Time for some perspective?

http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/sport/...-but-must-not-lose-sight-of-a-bigger-picture/

Emotions are still running high, but this article made me stop and think. I know there's a lot out there who will disagree with it, but I think the author talks sense.

Sunderland lost to Newcastle but must not lose sight of a bigger picture

By Luke Edwards Sport Last updated: August 22nd, 2011

The thought of a manager being under pressure after just two games of a new season is, quite frankly, farcical. The thought of Steve Bruce being that manager after two years of steady improvement at Sunderland is, quite simply, ludicrous.
Then again, who would have thought the mighty Arsene Wenger would be starting a new campaign swatting away questions about his future at Arsenal while a slither of the club’s support begin to call for his removal.
Football is a ruthless, ridiculous business and football managers are normally its biggest and most frequent victims.
Bruce’s crime amounts to little more than a derby defeat to Newcastle, a one off game which can turn even the most level-headed into raging madmen; a game Sunderland were widely tipped to win given the two club’s contrasting fortunes over the summer months.
Newcastle’s recruitment strategy has been widely criticised and questioned, Sunderland’s was seen as bold and ambitious. Newcastle were thought to have got weaker because of the loss of key players and the relative unknown quantity of their replacements.
Sunderland, it was thought, were stronger because Bruce was allowed to reinvest in the team, not merely balance the books.
Thrashed 5-1 at St James’ Park last season and fortunate to escape with a draw in a game the Magpies dominated at the Stadium of Light, last weekend’s clash between the North-East’s ever warring neighbours was perceived by Sunderland’s supporters and players as an ideal opportunity to put the record straight.
Instead, Newcastle survived a difficult first half, scored from a Ryan Taylor set-piece in the second and made the short journey back to Tyneside with another derby win to celebrate. It was a crushing experience for those in red and white.
Bruce’s new look side looked worryingly familiar to the one which tended to run out of ideas towards the back end of last season and the knives, if not exactly out, are at least being reached for.
It is dangerous and short-sighted. So Sunderland lost to their bitter rivals on home soil. It was painful and embarrassing, but it is ultimately just one game in a very long season.
Under Bruce, Sunderland have progressed and improved. The calibre of player signed this summer would have been unthinkable when the former Manchester United skipper arrived just over two years ago.
This must not be forgotten, particularly when Sunderland started the season with a 1-1 draw against Liverpool at Anfield, who beat Arsenal at the Emirates at the same time as the Black Cats were losing to Newcastle.
The problem with derbies as intense and as hostile as the North East one is they mean everything at the time, but little in the grand scheme of things.
Sunderland’s record in these regional battles for supremacy is abysmal. One win in 14, one win at home in 30 odd years. Yet, they have finished above Newcastle three years running.
There is a section of the Sunderland supporters who will simply never accept Bruce because he was raised a Newcastle fan. They will always look to pounce on any failing.
Sadly, it is that bunch which will be heard loudest at the moment, metaphorically shouting on internet message boards, ranting on Twitter, bending the ear of radio pundits, whipping the media into a frenzy, turning a solitary defeat into a disaster. It’s the same at every club.
Had Newcastle lost to Sunderland, the mood would have turned ugly on Tyneside. A frustrating summer in the transfer market would have been replaced by anger and animosity at the thought of a troubled season ahead.
But they won and manager Alan Pardew has some breathing space as he looks to sign the two players, a left-back and a striker, everyone knows he needs before the close of the window. It was a great result for him, a terrible one for Bruce.
Sunderland must pick themselves up and dust themselves down. They responded to the 5-1 defeat last season by beating Chelsea at Stamford Bridge. A victory over Brighton in the Carling Cup on Tuesday night would be a start this time. Two early cup exits last season were arguably far more damaging and disappointing for Bruce and Sunderland’s board than those derby results.
Bruce has tried to do a lot this summer and has perhaps done a little too much in terms of the number brought in. With ten new players, the team needs time to gel, time the derby defeat has taken away to a certain extent.
The squad has more depth, but it seems to lack a goalscoring threat at the moment, while the lack of pace out wide is a concern.
Sunderland fans will be tetchy and emotional after the defeat to Newcastle, calm and a sense of collective purpose needs to be restored. The derby blow was a devastating one and it has undoubtedly wounded Bruce again, but it was not a mortal strike.
It has made the next few weeks tough for manager and players, but there is no sense in panic or attacking Bruce. He has damage to repair and the sooner the better, but a sense of perspective must be maintained even while their old enemy gloats, goads and grins.

 

But once again it's saying it's just the derby defeat getting to people.
And not taking into consideration the long running discontent among some supporters.
I have no gripe with the players attitude this derby, unlike when they rolled over and played dead previously.

 

This article just about sums up exactly how I feel and where I stand at present..

 

Lack of goal scoring threat and no pace on the wings, What the hell are we actually good at? haha

 

This is exactly what I find so baffling though...We are currently having our longest spell of top flight football since the 1950's, and have improved our position year on year under Bruce...If it hadn't have been for our unbelievable injury problems last year and the departure of Judas to boot, we would perhaps have been watching European football this season.

 

MR - I think this is a very important point, but to me it points to being unlucky, not a catastrophic failure. I'm not judging the team or Bruce until we've played a few more games.

 

Ourselves and the Geordies love our football, and want to see the best of our teams on the pitch.
Sadly for me, one or two matches apart, this hasn't happened under Bruce, no I'm not expecting to be up challenging Man U. Or playing like Barca.
But the money Short has piled in should have better team showings on the pitch, than we have witnessed.
You yourself have pointed out on a lot of occasions about the rumblings around the stadium and the crowd should get behind the lads. And I agree.
But, yep I always have a but. The support can't be unconditional and too many times last season the crowds were leaving the stadium after another dire display against teams with worse players than our own.
This can only be placed at the managers door.

 

The difference being I see this as many of our fans expecting far too much at times, and thinking that we should be hammering everone who is not a top six club at home..

 

I agree with you on this MrRAWhite. I'm not sure which clubs have turned around years of mediocrity instantly - unless they have a mega rich owner.
Even Fergie had a disappointing first few years with MU and had calls for his head. Luckily, their board stuck with him.

I think Sunderland have a long way to go yet and I don't see how changing the manager at this point will help.

 

what a good post this is the man Luke Edwards talks alot of sense and after all its just 3 points. look at the big picture and get behind bruce and the boys.