Cats should appoint new man sooner rather than later
| Published date | 04 April 2024 |
| Publication title | Evening Chronicle |
Yes, there have been injuries to key personnel but even so, the performances have become shambolic. One point in seven matches prior to the win at Cardiff City on Good Friday - then a seventh defeat in nine in humiliating style against Blackburn Rovers at the Stadium of Light.
As it (fans) will endure games prospect anything excited
No wonder Mike Dodds looked flustered in his post-match interview. Four times he said the performance was "unacceptable". But what does that actually mean?
He can't drop all the players so it has to be accepted before moving on to the next fixture.
There seemed to be more and more home fans leaving with each goal conceded on Monday and who can blame them?
They say the number 13 is unlucky for some. In Sunderland's case they find themselves 13th in the table, 13 points off the play-offs. The position they find themselves in is more their own doing than misfortune. How did it come to pass that a team that was one or two points off the pace should plummet in such a dramatic way in the space of two months?
It was interesting to hear Luke O'Nien talk after the Blackburn game and hearing him describe his boss as 'Doddsy'.
Without intending any disrespect to Dodds, it is hard to believe players would refer to Tony Mowbray as 'Mowers', Roy Keane as 'Keano' or Phil Parkinson as 'Parky'. It smacks of a lack of authority and as much as the muchliked Dodds is doing his best in his third caretaker spell, and he is obviously someone who stands they have to another six without the of to get about has the club at heart, surely it would make sense to recruit someone now so the new man can assess the squad before the decks are cleared in the summer.
The defending against Blackburn was shambolic. For every goal conceded there appeared to be four or five Sunderland players in close proximity but they were unable to prevent the seemingly inevitable.
An unfortunate slip from Patrick Roberts led to the first. But four home players were taken out of the game by winger Joe Rankin-Costello for the second.
The third goal was like watching the parting of the Red Sea as Rovers were allowed to run through the defence far too easily. Dan Neil lost possession for the fourth and the fifth was scored with O'Nien and Dan Ballard unable to make...
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