Well, we sit 19th after another defeat and we are on 3 points and still no Premier League win. So what is the problem? Or should I say, What are the problems?
I personally think that our squad and even our club doesn't have enough Premier League experience. In terms of players, who do we have that has some decent Premier League experience?
Ian Harte - Well passed his best and has proved 2/3 times when I've seen him that he isn't good enough for the PL anymore.
Nicky Shorey - Played for us before and West Brom and Aston Villa so he does have some good PL experience at 3 teams, but again, past his best.
Danny Guthrie - Yes a very good CM but he hasn't started all of our games this season which is a disappointment so we need him in out midfield as he could be key.
That is 3 players if there is anymore then please state but I must say Shorey and Guthrie need to be starting week in week out this season to give us a slight chance of staying up.
Also, just another point is coaching staff. There may be a few that have experienced the Premier League experience which isn't what we want. McDermott is a great manager, however, I don't think he is the right manager for our situation so I think he needs replacing. If he was to leave we need a PL experienced manager that can get us out of this battle. Owen Coyle, Mick McCarthy and Alex McCleish would be my top 3 wish list. ANy of them 3 would be an absolute delight to have and it would give me more hope of staying up.
Also, during January, we need to sign another 3/4 players with PL experience. A new CB is needed possibly a new GK a new ST as we can't seem to score but that will take time and possibly another CM.
Also, the favoured formation these days is 4-2-3-1. McDermott shouldn't be playing that at all. 4-4-2 we need to play as every time we have so far we have looked good, Swansea for example, 4-4-2 should have won.
But anyway, keep our heads high as we have a home game against Fulham which is definitely winable and I feel if we perform well enough we will go about 5/6 games unbeaten because November is our month to pick up points. If we do perform well enough these are my honest predictions:
Fulham (H) - Draw/Win
Arsenal (H) - Lose (Cup however so forget this result)
QPR (A) - Draw/Win
Norwich (H) - Win
Everton (H) - Draw
Wigan (A) - Win
Aston Villa (A) Win
Worst situation there: 12/18
Best situation there: 16/18
Could be unbeaten in the league for the next 6 games if we really try hard then that may well happen. I would be elated to get 10 points with 2/3 wins. That is he most likely there.
What is the problem?
posted on 21/10/12
The fixture list hasn't been kind to us thus far so it was expected that we would have a tough start but we have grinded out a few decent results and have been a bit unlucky in games (Chelsea - Torres was offside, Ba's handball and dropping the 2-0 lead against Swansea) but that luck is bound to change soon.
Also, it would be very harsh to get rid of McDermott, he did a great job of getting us promoted with, let's be honest, a squad not yet ready for the Premier League so getting rid of him would be wrong especially if we replaced him with Mick McCarthy.
A great Championship manager but every club he has ever managed, he seems to get them relegated.
Owen Coyle and Alex McLeish also got sides relegated that, really, had too good a squad to go down in recent years so I don't think they would be very good choices either.
posted on 21/10/12
They all deserve 2nd chances though. Just because Steve kean was very poor at Blackburn doesn't mean he will be poor somewhere else. Even though them managers aren't the best, they still know what it takes to get ot of a relegation fight as McLeish did it at Villa and McCarthy did it ay Wolves and Coyle did well at Burnley so they would be good choices to have.
posted on 21/10/12
McCarthy has had a million chances, he doesn't need another.
Villa shouldn't have even been in the relegation fight at all and Coyle did do well with Burnley but not well enough to keep them up even if he did leave early.
posted on 21/10/12
But then again, he didn't have the best players to work with in the PL really did he?
posted on 21/10/12
Who?
posted on 21/10/12
Coyle...
posted on 21/10/12
At Bolton he did and he got them relegated!
And you're saying why not give these guys a chance? Why not give McDermott a chance?
posted on 21/10/12
I'm not saying get rid of him now, but, if results don't pick up soon, especially this month coming, he needs replacing.
I'm going to leave an enquiry on your Sunderland page as well now
posted on 29/10/12
LRF, hope your predictions are right. It's worrying seeing the table, but just a couple of quick wins would see us to safety.
posted on 31/10/12
Not after yesterday's defeat!