<a href="https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2014/08/sunderland.jpg"></a>
Sunderland have enjoyed a mixed start to the <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/2014/09/18/travel-by-train-to-watch-premier-league-games-in-person/">Premier League</a> season thus far with Gus Poyet’s men sitting in a worrying 15th position in the table despite having earned draws against <a href="worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/2014/08/26/louis-van-gaals-selection-predicament-a-real-cause-for-concern/">Louis van Gaal’s Manchester United</a> as well as Tottenham Hotspur in recent weeks.
Unfortunately these two excellent results have had their respective gloss taken off them due to the fact Sunderland are still without a win this season. Despite Poyet’s promises of more flamboyant football this term, there is still yet to be a return on this promise. Although the hugely exciting signing of Ricky Alvarez on-loan from Inter Milan will undoubtedly aid this cause as the season progresses.
The strengths of the team are similar to what they were last term, the goalkeeper and the midfield. Vito Mannone, after a mixed career with Arsenal, has found his place at the Stadium of Light with the Italian continually putting in impressive performances which are at times keeping Sunderland in matches.
In midfield there is still the combative presence of Lee Cattermole, whilst the additions of Jack Rodwell and Will Buckley have added the creativity needed to thrive in the Premier League.
The weakness of the squad still lies with forwards. Steven Fletcher has had considerable injuries throughout his time on Wearside but looks unlikely to reach his previous high levels of performance. Jozy Altidore remains frustratingly inconsistent with Connor Wickham the only real source of goals in the team despite being just 21. Poyet’s failure to go into the market for a more reliable forward may be a decision which comes back to haunt the Uruguayan coach.
With regards to the transfer window, it was in actual fact a positive summer for Sunderland. A lot of the older members of the squad who were on significant wages were moved on whilst there were a number of exciting additions.
Patrick van Aanholt looks to be an improvement at left-back with the former Chelsea youngster taking his chance at regular first-team football with both hands so far. Jack Rodwell has added composure to the heart of midfield alongside Liam Bridcutt whilst Sebastian Coates could be a good backup option to the pairing of Wes Brown and John O’Shea.
As previously mentioned the lack of activity in the forward market is a worry with goals hard to come by for Sunderland already this year.
The standout player for Sunderland this year has actually been another of Poyet’s signings, Will Buckley. Purchased from Poyet’s old club Brighton Albion Hove, the English winger has added an incisiveness to Sunderland’s wing play and was a real handful in the 1-1 draw with Manchester United in late August.
There aren’t many injury concerns for Sunderland at the moment, however, given Fletcher’s recent history as well as Altidore’s profligacy in front of, there is considerable worries about a weak attack.
Best Starting XI: 4-1-4-1
GK- Mannone
RB-Vergini
CB- O’Shea
CB- Brown
LB- Van Aanholt
DM- Cattermole
CM- Rodwell
CM- Larsson
RM- Alvarez
LM- Buckley
ST- Wickham
Rating: 3 out of 5.

Sunderland’s August-September Progress Report

Sunderland's August-September Progress Report - World Soccer Talk

<div><figure class="image"></figure></div>
14 games without a Premiership win would be worrying for several sides, but when you’ve spent the best part of £50 million to improve the team, 4 months without a win is disastrous. When Bruce took the reigns at the Stadium of Light in the summer, the club had survived a dreadful season which had seen Roy Keane walk out half way through and they limped to the final day staying up.
If you were brutally honest, Sunderland stayed up due to the ineptness of the other clubs at the foot of the table. For the amount of transfer outlay the Black Cats have spent, around £130 million in 3 years, two successive relegation battles are simply not good enough. For all the criticism that came last season, Bruce’s tenure started so well and Sunderland were comfortably placed in the top ten.

<div><figure class="image"><img loading="lazy" class="aligncenter" src="https:\/\/ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https:\/\/images.worldsoccertalk.com/webp/WST_20100304_WST_16483_darren_bent_1538035c.webp&amp;width=460&amp;height=288" alt="" width="460" height="288"></figure></div>
Yet since November, it’s all gone horribly wrong and Sunderland have slid down the table once more. Free scoring twitter addict Darren Bent has suddenly found goals hard to come by in open play and the side seems gripped with a fear of losing. As daft as it sounds, it’s a common occurrence for sides struggling to win to try and close up defensively, which in turn invites teams to attack them. The fear of having a go back leads to a footballing paralysis, the team simply forgets how to win.
Bruce has certainly got his work out at probably his biggest managerial role so far. Up until November, Bruce could honestly be pleased with the sides progress and they seemed to playing a good, high tempo attacking game. Beating Arsenal had seen them continue to re-affirm their ambitions of an outside chance of European football, but suddenly the confidence evaporated.
<div><figure class="image"><img loading="lazy" class="aligncenter" src="https:\/\/ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https:\/\/images.worldsoccertalk.com/webp/WST_20100304_WST_16483_bent_roar_516x350_69594a.webp&amp;width=378&amp;height=256" alt="" width="378" height="256"></figure></div>
Bruce was in bullish mood earlier this week, coming out and defending his signings and perhaps he would point to Kenwyn Jones having his head turned by Liverpool’s underhand transfer methods in January, and the loss of Lee Catermole has certainly shown just how important he is to the Sunderland side.&nbsp; Yet, two signings do not make a team and several players simply have not performed not just for Bruce but over the last couple of years.
What has happened to Keiran Richardson? He seems to have completely lost his way again after picking up last season, so much potential and promise seems to be shackled with a fear to work hard and show the talent he has. Michael Turner has struggled to justify his £10 million transfer fee (as quoted in the court documents in the Hull City v Paul Duffen case). Anton Ferdinand has looked like he’d walk back to London if he could get a transfer, but he at least made me smile with this peach of a quote this week.
<div><figure class="image"><img loading="lazy" class="aligncenter" src="https:\/\/ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https:\/\/images.worldsoccertalk.com/webp/WST_20100304_WST_16483_anton-ferdinand-001.webp&amp;width=460&amp;height=276" alt="" width="460" height="276"></figure></div>
“It would be naive to say that we’re not in a relegation scrap. The league is so tight that a couple of results either way can make a massive amount of difference. No one is mentioning the R word around here, and we don’t want to start having to talk about it.” Priceless.
Of course, the bottom of the table is so tight at the moment, anyone from West Ham, in 13th could go down right now. 4 points separate 7 clubs and Sunderland’s goal difference is a real bonus despite the situation they are in. Unfortunately, they’ve a dreadful run of fixtures after Tuesday’s clash with Bolton. Only one of the next 6 games is against a side in the bottom half of the table and that could be crucial. It is not a run of games to take such a dreadful run of form into.
Yet, it could be what they need. Gaining three points in any of those matches would be a massive boost for Bruce and the club, giving them a much needed shot in the arm. No-one wants to say they’re too good to go down, we’ve seen it from sides such as West Ham United and Newcastle before. Now Bruce has to prove his reputation and really earn his stripes at the Stadium of Light.

Where Now For Steve Bruce And Sunderland? - World Soccer Talk

Where Now For Steve Bruce And Sunderland?

Latest news from Lee Catermole. Find out about all the news related to Lee Catermole on worldsoccertalk.com

ALL POSTS TAGGED "Lee Catermole"

News

Sunderland’s August-September Progress Report

General

Where Now For Steve Bruce And Sunderland?