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Traipsing south over the Wearmouth Bridge at around 5pm on Saturday, I overhead the following joyless, but indicative exchange. Bloke A: “Who do we lose to next week?” Bloke B: “Bristol City away.” The gentlemen’s conversation did not appear to be infused with any sort of sarcasm or humour; not even of the grim variety.
Who could blame them? Perhaps the most dispiriting aspect of the malaise at Sunderland is that much of the anger has been booted out of the fans and replaced by resignation.
At half-time on the concourse four days ago, there was mainly polite chatter along the lines of eee-what-are-they-like; not the baying mob of the past that would snarl disapproval at trailing 2-0 to nondescript opposition.
Which brings us to the other contender in the Most Dispiriting Aspect category: the fact that Sunderland sit second bottom of a league that does not appear to have a single decent side.
Therefore the sole occupying thought at SAFC this week should be: “How are we going to beat Bristol City?”
The immediate response to this question is usually a selection of sneering and predictable jokes. Mine was.
Sneering and predictable jokes done, it seems clear that a tactical rethink is in order.
We can only hope that the new signings and the youngsters will work. Maybe Ovie Ejaria can become the best number 53 in the business. But beyond blind hope? Or cattle prods?
The manager can’t make his squad any more talented, or turn them into something other than psychological weaklings (they aren’t too bad until they go behind; at which point defeat is confirmed, even at a single goal down and an hour remaining).
Abandoning the five-at-theback defence should surely be under consideration (and call it what you will, it’s five-at-theback). Sunderland have simply got to be bolder; not least against the likes of Ipswich at home.
Despite five clean sheets under Chris Coleman, they have still let in a truly awful 52 goals this season. In other words: if it isn’t a clean sheet, expect to concede two.
Considering that the back five usually has two defensive midfielders for further alleged protection, the best form of de-