Forge unity in fire and turnaround is possible
NO QUICK FIXES AS COLEMAN LOSES ON DEBUT – BUT CAUSE FOR FANS TO HOPE
STRENGTH through adversity was the gist of the message from new Sunderland boss Chris Coleman after his first game in charge ended in defeat at Aston Villa.
As the long-suffering fans know only too well, if their team had lived up to that motto in recent times, they would have the strongest side in the country bar none.
But Coleman’s post-match comments about building team spirit in the dark times were designed to engender a feeling of togetherness which has been lacking on Wearside this season and much of last.
It is a proven formula for Coleman as he pointed out on the eve of the trip to Villa Park.
He said it was in the early days of his time in charge of Wales, when results were hard to come by, that the players forged the bonds which culminated in the extraordinary achievement of reaching the semifinals of Euro 2016.
Just as with Wales, there was no dream start to Coleman’s
(below) reign at Sunderland, no overnight transformation.
Only the most ardent optimist could have expected a miracle just 48 hours, and two training sessions, after taking charge.
Particularly as injuries and suspension deprived him of 10 first-team players, meaning he had to cobble together a side and name a bench which included Ethan Robson, Joel Asoro, and Tom Beadling, who had no league starts and just six substitute appearances between them.
There were also mitigating factors for both Villa goals.
Adam Matthews was down injured for the first which allowed Albert Adomah, the man he would have been marking, to score. The second saw Josh Onomah’s shot find the net via a wicked deflection off Ty Browning. But Coleman did not try to make excuses. He knows he has to find a way to stop the rot – and fast. He has in Lewis Grabban an inform striker, with the on-loan Bournemouth man scoring his tenth goal of the season and his seventh in the last six games. It is at the other end of the pitch where Sunderland are failing. They are the only side outside the Premier League yet to keep a clean sheet this season and it is their defensive shortcomings which must be addressed as a matter of the utmost urgency.
Because while they remain bottom of the table, four points behind fourth-bottom Birmingham City, they are already seven points behind fifth-bottom Hull City.
That might not sound a lot but it has so far taken Sunderland 18 games to pick up only 11 points.
At least Coleman’s arrival has brought a much-needed injection of positivity to Wearside, which had been wallowing in the depths of despair.
Whatever problems there may be elsewhere in the club, if Sunderland are to have any chance of dragging themselves clear of relegation this season then Coleman, the players and the fans must be united.
The challenge of keeping Sunderland in the Championship looks daunting – but is it really any more difficult than steering Wales to the semi-finals of the Euros?