'Abject, Inept, Disgraceful, Gutless, Unprofessional'

I spoke last week of our win on The Humber as a 'Ray of Light'.' Fast forward a week, and my how different things are at The Stadium of Light. As if we thought that the whole season couldn’t get any worse, then Sunderland go and prove us wrong once again. Let’s be blunt here, the players sank to almost unimaginable depths on Saturday. This was an alarming performance. No fight, work rate, desire or passion; completely devoid of any professionalism. It was the final home game of the season (and for many, the final one for quite some time). Surely the objective was to give something back to our long-suffering supporters?  Sunderland served up arguably their worst performance of the season. In terms of commitment and fight, it was “as bad as I’ve seen in forty years” according to my father, not a statement that left his lips lightly.

I counted seven players that remained at full-time, mainly on the insistence of Captain John O’Shea. The rest of the players simply followed their manager down the tunnel, which says everything you need to know about their character and why they too are a massive part of the situation we currently find ourselves in. I’ve never felt so angry at a set of players in all the years I’ve supported Sunderland. In an attempt at extracting some positivity, I spent my Sunday telling myself that some of the best memories I have of following SAFC have been from campaigns in the second tier. I will re-iterate once again that this summer’s recruitment has to be 100% right. It’s the most important period in the club’s modern history, and the decisions that are made and the signings we bring in have to provide a platform for stability. Joining a division which contains Middlesbrough, Villa, Norwich, Derby, Leeds and possibly the likes of Hull and Fulham tells you exactly how difficult the 2017/18 season will be.

I scanned through the odds on promotion, and even relegation, for the Championship next season. Yes, I looked at relegation, however extreme that may sound. Sunderland are 14/1 to win the title at the first attempt. We are 12/1 to be relegated to League One. That has really hit home to me, a sudden realisation that if we do not recruit properly, another season of struggle may be on the horizon. I know that I’m setting myself up for ridicule here, but if it can happen to Southampton, Leicester, Leeds and Forest, then it can happen to us. Blackburn have just fell through the trap door, and Sheffield United have only just come back to re-join the second tier. The Championship is an unforgiving place, and is graveyard for former Premier League clubs. Somewhere around 27-28 victories will get a club automatically promoted. Win half your games and statistically, you will cement a play-off spot. Rather worryingly, around fifty points is needed to prevent disastrous back to back relegations. We are in such a bad state at the moment that I need to consider all possible scenarios, especially if David Moyes is sticking around. What a harrowing prospect indeed. Anyone who thinks it will be plain sailing next season, is sadly mistaken.