Sunderland: A club with big issues but few clear solutions
being that Sunderland in the opening weeks of the season were not performing to the levels required to finish in the top two over the course of the campaign.
That was a fair point, thoughastrangeonegiventhat their data was better than last season in most departments, particularly defensively.
Certainly, they had not kicked on considerably from last season’s disappointment and fan frustration was growing.
Ross had faced chants of ‘sacked in the morning’ during a difficult draw with BoltonWanderers,andthoughthe reception was not so fierce at Lincoln City a couple of weeks later, a woeful performance left many feeling a crossroads has been reached.
Not long after a similarly troubling defeat at Peterborough United, it was obvious that some of the unity and resilienceoflastseasonhadbeen eroded.
That was underlined in the demeanour of Ross himself, who had been through a gruelling summer as he waited to learn what would come of two separate takeover sagas.
It was a big moment. Sunderland were short of top-two pace but they were comfortably at play-off pace, and had knocked two Premier League sides out of the Carabao Cup.
Regardless, the decision to change approach was one that many agreed with.
TheissueforDonaldisthat, in every sense, they have regressed under Parkinson and over the last month there has been a severe drop-off both in results and performance levels.
They are giving away biggerchancestotheiropponents and more frequently. Their attacking play is getting worse and the style of play has of late been difficult to watch.
They are averaging just one point per game under Parkinson, relegation form in any campaign.
In the aftermath of Ross’ departure, Donald said that he was looking for a manager to win promotion this season.
Methven went on to state that the belief in the boardroom was that this squad should be a top-two side.
Parkinson, it was said, had the pedigree and CV to turn a side performing at a decent League One level into promotion winners. At that stage, Sunderland were one point off sixth with two games in hand, andfourpointsoffsecondwith one game in hand.
Twelve games on, they are five points off sixth with one game in hand and 10 off second.
Parkinson won high praise after the demolition of Tranmere Rovers in his first home game, but since then his post-match comments have alarmed a support rightly concerned at a lack of identity and intensity on the pitch, and the 1-0 defeat to Gillingham only served to strengthen that.
Though Parkinson’s appointment was presented as a short-termsolution,thereality is that he has been backed for the long term.
Heiseagertoplayhispartin building up the football side of the club stripped back following consecutive relegations.
That included a new scouting network and sports scientist Nick Allamby, an entirely new backroom staff, and AndrewTaylorappointedasfirstteam coach even after fans had vocally called for Parkinson's departure.
Most importantly of all, the new manager was handed a lengthy two-and-a-half year contract, and has been in dialogue with Donald and head of recruitment Tony Coton regardingtheJanuarywindow,a monththattheclubnowseems to see as pivotal.
What was not so long ago deemed to be one of the very best squads in the league is now thought to be in need of major surgery, with as many as five new additions touted by Methven.
Clearly, if Parkinson is to persist with the style so clearly unsuited to this squad, players of his own are required.
It’sahigh-stakesgamblegiventhedifficultiesofrecruiting in the winter window.
Donald is keeping his faith in Parkinson for now, yet not acting is just as big a gamble.
It will take an extraordinary turnaround to get Sunderland to where they need to be this season.
Parkinsonhasthusfarbeen unable to find the answers demanded.