Cats eye......shields gazzette

IT was a case of same old story for Sunderland at the weekend.


At least this time there were a couple of goals to cheer, but the Black Cats look like a side who are running on empty at the minute.

At one point the game was so dull, that it seemed like the main talking point in everyone’s match report was going to be the ongoing row between fans and stewards.

Not that I want to get into the right and wrongs of that particular issue.

But the opening 20 minutes of the game was so dull, that what was happening in the stands was of more interest than what was happening on the field.

Things did liven up after Bolton took the lead, and both Sunderland goals were worth watching again and again.

Jack Colback’s pass to set up Nicklas Bendtner was superbly executed, while James McClean’s free-kick was a real highlight.

That should have been the signal for Sunderland to kick-on, but some slack marking of Kevin Davies saw the visitors claim a share of the spoils.

While the majority of the game wasn’t easy on the eye, maybe it will strengthen Martin O’Neill’s case when he meets with owner and chairman Ellis Short.

The billionaire was in the stands to see his side stumble through yet another end-of-season clash.

Despite having a fairly large squad at his disposal, O’Neill doesn’t have anywhere near the strength in depth that he would like to be able to call upon.

If anything, the clash with Bolton at the weekend highlighted that point perfectly.

John O’Shea may have been Manchester United’s Mr Versatile over many years, but for me there is no point in playing him at full-back.


Cats Eye: Another long hard summer for Sunderland


For a start he doesn’t get forward enough, and if he does press, he looks for a square easy ball to play as his distribution is far from great.

Don’t get me wrong, O’Shea has done very well at centre-half, but when he plays at full-back Sunderland always look lopsided, and less of a threat going forward.

But the thing that real highlighted Sunderland’s lack of depth for me was the introduction of Ahmed Elmohamady on Saturday.

God loves a trier or so they say, but you have to draw the line somewhere.

Elmohamady is full of energy and will run himself into the ground for the cause, but there is little there in the way of Premier League quality.

He rarely finds his intended target with his crosses (a must for any winger in my humble opinion), and he is far too easy for opposition defenders to read.

Elmohamady isn’t alone in his failure – there are others who are coming up short of the required standard – but the Egyptian stood out for me at the weekend.

Hopefully, he stood out for Mr Short as well, and when O’Neill comes with a summer wish list of players, he will be willing to back his manager.

Financial fair play rules may put something of a limit on the transfer funds available, but if O’Neill is to continue to drive the team onward then another spell of team investment is badly needed.


http://www.shieldsgazette.com/sport...r-ellis-short-must-back-his-manager-1-4500695