Well, that’s another season completed. One many thought during which we’d push for promotion, but not me. My opinion stretches back to last season. I was chatting with my kids on our way back from last season’s final game. I stated then, that I thought we’d finish between 8th and 12th, turns out i wasn't that far off. My kids groaned and talked about kicking on. I was adamant and said that actually a bit of mid season mediocrity, wouldn’t be the worst outcome. Which I know sounds like a fan lacking in ambition, but that's not the case.
Here's my credentials. I’m in my mid-fifties and a devoted fan, like many racking up thousands of miles each season following the lads. Our two seasons where we saw back to back relegations, were some of the worst I’ve ever seen. We all cried out for a clear out and to give the kids a go. We saw it took a couple of goes at getting out of league one. We changed personnel again and swapped head coaches/managers yet again.
Here’s my logic. Last season we saw beautiful football, this season started brightly enough. But went right off the rails with one of the worst decisions we, as a club, have ever made. When Tony Mowbray left and Beale came in. As part of that poor decision, I include within that decision, not adding a known goal scorer and allow experienced players to leave. This has left a very young, passionate and lovely set of lads with little on field mentor players. Something Goochy flagged up as an issue in ALS.
We saw how Barry Bannan bossed the midfield on Saturday and how he fed the ball to emerging players.
There were a lot of frustrated fans on Saturday, which I get, football is emotional and as Leo Pearlman pointed out, our club is pretty unique. We really, really look forward to Saturday and want a show, we desire blood, sweat and tears for the red and white shirt.
We looked shabby for a lot of the game and have done for a few games. But to blame the lads, Dodds or the owners is pointless. It’s a cumulative coming together of factors, as touched on above.
We also need to ask ourselves what is it we want? The Premier League is a good few seasons off yet. I’d also argue it’s seen its best days and encourage fans to relish and enjoy what the beauty of the Championship can offer. The quality of football is high. We’ve got a squad, shy of 2-3 influencers, that has a real potential. They give a shit and connect with the fans and have time for the Sunderland community and people.
And before I get shouted at and told shite man, it’s about winning man. We as a fanbase are a traditional mindset a loud, proud passionate bunch of people. Our biggest cheers however, are still for a crunching Hulme tackle and we still cry out SHOOT when a square ball rolls into the path of a running midfielder, 30 odd yards out.
What we say we want versus what we like are misaligned. We are a conflicted species, we proudly and reverently stand to applaud those who have passed away, toast the military, but still we hear audible boos if we and our squad support taking a knee.
I love my club and often well up as we bellow out Only Fools, home and away. I want my lads to pull on the shirt and give it everything they’ve got. I want them to flop to the turf at the end. To take a breath and raise their shattered bodies to come over to us to applaud our commitment. Home and away, win, lose or draw. I also want them to try to win every game, to try to play beautiful football and to give us the time for a photo, autograph, smile and so on. I want a cup run. I want a sniff at promotion.
But I also understand we need, in order to attract the right players and kick on, some consistent leadership and Championship league finishes. Only this will demonstrate to the wider football world we mean business. That we’ve woken from our giants’ slumber and have a clear 3-5 season plan. Financial stability, but investment, consistency in coaching and management. An evolving squad that will change from time to time, mixed with majority youth and a smidge of know how who give a stuff. But a consistent constant evenness. A fresh manager every season or more just smacks of being clueless. A dogged and stubborn attitude to our front and back line, again, just smacks of being clueless.
In the meantime, I'm going to do my bit, and show positive support and patience. I’m going to get behind next season’s plan and enjoy the Championship challenge and every match day occasion. I will moan, groan and cheer. After all I am already suffering withdrawal symptoms.
Keeping the faith and supporting the lads to my grave and beyond.
