Time For Sunderland To Back Or Sack Poyet!
Sunderland’s manager Gus Poyet seems to be clinging on to his job at the moment, as his team slide down the table.
To be honest I could have written that same opening sentence a year ago. The truth is so far after two games in March 2015, Sunderland have picked up the same amount of points (one) as they did in the full month of March last term after playing four matches.
But a more damning fact for Poyet’s regime at the ‘Black Cats’ could be that they haven’t won in their last six games and have only been victorious in one league game this calendar year.
Losing 4-0 at home to Aston Villa was humiliating. Before yesterday’s fixture the ‘Villains’ had only scored a meagerly fifteen times!
They have also developed a fear playing at home and that just intensifies with negative results over relegation rivals like Villa, Hull and QPR.
Sunderland only have a point between themselves and the relegation zone with Burnley and even QPR breathing down their neck. Although thankfully for Sunderland, those two sides only have a win apiece in there last six fixtures.
Now as I said Poyet had a similar bad spell this time last term, but a fabulous run in where they won four of their last six games. That run included triumphs over Manchester United and Chelsea.
So maybe he and his players can do the same again this season. Plus as Poyet has said himself yesterday, his side haven’t been in the bottom three all season. But the only time it really counts is after the thirty-eighth game and if you find yourself there at that time then its too late!
The Sunderland squad seems void of any morale or fighting spirit. That points to the manager and it doesn’t reflect well on Poyet or his coaching team.
The strikers just don’t score enough.
Steven Fletcher is joint top-scorer with four goals. The Scottish international should have at least double that in his sixteen starts. Jermain Defoe is meant to be the best English finisher, yet only has two since his January transfer. While Connor Wickham hasn’t progressed after his fine end to last season. Danny Graham has only been flung in lately as Poyet desperately hopes that he can do what Wickham did last year and it’s not going to happen. All four need to do better.
But then again do they get enough ammunition?
The most creative talent they have is Adam Johnson and they can’t use him as he’s suspended because of a current police investigation that hangs over the wingers head.
Another creative star is Emmanuel Giaccherini. But the Italian, who missed most of the start of the season due to a groin problem, will now miss the run-in after he had ankle surgery in February.
Defensively I think they rely too heavily on older players like Wes Brown and John O’Shea, who have already seen their best years pass them by.
During yesterday’s defeat Sunderland’s supporters left early in disgust. Plenty shouted criticism at the Uruguayan coach who looked helpless in the dugout, while we saw reports that some had even ripped up seasons tickets.
That all gives the club’s board a huge headache…
Do they keep Poyet or do they ditch him?
Well that’s the £80m question.
No doubt they will look to other sides like WBA, Villa and Crystal Palace and notice how new gaffers there have given those sides a new lease of life. But alternatively they’ll also look at QPR and then back on last season with Fulham and Norwich and see that that plan doesn’t always work out.
Then you have to wonder, who do they bring in?
Managers doing well in the Championship like Eddie Howe, Steve McLaren and Aitor Karanka might prefer to get their sides promoted this term rather than fight relegation for the remainder of the Premier League campaign.
The noteworthy unemployed coaches such as Tony Pulis and Tim Sherwood have now got jobs.
I suppose there is Harry Redknapp but he’s suffered relegation with Southampton under similar circumstances. Plus he just left QPR in a mess.
The board at the Stadium of Light might look to call up Kevin Ball again but that didn’t work in 2006.
So do Sunderland twist and get someone new in with new ideas and fresh impetus or do they stick with Gus Poyet and hope he pulls off the great escape again?
It’s a tough call and maybe one Sunderland should have made in January. I would tend to stay that I’d keep Poyet for the remainder of the season but after seeing the fans protest yesterday it might be better for everyone if they get rid and bring in a new face.
Posted on March 15th, 2015 by scott
Filed under: Article
If Gus just concentrated on 442 and get service into the two up front. Use two wingers. Give Duncan Whatmore a premier league debut. Recall Mavrias. Most of all drop the 3 donkeys. Bridcutt,Buckley,Gomez.