Appearances deceive at Stadium of Light
Jan 20 2009 by Luke Edwards, The Journal
NEWCASTLE United have looked like a club in crisis all season, while Sunderland have merely appeared to be under-performing, but appearances are always in danger of being deceptive.
The table, though, does not lie and the stark, cold reality is that Sunderland’s expensively assembled side are in a worse position – albeit on goals scored – than their local rivals and just as likely to fall out of the Premier League’s trapdoor in May.
There is nowhere near the same level of division and animosity at the Stadium of Light as there has been at St James’s Park, but in some respects that makes their perilous position in the Premier League even more alarming.
Spending money has not been Sunderland’s problem since Niall Quinn became chairman and found the financial backing for his Stadium of Light revolution in Ireland and America. Spending it wisely has.
Roy Keane did wonders for the Black Cats’ reputation, but if Ricky Sbragia inherited a side tipped to challenge for a top half of the table finish this season, the reality has been one which can not shake off the spectre of relegation.
The Black Cats, on paper, have enough to avoid the drop – but nobody has ever been too good to go down, which means the next five months will be nervous ones on Wearside. They have a leaky defence and a midfield which lacks creativity, faults which can be fatal.
Sbragia knew he would not get the same lavish transfer budget enjoyed by his predecessor as the financial reality of a global recession prompted plenty of belt tightening in the boardroom.
Sunderland are not in financial trouble, but neither are they immune to the economic downturn and a cheeky attempt from Tottenham to sign striker Kenwyne Jones last week is perhaps an indication that money is more of a concern at the Stadium of Light than many envisaged. Jones will not be going anywhere – for the time being at least – as clubs threatened by relegation can ill afford to weaken their survival bid by losing their best players, but it was an unwanted distraction for fans this month and possibly a worrying glimpse of what the future holds.
Instead, Sbragia, the affable former reserve team coach who has stepped up to take on the challenge of his first manager’s position, has been asked to trim one of the largest first-team squads in the top flight, while also trying to strengthen his defensive options.
Paul McShane has returned from a loan spell at Hull City, as has striker Michael Chopra from Cardiff City, two players Keane had decided were not good enough for the Premier League. But Sbragia would still like to add to his squad this month and has already made unsuccessful bids for two players.
Sunderland still have the look of a side which has the ability needed to pull away from danger, but it would be just as dangerous to assume anything from a team which has won just three league games at home all season.
