A combination of dull football, lack of goals and without
a win since the 19th January is far from the recipe for success. When
you throw into the mix season ending injuries to both Steven Fletcher and captain
Lee Cattermole, survival really is in doubt.
O’Neill’s appointment in December 2011 was the catalyst
behind an incredible rise from 17th to the top half of the Premier
League. The feat was made all the more impressive given the fact it was
achieved in just two short months. However since then the club have struggled and have won just
seven of their last 38 Premier League games. Meaning should the season have
started at the time of Sunderland’s decline, they would have been relegated.
Home matches against Manchester United and Everton are
sandwiched with trips Chelsea and local rivals Newcastle, a daunting fixture
list for any side! After these four games Sunderland, in all likelihood will find
themselves below the dreaded relegation line, which beggars the question, have they
really improved under O’Neill?
The sales of Darren Bent and Jordan Henderson severely hampered
former manager Steve Bruce. And although numerous faces came through the
Stadium of Light doors, not many commanded a high transfer fee. Despite a poor
start to the season, Bruce deserved more time, with the high turnover of
players always ensuring developing his side that season would take time.
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| It took Sunderland 18 months to really replace Bent |
The people’s choice was then appointed in the form of the
O’Neill, who supported the club as a boy. In the short-term it worked,
Sunderland were never in any danger of going down.
However this was the season Sunderland were supposed to
kick-on, which evidently they haven’t. Big name and money signings arrived in
the form of Adam Johnson and Fletcher, meaning expectation levels at The Stadium of Light were high. Whilst Fletcher has done the business for the Black Cats, scoring a
third of the clubs Premier League goals, his fellow capture hasn't done so well.
Johnson promised much and given frequent game time, many
expected him to flourish at Sunderland. Yet inconsistency has blighted his
season, a theme common amongst young British wingers.
O’Neill has struggled to address Sunderland’s real problems
in the three transfer window’s available to him. The sale of Michael Turner to
Norwich was strange. Turner is a solid if not spectacular Premier League centre
half. Yet the injury prone Wes Brown is yet to feature this season, whilst the
likes of Carlos Cuellar and Titus Bramble have proven to be inconsistent at
best.
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| Turner has helped Norwich keep nine Premier League clean sheets |
The lack of a real creative playmaker has heavily exposed
how unimaginative the Sunderland midfield is. Stephane Sessengon has the
ability to be this, however similar to Johnson, a real lack of consistency has
blighted his season. Having seen Sunderland a few times this season, I can
assure you they aren’t the most pleasing on the eye. It’s not that they play
long football, but their inability to string a succession of passes together is
all too obvious.
With just eight games remaining, Sunderland are only four
points clear of Wigan in 18th, who also have a game in hand of the Mackems!
You only need to read O’Neill’s CV to see he’s a very good
manager. However for some reason it’s not working at Sunderland at the moment.
Neil Warnock once said it was harder to manage a club you supported and maybe
that’s proving the case for O’Neill.
