Sunderland - All Big Sam wants for Christmas is…

The Festive Season is upon us and there will be children up and down the country eagerly looking forward to what Santa may deliver to them this year.

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Article by Jon Guy

With Sunderland’s toughest month still ongoing, and quite frankly not going to plan, I thought it might be an idea to look at what Big Sam and his staff at the Stadium of Light may well have put on their Christmas wish list.

At the start of the month I don’t think three points against Watford would have been a wish but an expectation given that Sunderland were putting in some better performances and the home game was the one glimmer of light in a pretty dark December fixture list, but the Hornets stung us early and hung on for the spoils.

But that same weekend also saw Liverpool, Manchester City and Chelsea lose so there was hope. Indeed Chelsea were in freefall and the trip to Stamford Bridge did not look that daunting.

However, 48 hours before kick-off the Special One became the Sacked One and Chelsea had the game won within the first 15 minutes.

So a quick rewrite of Big Sam’s list was in order and you have to hope it got to the other big man in red and white in time.

First on the list is six points: Given the Lads are five points off the fourth from bottom spot Sam needs the points and quickly. A win against City or Liverpool and then a must win against Aston Villa is vital. If we are to do anything in the January window we need to be out of the bottom three. Players may well buy into Sam’s plans to climb the table if we are actually showing some signs of doing so.

Second on the list is the return of Lee Cattermole: He might not be the purists’ cup of team but he gives some steel in the heart of the pitch alongside the ever more impressive M’villa. The quicker he is back the better.

Third on the list is the real Jermain Lens to make an appearance: The much publicised spat aside Lens will be the first to admit he has yet to show the form which made him a £9 million buy in the summer. The club have said he is going nowhere in January so the quicker he gets his head right and shows what he can really do on the pitch the better for him, Sam and the team.

Fourth is a centre half: the five at the back looks to be working so we need a standout centre half who has some pace and also can read the game to play in the “free” role while the other two of the central trio man mark the front men.

Fifth and in my view the most important is a striker: We desperately need to score some goals when the chances arrive. You cannot put the weight of expectation on Duncan Watmore who is a tremendous young talent and who with a couple of premiership seasons under his belt will be a real star. Charlie Austin is an obvious choice but I am sure Sam has his eyes on a few players.

Finally the answer to his midfield dilemma: We need some guile, some creativity, and some goals from the midfield. Lens if he is focused is an answer but it needs to be married with a work rate that Sam has yet to see. Maybe another move into the January window but if buy three players I will be stunned. Again I think it will be a case of clearing out those he does not fancy before he can get in those he believes can turn things around.

As fans we just have to keep the faith and our fingers cross that the sound of sleigh bells can be heard over the SoL in the early hours of Christmas Day.