Twitchy times but Black Cats can get it right
After another frustrating performance at Oxford on Saturday, Sunderland fans are starting to get twitchy. The performance certainly wasn’t up to the required standard if we are to be promoted automatically.
At the same time, we’ve got two more games before the next round of fixtures for all of the teams around us and winning them both will see Sunderland begin next Saturday in the automatic promotion places.
Performances have been stodgy of late. I’m not sure if there’s an element of overthinking things across the board. We’ve been prone to forcing things from the back rather than keeping hold of the ball and playing through midfield, giving us the best opportunity to get our attacking players on the ball in good areas.
I agree with Jack Ross’ comments earlier this week regarding 4-4-2. It’s far too simplistic to suggest putting more forwards on the pitch will yield more goals. If we were to play more directly then there would be logic in that, but I don’t think this team set up to play percentage football. They just need to relax and have the self belief that they can keep the ball and move opposition teams around until the chances come.
We were doing this earlier in the season and dispatching teams with relative ease. Though I would say the only two sides to really roll over against us this season are Scunthorpe and Rochdale. Even though we have won games by large margins earlier in the season, we’ve always been given a game.
Reflecting on that, I do feel there’s an attitude that because we’re Sunderland we can just waltz around and win games. Even Karl Robinson made comments after the game to this effect. We’ve got to earn the right to win games just like anyone else. We’ve got no right to expect otherwise, either.
Off the pitch, I do wonder whether the strength of our squad is causing more harm than good. This is the first time we’ve had a fully-fit group and there are 22 senior players there that wouldn’t be out of place in the match day 18.
Earlier in the season, the starting XI picked itself most weeks due to injuries and suspensions and we generally came out on top in most games. Now Ross has been tasked with making tougher selection decisions, this may complicate things. I’m sure the manager is delighted with his options, but it can’t be easy to drop someone like Chris Maguire from the matchday squad. He’s got six goals to his name this season and a few assists.
If we don’t convert these wins into draws, then Jack has to decide whether to freshen things up and try something else or stick with what he’s got in the hope it clicks again.
This period is a new kind of challenge for the manager and the ownership, but it’s probably more indicative of the real Sunderland AFC. If we fail to find ourselves in the top two after the Accrington game, there could be a few more dissenting voices to deal with during the key part of our season.
The Wise Men Say podcast is available from every Monday, with SAFC debate from a variety of guests and postmatch reaction from Jack Ross. You can stream it direct from wisemensay.co.uk or subscribe to it on iTunes