Covering up the clubs problems..

MARTIN O’Neill believes Sunderland’s requirements in the transfer market would have been “glossed over” if they had achieved their top 10 goal.

Sunderland’s defeat against Manchester United on the final day of the season consigned the Black Cats to 13th spot in the table after ending the campaign on the back of an eight-game winless streak.

The conclusion to the season has proved an anti-climax compared to O’Neill’s first few months in charge, which saw Sunderland challenging the top eight and marching into the quarter finals of the FA Cup.

However, O’Neill believes finishing two points adrift of last year’s tally is a fair representation of Sunderland’s current state.

The Black Cats boss, who continues to be linked with Aston Villa’s out-of-contract defender Carlos Cuellar, says it has also provided a clear indication of where Sunderland must recruit this summer.

O’Neill told the Echo: “Despite us wanting to finish in the top 10, had we done so it might have glossed over a few things that we needed to address in terms of strengthening.

“Over 38 games, you finish where you deserve to finish.

“Certainly, there were one or two games on this winless run that we could and should have won, yet there were probably also a couple of games we won early on which we shouldn’t have done.

“It doesn’t matter – it levels itself out.

“Where we finished is probably where we deserved to finish and now it’s up to us to take it on from there next season.

“And after spending the second half of the season in charge here, I’ve a great idea about the strengths and weaknesses of the side and what we need to do to try to improve.”

Nevertheless, O’Neill remains satisfied by his first six months on Wearside after inheriting a side engulfed in trouble at the wrong end of the division.

Although Sunderland’s form petered away on the home straight, the Black Cats were never in danger of relegation at the business end of the campaign after reaching 40 points following March’s victory over QPR.

O’Neill added: “I came in in December and there was hardly time to breathe – day passed into night for me.

“That was no bad thing though. By spending most of my time up here with Steve Walford, Seamus McDonagh and Jim Henry – the staff who came in with me – there was an intensity about it.

“We kind of got out of trouble more quickly than I anticipated and maybe the foot did go off the pedal a little bit – although I’m not 100 per cent convinced about that.”

 

Cant argue with any of that, TBH, it's proper cheered me up and given me confidence that things are about to change for the good.

 

Did you pick up on this line..

 

yes but we will be linked with that many. I like OSHEA and Brown but their injury records scare me so I can see at least one CB coming

 

I think we all said the same last year that sneaking 10th papered over the cracks. We have a stronger squad than at the end of last year and id quite happily finish 2 points off target if it helps us next year.

id have cuellar on a free, he's better than all our centre backs bar a fully fit Wes Brown.

 

There will be many players linked to MON over the next few weeks , Cuellar is not a bad shout ,will be 31 in August good strong athlete. Can pay full back as well as his normal C/H , however would have thought other positions will take priority.

 

We should buy some random Germans , they seem to be ice cool and never miss penalties. A right set of arrogant bastards as well.

 

For the first time since the early Peter Reid days we have a top manager.

If we (Ellis Short I mean) don't back him up with any funds he needs then that's a waste of a good manager.

 

Charley when you said "we" you were right. The fans need to get back and fill the ground.

 

I try and fill 2 seats

 

The mantra is two strikers and a winger..keep repeating it and MoN will get the message, of course we can strengthen elsewhere as we are not too good at cutting crosses out and dealing with them in the box, Rooney;s headed goal at chest height and Davies two goals against us (Kilgalon not string enough) but it is goals we are short of.

 

But we have Elmo

 

Now Now Syd, trying to be a Wum is not you (p.s. I have seen us on the very wide angled lens in the crowd on Sunday) in your long and varied career did you work fr a while near the Pyramids and is Elmo your love child, from some enchanting Egyptian belly dancer? I think Not606 should be told, as you do seem to have affection and a liking for the lad!

 

I tthink the last one is a key hint for you guys. He's not convinced that the foot came off the pedal. Therefore, he thinks your recent record is representative of the players ability. I may be reading too much into it, but that suggests wholesale changes to me.

 

So Elmo's mum danced on Syd's belly......now that i can believe.

 

Maybe he in denile!



I'll get me coat!

 

Comm I had a little chuckle at that image

 

Never been to Egypt but had a weekend in Caerphilly and they had a bus trip in from Cairo.

 

Coxhoe mate