Sunderland on the Home Straight, But We’re Not There Yet!

Article by Ben Mummery

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The superlatives to describe the last couple of weeks for Sunderland are as numerous as they are magnificent. In a string of results that no Sunderland fan would have thought possible, Gus Poyet’s Black Cats have picked up ten points from four games, including away ties at Manchester City, Man United, Chelsea, and a home thrashing of Cardiff.

With home ties remaining against West Brom and Swansea, and probably needing only one more point to guarantee safety, fans have been left bewildered that their team has been able to pull off the seemingly impossible, and recover from the pitiful form shown just a month ago.

Writers, bloggers, and journalists alike, have been saying all season that Sunderland are completely unable to string results together. Obviously failing to win back to back games can be the difference between survival and relegation, and it’s taken a string of three successive wins to boost Sunderland’s chances of survival tenfold, however from a seemingly dead and buried position at the foot of the table, seven points adrift, and in woeful form on the field, many have been left wondering as to what has been the catalyst that has sparked such an unbelievable turnaround?

So let’s have a look at some of the possible factors:

The Manager

It would potentially be quite easy to say that the Uruguayan has been the controlling force behind his team’s revival in form, but Gus has been in charge for most of the season, and has overseen some frankly, appalling football. Why would he suddenly now start to inspire the squad if he wasn’t already?

The Players

Could it be the players themselves have finally realised the trouble they are in, and started to pull their fingers out? Perhaps the threat of that 40% wage cut suddenly kicked in? Could it be the resurgence in form of young Wickham, or Larsson for that matter, or the introduction of well worked subs like Giaccerini?

The Rub of the Green

Have we finally had the all-important moment of fortune in one or two games that has completely deserted us for the entire season? The Altidore penalty at Chelsea? The keeper fumbling Alonso’s shot at the bridge? O’Shea’s slice at Old Trafford narrowly missing his own net – a mistimed swipe that, had it happened a few weeks previous would surely have sailed into Manonne’s top corner? Has it all been down to pure old fashioned good luck?

Any or all of the above could well be huge factors in Sunderland’s incredible resurgence, however, it is my personal opinion that it is down to one simple thing alone – better “game management”.

Game management boils down to two main areas:

Before the game – Preparation. The team selection, shape, formation, and “plan”. Will we attack, sit deep, play wide, long ball, possession etc. Your team’s “approach” to the game.

During the game – How do we respond to what happens in a match, if we go a goal down, how do we react? If we need to change our approach, can we be flexible etc.?

These two areas have been improved upon enormously by both the manager, and his players.

Poyet has picked a team that he feels is his best eleven, set up in his most reliable formation, with players in their preferred positions and playing how they feel they are at their best. Furthermore, he’s stuck with them.

Too many times he’s tinkered and changed his formation and line up over the course of the season, but the stability that’s been found in the last few weeks has helped no end to ensuring the team stay confident, and play to their strengths.

To add to this, the team have managed situations extremely well during matches too. Being a goal down at the Etihad and sticking to their guns as well as keeping their confidence. Not sitting too deep against a fluent Chelsea attack, not inviting pressure against a Man U side desperate for goals, Going out and attacking Cardiff, and being ruthless when they were down to ten men. All of these factors come down to good game management.

The manager’s substitution decisions have been superb as well, with Giaccerini coming off the bench against tired legs to inject pace into a game, the likes of Bridcutt slipping into midfield to sure up the defense, and Jozy Altidore making a nuisance of himself by bothering opposition defenders in the second half of matches.

The playing and coaching staff at the club must keep their heads, stay focused, and keep up the fantastic attitude that they have had for the last few weeks, as let’s remind each other – we’re not actually safe yet!

Mathematically, only a win will relegate Norwich on Wednesday, and anything else will see it go down to the final day, but our superior goal difference could well mean that safety is all but in the bag.

Speaking to most fans, the feeling is that it’s not beyond all reason to expect that we win both remaining home games. The confidence of the team looks sky high, and with the Stadium of Light hopping and a screaming fan in every seat, Swansea and WBA both face a massive task to come to Wearside and take points away.

It’s been a funny old season, one with incredible highs, and heart breaking lows. The contrast between being able to take six points from Newcastle, and yet somehow find ourselves losing home and away to Hull City, as well as letting the Tigers dump us out of the FA cup, epitomises the typical eclectic, rollercoaster ride of a Sunderland fan!

This summer will be potentially the most important in this club’s Premier League era, but we will cover that once the last two games are out of the way and Sunderland are safe. For now, let’s pack the ground to the rafters, and see the Black Cats over the line in style!

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