Since the arrival of Kristjaan Speakman, and particularly since Kyril Louis-Dreyfus took effective control of Sunderland AFC, there has been a drive to build a team capable of escaping from League One to return to what we regard as our rightful place in the Premier League.
As the squad has evolved, there have been regular changes of personnel. Some have left because they appeared to be developing and progressing more quickly than the club. Jack Clarke’s agent believed that his client had – 12 months
on, that may or may not have been the case, although few Sunderland fans would begrudge the winger his Premier League payday.
Players we picked up in the League One years who became fan favourites have also arrived and disappeared just as quickly – the ‘King’ Chris Maguire, the mercurial Alex Pritchard, and Loch Ness Drogba himself, Ross Stewart.
Throughout those years, either out of choice or necessity, the team has operated with a relatively small first team playing staff. It has been an approach which has, at times, left the club short of the resources needed to compete.
It was only just over two years ago that defensive injuries saw the diminutive Lynden Gooch lining up as part of a makeshift back three in the playoff semifinal against a Luton side packed with comparative giants, so lacking in options were the club.
Last season, the first team squad was severely trimmed as Régis Le Bris apparently expressed a preference to work with a smaller squad. Only he knows how true that actually was. Was it genuinely his approach, or did he quickly assess some of the players and decide that they did not fit the style of football that he wanted to implement?
The likes of Ekwah, Pembélé, Ba, and Rusyn were rapidly sidelined as Le Bris put his faith in a tight young group of players capable of implementing the tactics he favoured. The downside was a comparatively thin squad, which limped through the last five league fixtures. Fortunately, we had enough of a points cushion to allow key players to be rested for the playoffs and, to everyone’s relief, it paid off.
It is therefore no surprise that Sunderland fans have become accustomed to a significant level of ‘churn’ among the squad, as Speakman’s recruitment and the development of the club’s own Academy players, has brought through a fresh crop of talented young players who have earned the right to play. More established players have been displaced from the small squads and moved on. Even well-regarded servants such as Danny Batth and Lynden Gooch were not immune – such has been the turnover, you could be forgiven for thinking that the club had installed a revolving door at the Academy of Light!
But we are back in the Premier League now, and that requires a complete shift in mindset. If Sunderland AFC is to be established again as a force in the top echelon of English football, we need a full balanced squad, not just a First XI and a few subs, supplemented by the U21s
In recent weeks, the ‘But what does it mean for….’ speculation on social media has gone into overdrive, as recruitment has stepped up and new signings have been added
Chemsdine Talbi – but what does it mean for Patrick Roberts?
Reinildo – but what does it mean for Dennis Cirkin?
Granit Xhaka – but what does it mean for Dan Neil?
Robin Roefs – but what does it mean for Anthony Patterson?
Marc Guiu – but what does it mean for Wilson Isidor?
Arthur Masuaku – but what does it mean for Dennis Cirkin (again)?
There is no doubt that the club has invested heavily, and brought in quality and experience. Yet, if you examine the crop of current players who have actually featured under Le Bris, and those who have arrived since Wembley, there is still a worrying lack of depth. There are 3 midfield berths for which we have Xhaka, Diarra, Sadiki, Le Fée, Neil and Rigg to cover. One injury and one suspension would leave just a single Premier League standard midfielder on the bench, and expose what most fans would regard as our strongest area currently.
Across a Premier League season, resources will be stretched. On the wings, we have just Adingra, Talbi and Roberts, with Mundle’s return date uncertain. The centre of defence is even more threadbare so it is no surprise that Reinildo may be required to fill in a gap there, hence the arrival of Masuaku.
As our return to Premier League football fast approaches, it is now time to change the perspective. The transfer window remains open until 1st September – to stand a chance of retaining our hard earned top flight status, we need at least two players in every position, players who are Premier League quality.
Next time Fabrizio posts a ‘Here we go….’ post that involves Sunderland, I would much rather see a ‘Are we properly stacked in that position yet?’ rather than a ‘What does it mean for….?’
It’s time to let go of the revolving door mentality and think like fans of a Premier League club again.
