Normally hopelessly optimistic about Sunderland I am finding fewer and fewer positive things to say. I have been living in the hope that sooner or later the quality in the Sunderland side will show through the shattered confidence of our players but does this idea stand up to examination?
Confidence is a vital part in the performance of any footballer and many of the worlds finest players have gone through bad patches due to one reason or another. When you are playing badly it is your belief in your own abilities that picks you up, that makes you ask for the ball, that makes you try the ambitious cross or take on your man.
Sunderland's last season would have destroyed the morale of any footballer, going into every game expecting to lose has certainly had a devastating affect on the psychology of our players. But even with a side as young as ours this cannot consistently be held up as an excuse for current performances.
In reality the reason we were losing our games in the Premiership was because we weren't good enough and all our problems stemmed from that simple, horrific, fact. Look at where our players came from; Lawrence from Mansfield, Whitehead from Oxford, Murphy from Waterford, the list goes on.
These players played well in the Championship because they were in a side that was flying, that had lots of confidence and a few vital Premiership players and this lifted their performances above their normal levels. Maybe now that the likes of McCartney, Arca, and even Stewart are gone we are seeing the true abilities of our team.
Now that the bubble has burst why should we expect Premiership class from a team made up of good League 1 players and past it Premiership outcasts? We won in pre-season because we were playing teams of our level and below. What if this is a team that doesn't belong in the Championship?
Niall certainly seems to have realised this, frantically trying to bring in more players to improve the side. These signings may well prove to be vital come the end of the season. Don't get me wrong, I can't see us being relegated as even good League 1 players should be able to survive in the Championship.
But we need new players, to raise confidence, and to raise the performances of the team, there is another transfer window yet and Niall's consortium seems to have the funds to buy in some talent.
My biggest concern is whether good players will come to what is without a doubt a sinking ship. If I'm right, and I hope that I'm not, then our side more or less needs a complete overhaul if it is to avoid mid-table obscurity at best.
Still we should spare a moment to thank Niall Quinn for coming here at all. Imagine the mess we would be in if Murray had remained. Whitehead, Lawrence, and Alnwick would all be gone as well as Arca, McCartney, and Davis and who knows who would be in charge.
But how devastating for us fans to sink from Premiership dreams to this Championship nightmare in the space of two seasons. Out-played by Southend... our players need to look in the mirror and ask themselves if they are good enough to be wearing the red and white at all.
Form is temporary, class is permanent, it remains to be seen which of these two factors will be the most important come the end of the season.
FTM
Regards,
Michael