or I might have had a niggly little injury that derails you a bit but coming to this age now, this is time to really, really concentrate and really, really get my head down and do the right things inside and outside of football.”

Prior to his latest move he had not found himself particularly in high demand either. However, he managed to repay some of the faith Moyes has shown in him and put in a remarkable man of the match performance.

Anichebe was outstanding linking up well with Jermain Defoe in a 4-4-2 formation and acting as a battering ram to Bournemouth’s defence all afternoon. His ability to hold the ball up effectively and allow Sunderland to get their passing game going was something that the Black Cats have searched for all season and he appeared to be the missing piece of the jigsaw. Let us hope it continues.

The Nigerian striker’s performance was all the more impressive as he informed the press that he cracked a rib in the first half and pushed through the pain barrier to finish the game.

Anichebe covered all areas of the pitch helping out with defending too, which was needed especially once Sunderland midfielder Steven Pienaar was shown a red card for a second bookable offence.  Given his experience it was frankly unforgivable from the South African. Just when Sunderland had equalised and required a level head on the pitch to show maturity and leadership Pienaar made a needless reckless challenge.

However, Sunderland spurred on by the rejuvenated attacking threat of Anichebe - who won an important penalty which Defoe tucked away with aplomb - held on for their first win of the season.

Indeed, the pairing of Anichebe and Defoe could cause any defence problems when both are on the pitch and in form. It will be interesting to see whether the result against the Cherries acts as the firework to light up Sunderland’s season or whether, as has been the case in previous seasons, it is more a case of one step forward and two back.

Let us be clear, one victory does not solve all problems overnight but it applies some salve to emotional wounds at least and importantly for Moyes, provides him with a little more time.

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Why Ellis has fallen Short

According to reports Ellis Short is looking to sell Sunderland, the club he bought from the Drumaville Consortium in 2009. Any potential sale should not surprise anyone as it feels, for a number of reasons, like it is very much the end of a journey for the American.

David Moyes is his last roll of the dice and unfortunately it looks to be snake eyes – yet again.

Should a sale conclude soon the majority of supporters are likely to be in agreement - now is the right time for Short to move on. He has clearly taken the club as far as he is able.

It would be fair to say he has overseen significant and frequent changes during his tenure but not many of them could be described as successful.

There have been attempts to try and copy various footballing ‘models’ over the years. Envious glances were given to sides which leaped frogged the Black Cats in terms of progress and stability despite less time in the top flight. Teams such as Southampton, Swansea and now even Bournemouth have shown that you can have some sustainability in the Premier League without spending huge sums. Short must have wondered why all of his money was being squandered without any modicum of success. In that regard there can be some sympathy.

However, a number of supposed ‘experts’ were parachuted in by Short at significant cost to try and deploy the next grand plan on Wearside - from Lee Congerton to Paolo Di Canio, and Martin O’Neill to Dick Advocaat. All, for one reason or another, failed. As one Director of Football or manager left, a new one emerged and became the new god to pray to.

The Black Cats should not have attempted to cut and paste any other club’s methodology onto their own.  There has not been a long run up to the Premier League from the lower divisions. Sunderland have not had the time to learn nor the personnel to play pretty possession based football on the hoof.  Some of the sides that do have had a stretch away from the spotlight to find themselves and to work out what works, for them.

There have not been successful times under Short simply because there was an inability to recognise that Sunderland already had an identity and did not need to be developed from the ground up. A direct, attacking style of play with aggression, passion, guts and an endeavour not been seen since Roy Keane left has all been allowed to evaporate from within. Those big characters have gone too. This is all something the football club was steeped in, since time immemorial. There was no need to throw the baby out with the bath water, simply a requirement to add quality to enhance a style that was already fully embedded.

The club is still yet to recover from errors of judgement made during previous years under Short’s watch, that much is certain. Therefore, he is no stranger to criticism. He has been keen to publicly point out that any mistakes have been made with the best of intentions of the club at heart.

Speaking in 2014 the American billionaire said,

“First of all, no-one who knows me or knows anything about me would say that I have no ambition for the club. That ambition certainly has not been realised yet, but it does not mean that I don’t have it. Secondly, the assertion that I have been unwilling to spend money to fulfill the ambitions of the club and its fans is completely wrong. Every penny that comes from TV money and other commercial activities is spent on operating the club - that is, buying players, wages, and other associated costs.”

He further added at the time,

“I have never taken money out of the club. In fact, I have funded significant shortfalls each and every season. The amount that I fund, every season, exceeds the collective total amount funded by every owner the club has ever had since the club was formed in 1879. I have done this willingly because I want us to be more than a club that simply exists in the top flight.”

None of this is in dispute. Let us be clear about that point. It would be wrong to question his integrity as that is a step too far. But, there now needs to be recognition that nothing, save for the appointment of Sam Allardyce, can be described as anything approaching satisfactory. Indeed mistakes seem to be continuing and just as in any other walk of life, when any individual with ultimate control continues to fail that person needs to be held accountable.

Financially Sunderland is hamstrung too. Only QPR and Aston Villa have reported as bigger financial losses in recent times and of course they have already paid the price by being relegated from the Premier League. The fact that the Black Cats have not yet is testament more to luck than good judgment.

All in all it would seem Ellis Short has taken Sunderland to heart and has invested significant sums of his own money into the club. However, when he took the reigns from the previous owners the Black Cats were languishing in despair and despite his best intentions nothing has changed.

Ultimately Ellis has fallen Short.

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Another defeat leaves Black Cats devoid of hope

You can trace the continuing decline of David Moyes’ reign at Sunderland back to his earlier comments about being in a relegation battle.

His words in August seemed to immediately deflate all confidence around the camp.

The good work Sam Allardyce managed to achieve during his short time on Wearside was admittedly built upon shaky ground. Given the longevity of Sunderland’s struggles you could not expect anything else. But nonetheless there was progress, which could be identified and measured.

This cannot be said for life so far under Moyes.

Looking back it was a key moment. In trying to be ‘honest’ in his appraisal of Sunderland’s impending struggles he has seemingly ruptured the fragile foundations underpinning the club post Big Sam.

If we look around at other teams that are likely to suffer a similar fight this season - Hull City, Watford, Bournemouth and Middlesbrough etc - there was sensibly no such pragmatic prediction forthcoming from their managers.

Defeat to Arsenal was surely not a surprise to anyone but for Moyes it simply compounds a situation that now looks devoid of hope.

Tactically, in terms of the substitutions made during the game against the Gunners there could be perhaps a degree of sympathy towards the Scot.

Once Defoe managed to get the scoreline level the Black Cats went looking for the win. In theory Moyes could have tried to walk away with a point by bringing on a more defensive minded player. In fact this is something for which he has been criticised recently. The view being that the best form of attack is defence and by playing it safe it can inadvertently invite pressure. Perhaps this was playing on his mind. However, on loan attacker Adnan Januzaj entered the fray in search of a win and that instead changed the game in favour of Arsène Wenger’s men.

It does not feel like a coincidence that the 8 minute collapse in the second half came once Januzaj was on the pitch. The Manchester United player offered nothing defensively and left Billy Jones exposed. Trying to deal with a rampaging Kieran Gibbs was an ask too far for Jones on his own. Duncan Watmore had his own defensive struggles all afternoon but at least he attempted to provide that additional protection. Januzaj seemed to simply refuse to bother.

Hindsight is a wonderful thing but given the quality of the opposition, perhaps Moyes should have gone for the point. Either way, the damage is now done and Sunderland have equalled Manchester City’s record of 10 games without chalking up a win. When you examine the goal difference things look even more bleak as the Black Cats have conceded more than City did over the same amount of games.

There is much talk of a building project being underway and that it must get worse before getting better. Perhaps. If this is the case the question then becomes how severe does Sunderland’s season need to get before Moyes’ position becomes untenable.

Bournemouth and Hull are up next and the home match against Mike Phelan’s side could be the final totem of Moyes’ stint at Sunderland should 3 points not be forthcoming from either of those games.

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Is ‘a change gonna come’ for Black Cats?

If it accepted that football is a results business then you would expect David Moyes to be unemployed shortly. That is the harsh reality of the sport and what it has become.

Sunderland have taken two points from 9 games and are now out of the EFL Cup at the hands of Southampton’s reserves. By anyone’s measure this is simply not good enough.

Therefore if history has taught us anything and in the words of Sam Cooke, ‘a change is gonna come’.

The Scot may point to unlucky moments during several games this season where the Black Cats came away with nothing. But there are too few positives even for long suffering Sunderland supporters to latch onto.

Results have become predictable, the team lacks identity and there is little evidence on the pitch to suggest this is changing any time soon. Therein lies the rub. Given the dire situation, for the home crowd at least, enthusiasm to attend matches at the Stadium of Light must now be waning too. Year after year supporters have been subjected to some abject football and patience is now running out.

Sunderland’s reputation built up in recent times is one of zero stability and disarray. This is all familiar territory for Ellis Short. The American owner finds himself needing to consider the position of managers annually and so it is again. Perhaps this situation is the only thing saving Moyes from dismissal as any sacking now would surely place the club under further scrutiny at a time when it really needs some positive headlines.

To be on the search for a ninth manager since Roy Keane’s departure in 2008 would be an embarrassment, especially since Short expressed such confidence in his most recent appointment. However, another change would be less humiliating than witnessing the displays currently on offer week in and week out. It has to be now questioned whether Moyes’ position is tenable.

At some point Sunderland need to remain firmly behind the man in charge. There must surely be agreement on this. However, it has to be someone who is the right and proper fit. With Moyes, on paper at least, you expected his tenure to be a smooth transition from the departing Sam Allardyce. The reality is very different. There is simply no evidence to point to which would indicate any positivity.

The timing of Moyes’ arrival during the last few weeks of the Summer transfer deadline will not have helped his cause; injuries to key players have been many and often and all managers need time to impose their identity onto the squad.

Unfortunately, for David Moyes, excuses only get you so far in football and given November is nearly upon us attempts at justification now are simply a coda to this latest disaster.  

Perhaps for the Scot, the axe will fall following the Arsenal game on Saturday.

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Potters stoke up relegation fears for Black Cats

A sobering statistic was thrown around during the aftermath of Sunderland’s defeat to Stoke – the Black Cats are only the second team in top flight to fail to win any of their opening 8 fixtures in consecutive seasons.

Not since Bury in the 1905-06 season has any team shared this dubious ‘honour’. It’s an alarming fact and based on performances so far this season, that particular Shakers’ squad would even now outplay Moyes’ men.

Yes, as things currently stand Sunderland are on course for a record breaking season - for all the wrong reasons.

Derby County currently hold the record for lowest points total on 11, which firmed up their relegation from the Premier League in 2007/08.  Ironically the Rams broke the tally of 15 previously set by Mick McCarthy’s Black Cat side.

As for the match against the Potters well it went as most supporters will have expected. Therein lies part of the problem. The belief has evaporated from fans, as there is simply nothing of note being shown from those on the pitch. It has become an impossible task to find any sliver of hope to latch onto save for perhaps Jermain Defoe and goalkeeper Jordan Pickford.

Despite the youngster putting in some fine displays since Vito Mannone sustained his injury, he has yet to keep a clean sheet in the league. The concern must now be that by giving the Sunderland born stopper experience, Moyes is at the same time slowly eroding his confidence. Playing in front of a leaky defence on a regular basis is surely a dismal task for any goalkeeper let alone one that is still only emerging on the scene.

The fact that great escape followed great escape in the past has not, in itself, been the problem. The real issue is that no-one within the club appears capable of learning from them. Events have become as predictable as knowing night follows day.

Even though it has been said before, this finally looks to be the year that the Black Cats have used up their nine lives.

For those that subscribe to the theory it will be better to rebuild in the Championship and come back stronger the counter argument is there is no guarantee that Sunderland would come straight back up. Despite the bumper Premier League payout during the summer there was minimal net spend. Therefore given the financial situation looks equally bleak for the Wearsiders it is possible there could be many seasons spent in the wilderness before any Premier League return.  

Morale and confidence are plumbing new depths and stability is also non existent. Moyes is likely to be a dead man walking. You only have to examine Ellis Short’s track record to see that the American owner has form for firing managers around this time of year when results have not improved.

Where does the club go from here? Well, it looks like only one way – down.

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Normal service resumes for Black Cats

Let’s be honest, the England national team tend to offer up a dismal performance on most occasions and given the struggles against Slovenia they certainly continued in that tradition.

For those regularly following teams competing at the top of the Premier League a Three Lions disappointment must rankle, but at least there is always club football to rely upon and be optimistic about.

Unfortunately, the international break cannot be described as respite for Sunderland supporters.

Now we have the necessary distraction of the World Cup Qualifiers 2018 out of the way for the time being, attentions inevitably turn back to what feels most important, the Black Cats and their seemingly inevitable relegation battle.

With Stoke City up next for David Moyes’ men and despite only being the middle of October, it could already be described as a must win game. Potters boss Mark Hughes will be able to sympathise with his counterpart’s plight as both sides have failed to record a victory so far this season.

The crucial point Sunderland secured against West Brom feels like a lifetime ago now but if we allow ourselves, a ‘previously on Wearside’ recap you may recall that towards the end of that match there was an enforced switch to a 3-5-2 formation.

Patrick van Aanholt entered the fray as left wingback due to the unfortunate injury to Jan Kirchhoff and his exuberance changed the game.

Much had been made of Papy Djilobodji’s errors recently too and there were some reluctant calls for John O’Shea to return ahead of the Baggies game.

A calm head to organise the backline was required but at 35 O’Shea cannot be the long term solution for Moyes. However, sometimes needs must and the former Manchester United utility player did exactly what was needed.

If we also accept that on loan defender Jason Denayer is not, by any stretch, a leftback and looked more comfortable on the left of the back 3 then perhaps all signs point to 3-5-2 making a further appearance.

With van Aanholt and Javier Manquillo capable of undertaking the wingback roles, and midfielders being an area that Sunderland seem to have a greater number of, you begin to see that 3-5-2 ticks a number of boxes.

Being pragmatic it is a formation that looks to suit the squad currently at Moyes’ disposal but will it help ignite the Black Cats’ season? We will find out on Saturday.

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Moyes and the manager merry-go-round

Swansea have been lauded by some as a team for others to aspire to yet Francesco Guidolin is the latest manager to suffer the ignominy of an early dismissal.

There are a few ex Sunderland managers who this week might feel they are in a position to sympathise with the Italian as they, like him, simply did not get the time to put their methods into place.

Football has become a 24-hour on demand sport. As a result those that consume it in that way often become wrapped up in the spectacle. They become desensitised to some of the irrational, and frankly self-damaging, events than now regularly unfold within the game.

What has happened to rational, level headed common sense in football? What has become of chairmen trusting their judgment following an appointment of a new manager? Surely, it is understood by those on the Board that there will be many highs and lows within a single match yet alone a season.

It is perhaps now a clichéd view but why has the constant turbulent manager-merry-go-around apparently inherent within football become essential to the sport, and the Black Cats in particular?

Sunderland, like many other clubs have been using managers like private companies utilise agency workers – a temporary resource to undertake a special project which can be discarded when seasonal variations demand it. Even the FA have appointed a caretaker for the national team.

There was a time when the managerial position was the most important at a club – a figurehead with control of every aspect. That seems like another world and whilst it must be recognised that times move on, it should be remembered that not every change should be considered progress.

David Moyes must be already wondering whether he is next in the frame to bite the bullet despite his long term plans having barely had chance to come to fruition on Wearside. This, quite honestly, is staggering.

The Scot will be looking to buck the trend of the rapid fire changing of managers but he will be only too aware that football is of course a results based business. Those who control the game have become incapable of looking beyond what is in front of them on the pitch in the moment. Sunderland owner Ellis Short is as guilty of this as anyone.  

Much is often made of Short’s love of the club and his affection for the Black Cats is sometimes likened to that of a fan. It is pleasing to hear this is the case. Although most of those sitting in the stands on a match day are not equipped to run a football club and therefore it takes more than an affinity with Sunderland to make it successful.

Short has had a controlling share of Sunderland since 2008. Therefore, at a time when some of those running football clubs can be likened to headless chickens, the American owner must use his experience to apply salve on the Black Cats’ wounds. After all, it has been his itching trigger figure that has inflicted some of the damage.

Let us hope Moyes is not in the firing line any time soon and that he has more time to make his mark.

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Is Moyes the architect for Black Cats’ long term future?

David Moyes has had a few months now to get a firm grip on the reins at Sunderland and it would be fair to say that the ride so far has been challenging for all concerned.

The Scot joined the club during a turbulent summer when everything that could have gone wrong did so. His job has not been helped by the departure of key players such as Younès Kaboul and Yann M’Vila as well as a significant number of important players spending more time on the treatment table than the pitch.

Just as Sam Allardyce had laid the first blocks of what could be described as a solid foundation, the months of July and August saw that good work turn to rubble.

However, despite the difficulties during the summer they are now consigned to the past - autumn brings its own struggles.

With just two solitary points on the board the Black Cats prop up the Premier League table and for the man in charge there is no time for excuses, as the first win of the season looks no closer to being chalked up.

Possibly with some justification given results, there have also been some question marks over the sort of identity Moyes is trying to create for his team. Is it a long ball side, counter attacking or a passing style he is looking to adopt? To evaluate matters on those terms is to perhaps not fully understand or appreciate the size of the task he is now trying to undertake.

Rightly or wrongly Moyes seems to look upon Sunderland with a far more long-term vision, more so than some of his predecessors.

It may have come down to the circumstances with which they arrived under but previous managers such as Dick Advocaat and Sam Allardyce engendered a siege mentality in their players. Avoiding relegation with a limited number of games left to play required one last push amongst the squad to see the team over the line in their hour of need. For Messers Allardyce and Advocaat strategic planning barely had time to get broader than that.

However, with Moyes Sunderland look to have secured the services of someone that is far more holistic in his approach. It is no longer just about the team but also now about building up an entire club. This is something that does not become apparent after less than 10 games.

You only have to look at how comfortable the Black Cats boss feels throwing Jordan Pickford, Lynden Gooch, Didier Ndong and Donald Love et al into the action to see that he wants young players to make their mark and grow with the club, over time.

There is also some talk of changes being explored at the Academy of Light and perhaps a reshuffle of youth team coaches is already on Moyes’ agenda. After all, we saw his blueprint for bringing youth through the ranks during his tenure at Everton. The Premier League has moved on since then but if it worked before, why not now? The new man at the helm will want to make his mark from the ground up and what better way that to start with the youth?

Moyes is now the architect of a much larger and comprehensive rebuilding which encompasses an entire club not just a squad. Ultimately if he is successful, the rewards will be greater and as a result stability will be cemented rather than held loosely together with scotch tape and a prayer.

However, at a time when success has to be immediate it is a brave soul who tries the long game.