‘Our poor showing should be blamed on every one of us’
THE PLAYERS AND I ARE ALL RESPONSIBLE FOR FAILING TO SHINE, SAYS GRAYSON
SIMON Grayson says he and the Sunderland players share responsibility for the Black Cats’ poor start to life in the Championship.
The Wearsiders head to Brentford having won just one of their first 12 league games, and with the club just off the bottom of the table. There is no doubt that the players Grayson has at his disposal – those he inherited, bolstered by ten summer signings – should be performing significantly better, with the manager himself admitting that this Sunderland squad is as good as any in the top eight when everyone is fit.
And asked whether the responsibility for team’s underperformance so far lies with him or his players, he said: “I think it’s both. In the lead-up to games my staff and I do a lot of work analysing the opposition and making sure our players have the information they need to help them go out and win the game, and then really it’s their responsibility to carry out the actions we have asked them to.
“Any manager will tell you that they prep their players as best they can, but if someone makes a mistake then there is little a manager can do about that. But we all have to take responsibility because we all want to get results for this football club, and we all care passionately about it.”
Individual mistakes have undermined the best-laid plans at various times this season, with last weekend’s draw against QPR a case in point.
Aiden McGeady squandered a golden chance to put Sunderland ahead in the first half, and minutes later James Vaughan was beaten in the air at a set-piece as the visitors took the lead, which left the Black Cats playing catch-up and needing McGeady to salvage a point in the second period.
Grayson said: “Minute details can be the difference at times, and we highlight this to the players but they have to take responsibility when they step over that white line.”
Grayson’s team selections have come under scrutiny, with many fans asking why players such as Jonny Williams and Callum McManaman have not started more games, and also questioning why Billy Jones was played at centre-back. As a manager, you pick a team and you are responsible for that, but also sometimes your hands are tied by what you have available,” said Grayson.
“Social media has a way of picking up on things in any part of life, but maybe it’s down to me to give a bit more reasoning about these things.
“People questioned last week why Billy Jones played centre-half; well, he was the best option available to get us a back four out on the day. We only had one fit centre-back available.
“Jonny Williams didn’t start last weekend because his hamstring was a little but tight, and that has been proved because he picked up a slight niggle at the back end of the game which has meant he has missed training this week.
“I don’t pick a team just to cause uproar on social media, I pick it because I think it’s the right one based on what the players have done that week, their physical and mental condition, and what’s going to be required against the opposition.”