If someone was to map out the last 18 months, I don’t think any Sunderland fan could be disappointed. We’ve gone from a team that were made to look like amateurs by Bolton, a team unsure how to create an opportunity, unable to keep a clean sheet to one which looks like, on our day, one that can match any team a League higher.
Our progress has been so impressive, there are some who are disappointed not to be in a play off place. Progress so fast that our failure to do so was inevitable with the squad depth we have at this stage of the journey.
And it’s the success of some of the players that will cause the next big arguments.
The model has been clear from day one, we will sign players with potential and if their value increases, we will cash in. The idea of being a selling club is never attractive but it’s essential if a club is to grow without splashing cash on mercenary footballers to get to the top table. But how will fans respond to the sale of, for example, Patterson, Neil or Hume? The model dictates they’re replaced by people you’ve never heard of who have potential. What if they end up being more Ba than Clarke? Will fans give them time? The players signed to date were brought in when fan expectation was to stay up and build for the future. The next players to come in will be expected to get us to the play offs.
I’m not criticising the recruitment model or the work of the recruiters to date (we can coulda-woulda-shoulda the striker situation all day, but, as long as the lesson is learned we move on). I’m questioning how long the model runs without updating it for our needs.
While Alex Neil used the model as an excuse to move on for more money personally, Mowbray has been far clearer. He has spelled out that our team have sometimes lacked experience in key positions and a strength in depth. He also mentioned the need for a striker one or two times… He has never criticised or even questioned the recruitment to date but his comments have shown his opinions on what’s needed for the future.
Hansen told us that you can’t win anything with kids. And he was right. They need a structure of experience around them to hold them up when things go wrong, to offer advice, to put an arm around them. That Manchester United team had Bruce, Pallister, Irwin and Schmeichel in their defence for over 30 games that season. They had Brian McClair leading the line. And some of the ‘kids’ were in their early to mid twenties - Keane and Cole were 24. Rather than being the exception, they are the proof.
The other problem with the current model of course will be persuading a youngster with potential to move to Sunderland. This season we could promise game time but if part of the plan is a bigger squad, game time will be restricted. That not only restricts the ability to attract players, it also slows the speed of development of those players.
For once, the future of the club feels positive. The direction of travel is clear and the structure and plan is, basically, sound. But all good plans change, develop and move with the times. The club’s hierarchy need to reconsider what this summer’s recruitment plan should be. If the goal is to move towards promotion, last year’s plan won’t work. Experience and a strength in depth is needed. And, call me old fashioned, maybe a striker or two.
