Gus speaks

GUS POYET says Sunderland need to develop a collective responsibility for their actions.

The Black Cats proved the architects of their own downfall yet again on Saturday after individual howlers gifted Arsenal a 2-0 Stadium of Light victory.

Wes Brown was the opening culprit after an awful attempt at a first-half back-pass was pounced upon by the impressive Alexis Sanchez, before the Arsenal frontman caught Vito Mannone dallying at the death, following a woeful back-pass from Will Buckley.

But Sunderland boss Poyet doesn’t want his players to point fingers and absolve themselves of blame; preferring the whole team to hold their hands up for glaring errors.

“I don’t think the players feel sorry for themselves,” said the Uruguayan.

“I think the problem, when you make those kind of mistakes, is how you take it as a group.

“It’s very easy to say ‘I did my job, I did well, it’s his problem’.

“But next week it could be you.

“It’s a group thing, it’s a team thing and that’s the feeling that I’d prefer them to have.

“If we make a mistake, we make sure we cannot make anymore. No more.

“If not, it’s impossible.”

Poyet believes there was an evident determination among the players to produce a positive result in response to the previous weekend’s 8-0 drubbing at Southampton.

And despite Brown’s first-half clanger, Sunderland markedly improved in the second half, albeit they never created a meaningful effort on Wojciech Szczesny’s goal.

But Sunderland’s hopes of snatching a point at the death were undone in stoppage time, with Poyet admitting that the manner of Arsenal’s two goals was tough to take.

“It was a quiet week (after Southampton), so the players knew and they tried,” he added.

“They did try and were more aggressive and we threw everything that we could with the quality we’ve got and the quantity of players.

“So, to lose that game after last weekend the way we did hurts.

“You play the game, you are fighting, you are organised, make it difficult.

“We started getting better with (Will) Buckley on the left, started getting momentum and the fans started saying ‘OK, maybe we’ve got a chance’.

“And then you give away another goal.

“One was bad enough. To have two mistakes after last weekend, is tough, it’s tough.

“It’s not something that you expect or you can train.”

 

GUS POYET claims there is a culture of mistakes at Sunderland which he has been unable to halt in his year at the helm.

Sunderland paid the price for another two howlers in Saturday’s 2-0 defeat to Arsenal, as the Black Cats continued the pattern of self-inflicted wounds from the previous weekend’s 8-0 drubbing at Southampton.

Poyet’s side had begun the season with a resiliency after losing just one of the opening seven games, yet following Newcastle’s win at Spurs yesterday, Sunderland now find themselves in the bottom three.

Head coach Poyet admits the manner of the two back-to-back defeats has led him to question the progress made under his stewardship in changing the mentality at the Stadium of Light.

“I thought until last week that we were a very difficult team to play against,” said Poyet.

“I think on Saturday we showed glimpses of that.

“But we couldn’t get away from the mistakes.

“We made too many last year. We scored too many own goals.

“We’re still conceding too many own goals and still making too many individual mistakes.

“That part of it we didn’t improve at all (over the last year). It’s still there.

“It’s still inside the group, the club whatever you call it.

“That’s something I haven’t improved. Is that my mistake or responsibility? It’s up to you to judge.”

Poyet believes that if Sunderland are going to make long-term progress away from perennially struggling against the drop, then it will stem from continuity in the playing squad.

The Uruguayan made a point of highlighting the difference in the Sunderland side from last season’s corresponding fixture - September 2013’s 3-1 win for the Gunners - and the Black Cats team from this weekend.

“From last year against Arsenal here, seven players who were starting for Sunderland are not at the club. Seven,” he added.

“You want to know which ones? Westwood, Celustka, Diakite, Roberge, Colback, Ki, Vaughan. They are not here.

“Nine of the starting XI of Arsenal are still in their squad.

“That’s the difficulty we’ve got.

“We’re always starting from zero.

“How can you have a consistency and a way of understanding the game and an understanding of when and how to pass?

“It’s impossible.

“You are always catching-up.

“You need the momentum. You need that thing to start it.

“Three weeks ago, we were complaining we hadn’t won in the league and then we won that (Stoke) game, which apparently was the most important fixture of the season.

“And then the next two games are the worst two.”

Sunderland’s board are also looking for continuity in the dug-out, despite a report yesterday that Poyet was in danger of being axed.

The Echo understands there is absolutely no substance to the claims, with a source close to the club describing the story as “utter tosh”.

And while there has evidently been tension between Poyet and the club’s hierarchy over transfers, the former Brighton boss has given no impression whatsoever that he is in jeopardy


Losing the plot here like

 

Was this the same Will Buckley I watched? Sorry Gus but he was terrible! OK so he got the ball a lot - but he did NOTHING with it!!

 

Like i say mate, think he's losing the plot with some of these comments like

 

Not trying to defend Buckley cos I agree, he was found wanting for most of the game and produced very little. Then again, neither did Johnson or Larsson who are supposedly two experienced pro's.

 

You boys looked at the table lately?

Given all the **** you've talked about our lot...

 

Difference is we never called for our gaffers head - you win 2 games and that's how quickly it changes. According to a lot of my Newcastle supporting mates, they're still very pissed off with Pardew and the way he manages so very little has changed up there other thasn 2 results firstly luckily against a poor Leicester and secondly an inconsistent Spurs who're already using the "Europa League" as an excuse. Well Done though.

And, by the way - we're only 3 points behind 10th place so yeah we have looked at the table!

 

No mate, check out the links in my sig. Now that's ****.

 

Historically, wee get rid of too many good players & bring in crap, this is the biggest thing that has to stop!