Sunderland will like being by the seaside

Dick Advocaat has said it will be December until we see the Sunderland that he believes is inside the squad he has built.

Article by Jon Guy

However unless they get some wins on the board December may well be too late to launch the great escape for the third year in a row.

Currently only the fact that Steve McLarens’ woeful Newcastle side are unable to score a goal and leak them with some abandon has seen us lose against Tottenham yet rise off the foot of the table.

However, the defeat in Sunday showed some signs of progress. It was by far the best performance we have put in this season and the teams does look like it is beginning to gel. A moment’s lapse in concentration as the game moved into its dying minute was enough for Tottenham, but we can feel hard done by as of Defoe had taken his chance late in the first half the game could have been a very different affair.

Advocaat says that the player he has signed allow him to play his preferred 4-2-3-1 and I have to say the team looked sold on Saturday. News for the game against Bournemouth is that Alan Johnson is back in the squad and it is likely he will be used off the bench.

The game is an intriguing one as The Cherries play an open style of football and manage Eddie Howe won’t throw away the style which got them promotion.

But as witnessed when they beat West Ham they can often leave space to be exploited and we have to hope Lens and Borini will take full advantage.

If The Lads can step it up again today I think this could be the win that kick starts the season. With Manchester City arriving at the SoL for a Carling Cup tie on Tuesday three points would give the players and the fans a lot more confidence for the weeks ahead.

The issue when you bring in eight new faces is that it disrupts your pre-season and you get the feeling that there are those in the team and squad that still need to get match fit in a league which is unforgivingly physical.

Given the way they played last week the heart-head debate over a prediction is slightly less of a dilemma.

I predict that Sunderland will win a high scoring game with the three points the cheery on the top of a positive week for the club.

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