Fans should feel frustrated at timing of Defoe decision
For many Sunderland fans, the surprising news of Jermain Defoe’s retirement felt like it held two narratives: one of the striker’s end of his illustrious career but another of the club’s own troubles.
It was a day for many supporters to appreciate a truly magical career of one of the best goal-scorers of a modern day, but in the present for the BlackCats,itwasafrustrating ending.
Flashback to 53 day and it was a very late deadline day foramanagerlessSunderland.
The humorous moment of ‘it’sJermainDefoeintheback’ from a fans’ YouTube channel united Sunderland fans on a night to remember - the excitement of the night very short-lived.
In hindsight, at the time thecryforthestrikertoreturn to the North East was probably overwhelming but seven appearances and two starts down the line, his return, underwhelming.
Sunderland were not the same club that he left five years previous and indeed, he wasn’tthesameplayerthatexited Wearside, but his legacy willlivelongintothememory.
He produced quality both on-and-offthepitch,andfrom his first days in the club, was a rolemodelfortheclub,andfor the region, as a whole.
His most memorable moment? The heart-breaking connection he built with supporter Bradley Lowery – a re
lationshipwhichcapturedthe heartsofthecountryandtranspired into a partnership that Defoe kept very close during the remainder of the career.
On the pitch, his status as one of the - if not the - greatest playertheclubhashadintheir modern era, will live on.
Butnowtheultimatequestioning on why the decision to bring Defoe back, surely has to be left at the doors of Kyril Louis-Dreyfus and Kristjaan Speakman.
Why couldn’t Defoe have stayed another seven matches?
Why leave now? And, predominantly, what went wrong?Thetimingofthedecisionwasbizarre.Fivedaysinto an international break and a couple of days after training with the remaining team.
Now, with seven matches ofthefullseasontogo,Sunderland’s striker situation is in a possible turmoil.
Any potential injury to Ross Stewart will remove any remaining promotion hopes, with only Nathan Broadhead, a current injury-hit forward, the only striker remaining.
JackClarkeorPatrickRobertsmaybeabletofillthestriker position but neither hold this as their preferred position, and yes, Alex Neil could opt to bring under-23’s Benji Kimpioka back into the firstteam fold, but again, League One action for the Swede has been very minimal.
Sunderland and Neil just havetohopeStewartcanmake it through a rewarding international break with Scotland and the remaining month of the campaign, to avoid any more potential troubles for the team and scrutiny for the board.
It was a disappointing end to Defoe’s second spell, but it’s not to tarnish any status that the striker has in the North East. He provided fans with many memories but in the present-day his decision has left the Black Cats simply scratching their heads at potential troubles in the final month of the campaign.
There’sgoingtobenofairytale ending for Defoe, instead Sunderland are fighting promotion, a man down.