BOSS ADMITS PLAYERS ARE SIMPLY NOT GOOD ENOUGH
DAVID MOYES AGREES THAT ALAN SHEARER’S CRITICISM OF SUNDERLAND PLAYERS WAS FAIR, AFTER BEING LEFT UNIMPRESSED WITH THE EFFORT PUT IN DURING DEFEAT TO SWANSEA
David Moyes believes that Alan Shearer’s damning critique of Sunderland’s performance against Swansea was fair.
Shearer labelled the players as ‘lazy’ and ‘disgraceful’ after the 2-0 defeat, and while Moyes said there was no lack of commitment in the immediate aftermath of the game, he was far more critical on Monday morning.
The Sunderland boss has since been able to more closely examine the players physical exertions in the game and was left unimpressed.
On Shearer’s criticism, he said: “On reflection, yes. I was massively disappointed with the overall performance, and I hadn’t seen it in other games, I really hadn’t, if I had I’d have been the first to say it.
“I’m also privy, to be able to look at the physical output etc, so I know it wasn’t good enough.”
Sunderland are preparing for a major clear out this summer, with the number of players leaving almost certain to be in double figures.
David Moyes has repeatedly said this season that the squad at his disposal has not been good enough, and has faced growing anger from the terraces.
The last three home games have all been marked by chants of ‘We want Moyesy out’ at various stages of the games.
The Black Cats boss has previously said that is to be expected but in the aftermath of the Swansea defeat, feels his point about the strength of the squad has been vindicated.
He said: “I’ve been really fortunate to see good teams, good players, I know what it looks like. At the moment the players we’re using are way, way off that level. Not anywhere near close to the same level.
“I think on Saturday, if you were a supporter you would have seen that what has been said all season has probably been right.
“In case you had any doubts, you would have seen that there definitely needs to be big changes on the field.
“That’s something I think most supporters will have picked up on.
“I take responsibility, I am the manager, I put the team out, but there also comes a point where the players have to show it.”
The performance was of particular disappointment to Moyes who had said in the build-up the game that he felt the team’s performances had turned a corner, despite not being able to land the crucial wins needed to make a fist of the relegation fight.
Saturday’s performance, particularly in the first half, was a big step back for the manager who bemoaned his side’s inconsistency.
He said: “It was a massive disappointment for me.
“I think we have played better, and our possession has been better, recently – we’ve kept the ball which has been good.
“But the disappointment came because we could not get up to that level again.
“At Hull we showed the same level of performance that we had in several games recently,” he added.
“What it took was a couple of great saves from Jordan, Hull missed one great chance, we had a couple of good chances, but then we got a goal from a set-piece which we hadn’t had often all year.
“The game was tight, it was nip and tuck. If we had lost 2-0 there people would have said we were terrible, but we won 2-0.
“We got it right against Hull, but we didn’t against Swansea.
“Of course, the injuries didn’t help us because they disrupted things and meant we had to make changes early.
“But that’s no excuse, we just didn’t reach the same level as we had at Hull.”
“At the moment the players we’re using are way, way off that level” DAVID MOYES