Sunderland's "Downturn"

I haven't put this on the Sunderland board because it's not a WUM attempt, it's an honest outside in look at why they're perhaps not hitting the expected level of performances this season in comparison with most of last season's.

Looking from my outside in view, it seems to me that they had quality players last season with a point to prove. The only problem in this was the fact that the point most of these players were proving was to their parent clubs' or their now current clubs.

Let's look at the players they had and lost and who they've been replaced with:

1st up has to be the forward line

Bent was replaced with Bendtner
Jones was replaced by Gyan who was replaced with Ji Dong Won
Campbell was replaced by Welbeck who was replaced with Whickham

Obviously, Campbell will return to fitness but it could be like last time and he may just get injured for the long-term again! They've signed 2 young players with potential, one of which is now out for the best part of the coming season and Bendtner who will either stay with Arsenal or most likely sign for someone else as soon as he proves his point, like Welbeck did!

2nd Midfield

Henderson was replaced with Larsson
Malbranque was replaced with Gardner
Zenden was replaced with Vaughan

All three replacements were relegated last season with their clubs, need I say more! They've signed Sessegnon, who looks quality but he isn't gonna stay around long if things and players around him don't improve.

3rd Defence

Mensah was replaced with Brown
Onuoha was replaced with O'Shea
Ferdinand wasn't replaced

Turner hasn't been fit for ages and is very rusty, they didn't recruit anyone for the obvious vacant left-back position, and both Brown's and O'Shea's fitness is, shall we say, suspect!

Their squad is no where near as good as it was last season. They still haven't replaced Jones, nevermind Bent! When I look at their squad as a whole it doesn't strike me with fear in any department. There's a handful of players that could produce moments of individual class. Like a pass or run from Sessegnon or Bendtner and a free-kick from Larsson.

Which brings me to Bruce. Why is it that the team he has built can't play together as a unit? Is it time for Bruce to leave?

I could go on but I'll leave it here, I don't want the text body to look too much that people won't read it but I think the comparison's showing outs and ins speak volumes. They're no where near as good and their predecessors and Bruce took huge gambles on suspect injury records and young players. They clearly haven't paid off so far!

 

I can see similarities with their team to the one which got us relegated. Over rated, over priced, over paid, past it players who couldn't give a **** about the club.

 

Lets hope so, though think Sunderland will finish about 12th this year.

 

I honestly think Sunderland have a good team! They've had some luck go against them like in the Man U game and realistically i think they'll be fine. I'd say their biggest downturn in terms of quality in a position is up front. Players like O'Shea and Brown are solid, Larsson is better than Henderson i'd say and his threat from set pieces brings an extra dimension to their team, and yet up front they have up and coming players but no real goal scorer. Wickham and Ji will almost definitely turn out to be good players - they're already decent - but i can't see Sunderland really improving on last year unless they bring in a goal scorer! I reckon, 12th for them this season

 

Can't see Bruce being there much longer, I think most of the fans want him out and are making life a little uncomfortable for him.

 

They don't have the massive, massive flops like Owen and Duff, but have a few Championship standard players on big wages like Bramble and Vaughan

 

Doubt theyd turn on him like the Blackburn lot

 

Can't blame the Blackburn lot, Kean is so ****e and has that horrible grin on his face after every game and says stuff like 'most of the fans are over the moon with the performance and have gone home happy' even though they lose every game. I some how doubt they go home happy

 

I agree that their team is not as threatening as last year. I remember the 31/10/10 match, before kick off, I was really worried that Bent & Welbeck would score a few, I forget the scoreline...

This year, their attacking unit is no where near as good as last year. I think they will be looking at the down half of the table come the end. They won't be relegation candidates, but if Bruce continues his current trend, in a couple of seasons, if not next season they will struggle and keep on spending silly amounts. Which is unstable for the club.

 

There team is ok. I have been very impressed with Larsson, my criticism is that Bruce needlessly replaced the entire team, particularly with very safe options. They're not like the team of idol mercenaries that took us down, but they're not going to win anything, or improve on last season, essentially Brown and O'Shea have been sent to Steve Bruces retirement home were they can spend their twilight years in peace without having to try too hard or push themselves.

 

Bruce is the problem, he hasnt got a clue tactically and in about 3 years at the club has failed to address the gaping holes at LB and LW.

 

This has been their team for a lot of the season:

Mignolet

O'Shea - Turner - Brown - Bardsley

El Mohammady - Cattermole - Vaughan - Colback - Larsson

Sessegnon

For me, they have been playing too many square pegs in round holes

1. Why is Larsson always on the left? His best atribute is crossing and is right footed, so should be on the right
2. Why they play Sessegnon up front for a lot of the season? He isn't a striker
3. Why does El Mohammady even play? He is ****e
4. Westwood is clearly a better keeper than Mignolet - could see that when he was at Coventry

For me, their best team would be:

Westwood

O'Shea - Turner - Brown - Bardsley

Larsson - Cattermole - Vaughan - Sessegnon

Bendtner - Wickham

Would certainly win a lot more games imo

 

I think most fans have lost patience with Clattermole and would rather have Colback there

 

Is Colback a defensive mid? I think they need one of them.

I think their team is pretty poor in a lot of parts and their best player for some of the positons aren't really good enough

 

Meyler is seen as the answer. Although from what I've seen of him, including their match on Saturday, hes just another clueless thug that can't stay on his feet.

 

If he was in charge on March 3rd and we won 5-1 again they defo would, they've never forgiven for last season's drubbing .

 

I didn't want to do this but I'm gonna:

As I said above, Larsson, Sessegnon and Bendtner can all produce moments of individual class but neither of them offer what the likes of Gutierrez, Ba, Best, Cabaye, Tiote offer.

Larsson is very one dimensional, take his set-pieces off him and he's distinctly average. I think Pardew said it all when he said he was looking for a class above him in the summer and ended our speculation in him. Sessegnon's work rate look poor and Bendtner is hardly the mover Ba is and he doesn't link with his midfield like Ba and Best can.

There I did it!!!

They are all individuals, they don't work together

 

Seems bruce is intent on driving any sign of pace out of his side (other than sessegnon)

 

Definetly agree with you - they said he was as good as Tiote haha

 

just from the phone in after the Manure match some were annoyed with Bruce playing Meyler after 90min against Ashington ahead of Colback who they said runs his arse off for the team