David Moyes to Sunderland: Latest Contract Details, Comments, Reaction
Jul 23, 2016
FILE - In this April 5, 2014 file photo, Manchester United manager David Moyes celebrates the team's victory over Newcastle United at the end of their English Premier League soccer match at St James' Park, Newcastle, England. Spanish club Real Sociedad hired Moyes on Monday, Nov. 10, giving the Scotsman a chance to revive his career after his failed stint at Old Trafford. It is Moyes' first coaching assignment since being fired last season after less than a year in charge at United, where he took the top job after Alex Ferguson retired. (AP Photo/Scott Heppell, File)
The 53-year-old has signed a four-year contract at the Stadium of Light after replacing Sam Allardyce, who was recently appointed England manager.
Moyes has been out of work since November, when he was sacked by La Liga outfit Real Sociedad.
His time in Spain wasn’t quite as fruitless as his spell at Old Trafford, where he failed to fill the cavernous shoes of Sir Alex Ferguson and left the club under a cloud.
But Sunderland, who stayed in the Premier League by the skin of their teeth in the 2015/16 campaign, identified the Scotsman as their first choice following Allardyce’s departure.
Chairman Ellis Short told the club website that he’s been chasing Moyes for a long time and his experience will be a huge asset in the future:
We are absolutely delighted to welcome David Moyes to Sunderland, who was by far and away our first choice.
[...]
He was my number one managerial target for the last five appointments, but his desire to honour existing contracts meant we were not able to bring him to Sunderland previously.
To be able to finally welcome him as our manager is fantastic news for the club.
The fact that David has committed to a four-year deal is a clear demonstration of his belief in what he can achieve here. It is our aim to become a better, stronger and more stable football club and with a manager of David’s calibre and experience at the helm, we have a fantastic opportunity to begin looking upwards, rather than downwards every season.
Sunderland really have been scraping the barrel in the Premier League in recent campaigns. The Black Cats have had to perform miracles to keep themselves in the division at times, and last season’s late heroics summed up their recent fortunes.
However, Moyes is hoping to turn their luck around, and he told the club website that he’s excited to get started: "I am delighted to have joined Sunderland. I am relishing the challenge and excited by the opportunity. I have taken over a big British club with a great support and I’m looking forward to working in the Premier League again. I look forward to continuing the good work done by Sam."
There were plenty of messages of support for Moyes on social media, including from Gary Lineker, who said it was good to see the Scot back in England’s top flight:
Good to see David Moyes back in the @premierleague . Good manager and a top bloke.
Moyes kicks off his Sunderland tenure with something of a baptism of fire, as he must take his new team to the Etihad Stadium to face Manchester City on the first day of the 2016/17 campaign on August 13.
His Stadium of Light bow will come just over a week later on August 21 against Middlesbrough.
Twitter Reacts as Sunderland Beat Everton to Relegate Newcastle and Norwich
Sunderland's 37th game of the Premier League season was a fateful one—not just for themselves but for the survival of cross-town rivals Newcastle and East Anglian strugglers Norwich.
With a win against an underwhelming Everton side on Wednesday evening, the Black Cats could ensure their own survival and condemn the Magpies and Canaries to the Championship.
Before kick-off, most folks on Twitter believed Sam Allardyce's side would escape the drop once again:
Sunderland need no more motivation. Win, stay up and relegate Newcastle. They'll win tonight. The couldn't ask for a better scenario. #NUFC
In the 38th minute, Newcastle and Norwich fans received some inevitable bad news as the Black Cats took the lead through a Patrick van Aanholt free-kick:
And the Railway Children wave bye bye to Newcastle on behalf of the Premier League. pic.twitter.com/kS5utVOGNx
— Football FanCast (@FootballFanCast) May 11, 2016
[Twitter]
Emmanuel Eboue Handed 1-Year Ban by FIFA, Sunderland Terminate Contract
Mar 31, 2016
Galatasaray`s Emmanuel Eboue from Ivory Coast wears a t-shirt in honor of late former South African President Nelson Mandela, during a Turkish super league football match between Galatasaray and Elazigspor match on December 6, 2013, at Turk Telekom Arena, in Istanbul. People gathered in cities around the world to make their own personal tributes to Nelson Mandela on December 6, leaving flowers and setting up makeshift shrines in an outpouring of emotion for South Africa's anti-apartheid icon. AFP PHOTO/STR (Photo credit should read STR/AFP/Getty Images)
FIFA has banned right-back Emmanuel Eboue from taking part in any football-related activity for one year over alleged unpaid agent fees, prompting Sunderland to terminate his contract.
In a statement on FIFA’s official website, it’s noted the former Ivory Coast international has been hit with a sanction that “will last for one year or until he pays the total outstanding amount owed to his former agent [Sebastien Boisseau] if this occurs before the one-year ban has elapsed."
Former Arsenal man Eboue signed for the Black Cats on a free transfer in March, and as a result of this ban, the club has confirmed in a statement that they will be letting him go pending an appeal.
"Eboue signed a contract with Sunderland AFC until the end of the current season and the club has therefore given notice of its intention to terminate the contract," read a section of the post. "The player has two weeks in which to appeal this decision."
Eurosport documented what has been a month of ups and downs for the 32-year-old, who never made an appearance for the north-east side:
In the statement from FIFA, it’s noted that the dispute is between Eboue and Boisseau, which originated in 2013 over an “an amount owed to him [Boisseau] based on the representation agreement between the two parties.”
The right-back was reportedly fined 30,000 Swiss francs after “failing to comply with the decision” made by the Players’ Status Committee on the matter and given a deadline to pay the money. After the deadline passed, Boisseau was entitled to request a ban, and despite appeals from the player to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, it has subsequently been actioned.
Arsenal's Ivoryan midfielder Emmanuel Eboue (R) celebrates scoring during the English Premier League football match between Blackpool and Arsenal at Bloomfield Road, in Blackpool, north west England, on April 10, 2011. AFP PHOTO/PAUL ELLIS - FOR EDITORIAL
Eboue was on Arsenal’s books for eight years, and while he was much maligned during the final stages of his stint at the club, he was a dynamic and energetic presence on the right flank for much of his time at the Emirates Stadium. He started for the Gunners in the 2005-06 Champions League final against Barcelona.
Since leaving the Gunners, Eboue has enjoyed success at Galatasaray, winning three league titles, before moving back to the Premier League. He has also represented the Ivory Coast on 79 occasions, most recently in 2013.
Margaret Byrne Resigns as Sunderland CEO: Latest Comments, Reaction
Mar 8, 2016
SUNDERLAND, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 29: A general view of the club crest prior to the Barclays Premier League match between Sunderland and Chelsea at Stadium of Light on November 29, 2014 in Sunderland, England. (Photo by Tony Marshall/Getty Images)
Margaret Byrne has resigned as chief executive of Sunderland AFC, the club announced on Tuesday, after it was deemed Adam Johnson's time at the club while facing charges of sexual activity with a minor had been mishandled.
Sunderland confirmed the news via the club's official website and released a statement, where it was suggested certain decisions made by Byrne in relation to Johnson's playing activity had been taken "in error":
Margaret, in her role as CEO, was responsible for the running of the club. She was also accountable for the actions taken by the club in relation to Mr. Johnson. Sunderland AFC acknowledges that Margaret's intentions have always been to act in the best interests of the club, however it has become clear through our own internal investigations that in this instance decisions have been taken by Margaret in error.
Whilst swift and decisive action was taken to terminate Mr. Johnson’s employment upon his guilty plea, decisions taken prior to this, including the decision not to suspend him for a second time pending the outcome of the trial, were wrong. In light of what has been acknowledged by Margaret as a serious error of judgment on her part, we have undertaken a full review of the club’s decision-making processes to ensure that there can be no such mistakes in the future.
BBC Sport reaffirmed the news and reported Johnson faces a jail sentence after recently being found guilty of engaging in sexual activity with a minor.
The club and the Premier League fell under scrutiny for allowing Johnson to play even after his arrest in relation to his activity with the 15-year-old girl.
Byrne joined the club in 2007 before being appointed CEO in 2011. Johnson was suspended on March 2, 2015, after details of his crime first emerged, but the winger was reinstated just 16 days later.
In a statement released by Sky Sports, Byrne explained her actions in the ordeal, detailing that she did not know Johnson intended to change his plea to guilty, noting she was "astounded" when he did so. Byrne went on to acknowledge her "serious mistake," however:
Mr. Johnson's victim has endured a terrible ordeal and for that I am truly sorry. At no time was the failure to suspend him again intended to cause any harm or distress to her or her family.
I recognise that, as CEO, my involvement with Mr. Johnson and the decision to allow him to continue to represent the club was a serious mistake. I sincerely regret that this error has impacted on the victim, the club, its supporters and all those affected in such a devastating manner.
[...]
I thank everyone at Sunderland AFC for their support over the last nine years. I will make no further comment.
Johnson was fired by Sunderland after changing his plea to one of the counts of sexual activity with a minor to guilty.
The Daily Mail's Craig Hope added that had Byrne failed to step down from her role as chief executive, the club would have taken the necessary steps to relieve her of the role:
I understand Margaret Byrne would have been sacked as chief executive of SAFC had she not resigned first. More to follow @MailSport
The Daily Mirror's Steve Robson reported Byrne as being well informed of the incident involving Johnson, and he noted, citing Johnson's legal team, the Sunderland board member received police interview transcripts, as well as "details of the 834 Whatsapp [messages] Johnson exchanged with the girl."
Sunderland have also been swift to cut ties with Byrne, and the Guardian's Josh Halliday provided evidence of their quick manoeuvre to remove the former executive's name from the club's website:
The Black Cats' off-pitch troubles have also come with the team struggling on the field, and the club currently finds itself scrapping to stay in the Premier League, sitting just one point off the relegation zone.
Adam Johnson Found Guilty of Sexual Activity with 15-Year-Old Girl
Mar 2, 2016
Former Sunderland footballer Adam Johnson arrives at Bradford Crown Court in Bradford, northern England, on February 29, 2016.
Former Manchester City and Sunderland star Johnson has admitted one count of sexual activity with a child and another of meeting a child following grooming. The 28-year-old denies two counts of sexual activity with the girl, who was 15 years old at the time of the alleged incident.
/ AFP / PAUL ELLIS (Photo credit should read PAUL ELLIS/AFP/Getty Images)
Former Sunderland star Adam Johnson has been found guilty of sexual activity with a 15-year-old girl.
Josh Halliday of the Guardian reported the jury's decision Wednesday:
Breaking: Adam Johnson found GUILTY of one count of sexual activity with a child and NOT GUILTY of another
Johnson was cleared of an oral sex charge, per Craig Hope of the Daily Mail, but Halliday reported he was found guilty of a second charge for "penetrating the schoolgirl with his fingers." Halliday added:
Adam Johnson told by judge a custodial sentence is an "almost inevitable outcome" after being found guilty of sexual activity with a child
Adam Johnson’s conduct in this case is to be condemned. Our thoughts are with the victim and her family as they look to rebuild their lives after this traumatic ordeal.
The FA’s safeguarding team spoke with the club in April 2015. Sunderland confirmed Adam Johnson did not have any roles with the club involving a position of trust with children and was not involved in their community schemes.
The FA now awaits the sentencing hearing and the final decision of the court in this matter. No further comment will be made on the case pending this hearing and decision.
The 28-year-old pleaded guilty to one count of grooming and one count of sexual activity with a child on the first day of the trial but refuted any sexual activity beyond kissing took place, per BBC.com.
On Tuesday, the jurors were asked to come to a verdict after two weeks of pleading.
According to BBC.com, Johnson and the girl, who was a Sunderland fan, exchanged phone numbers and sent 834 WhatsApp messages over the course of little more than a month, before meeting on January 17 of last year.
Johnson claimed he signed two shirts for her during a first meeting and kissed her during a second, on January 30, 2015. The prosecution maintained Johnson and the victim went further than that, while the defence called the victim a "proven liar who made up the other allegations."
After the verdict, Hope shared Johnson's mugshot from last year:
Adam Johnson mugshot released by Durham Police after being found guilty of one count of sexual activity with a child pic.twitter.com/YdES70Yu1c
Sunderland sacked Johnson when he pleaded guilty to the two counts on the first day of the trial, per BBC.com.
The Black Cats immediately released a statement suggesting Johnson would have been sacked earlier if he had made his guilty plea known before the trial began:
The club did not give evidence either for the prosecution or the defence in this case. It was therefore not present in court when it is understood that a suggestion was made that the club knew all along that Mr. Johnson was intending to change his plea just before trial to enable him to continue to play football for the club and that the club may also have been involved in tactical discussions about the plea. This is utterly without foundation and is refuted in the strongest possible terms.
[...] The club only became aware of the change of plea, in relation to two of the four counts on the indictment, on the first day of the trial, after hearing it reported through the media. The club was not advised in advance that Mr. Johnson would plead guilty to any offence. Had the club known that Mr. Johnson intended to plead guilty to any of these charges, then his employment would have been terminated immediately.
Following the guilty verdict, the judge will now come up with a sentence for Johnson, who could face up to 14 years in prison, according to the Daily Mirror's Jeremy Armstrong.
Adam Johnson Sacked by Sunderland After Guilty Plea in Child Sex Case
Feb 11, 2016
Sunderland's Adam Johnson during the English Premier League soccer match between Sunderland and Bournemouth at the Stadium of Light, Sunderland, England, Saturday, Jan. 23, 2016. (AP Photo/Scott Heppell)
Sunderland sacked winger Adam Johnson on Thursday after the former England international pleaded guilty to one count of grooming and one count of sexual activity with a child under 16 years of age.
The 28-year-old admitted to the counts Wednesday, and his trial is set to begin Friday, per the MailOnline's Matt Lawton.
Sunderland manager Sam Allardyce previously confirmed Johnson would sit out Saturday's match against Manchester United, per Lawton, but club officials have now made the decision to terminate his contract immediately. The Black Cats confirmed the news via their official website.
The club's statement read: "In light of Adam Johnson's guilty pleas, the club has today terminated his contract with immediate effect. The club will make no further comment."
Per Lawton, Johnson's boot sponsorship with Adidas was also terminated earlier on Thursday.
Allardyce told reporters on Feb. 4 that Johnson would be considered for selection throughout his trial, per the Daily Mail's Craig Hope.
The offences took place in January 2015, leading to Johnson's arrest and suspension in March. He returned to the pitch before the end of the 2014-15 campaign and helped the Black Cats avoid relegation, and he was a regular in the team's starting XI in 2015-16 as well.
On the count of grooming, Johnson's punishment could be a prison sentence of a maximum of two years and six months, per Lawton.
Adam Johnson Pleads Guilty in Grooming, Child Sex Case: Latest Details, Reaction
Feb 10, 2016
BRADFORD, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 10: Adam Johnson arrives at the Crown Court on February 10, 2016 in Bradford, England. The Sunderland FC midfielder, aged 28 and from Castle Eden, County Durham, is on trial having previously denied three counts of sexual activity with a child and one count of grooming. He has one daughter. (Photo by Nigel Roddis/Getty Images)
Adam Johnson pleaded guilty to "one count of sexual activity with a child and one count of grooming" on Feb. 10 and was subsequently sacked by Sunderland.
Johnson has since been convicted on one count and cleared of another.
Continue for updates.
Johnson Found Guilty on One Charge of Sexual Activity
Wednesday, March 2
Josh Halliday of the Guardian reported the news, noting Johnson was "found guilty of penetrating the schoolgirl with his fingers." Johnson was found guilty on a majority verdict of 10-2.
The guilty verdict followed word that Johnson was found "not guilty on count two of sexual activity (oral sex) with a child," via Craig Hope of the Daily Mail.
Johnson Gives Evidence in Court
Tuesday, Feb. 23
Per Richard Spillett of the MailOnline, Johnson was asked by QC Orlando Pownall, "Did you give the girl your number because you wanted to have a sexual relationship with her?" Johnson then replied: "Yeah."
However, when questioned by his lawyer on whether the pair had engaged in oral sex, Johnson replied: "No," per Spillett.
Johnson had previously denied sexual motive, per Halliday.
Halliday relayed further details supplied by Johnson, who provided a statement before taking to the stand:
Johnson tells jury @SunderlandAFC knew he admitted kissing the schoolgirl with tongues and of the Whatsapp exchanges
"I got a message from Sunderland player Adam Johnson who I'd idolised for quite a while," the unnamed girl said, recalling a meeting that occurred after Johnson had signed shirts for her, per BBC News.
"I was well up for it. It was a surreal type of thing. I met up with him again. I gave him his thank you kiss and more. ... I was kissing him for quite a while.
"He undid the button on my trousers. It took him a while to do that."
According to the BBC, the girl then described sexual activity that took place between the pair before commenting: "As much as I expected it to happen, I was a bit shocked it had. I sort of knew I had done something wrong. It wasn't that I didn't want it or anything. I just knew it was wrong."
Prosecutor Details Johnson Case
Friday, Feb. 12
The prosecution accused Johnson of having "abused his revered position in society" with respect to the then-15-year-old girl, who is said to have been a Black Cats season-ticket holder and a huge fan of the footballer, per the Press Association (via the Daily Mail).
Prosecutor Kate Blackwell QC told the court how enamoured the girl was with the team, particularly Johnson:
Her (the girl's) real passion was Sunderland Football Club.
She was a season ticket holder and rarely missed a home game and her favourite player was Adam Johnson. After matches, she would hang around waiting for a glimpse of him, wanting to get a photograph, often sporting a Sunderland shirt with Johnson's name emblazoned across the back. ...
She often waited for him after home matches, hoping to catch a glimpse of him before he drove away, keen for any contact, an autograph or, even better, a photograph. She had one enormous crush on him. He was her absolute hero. She idolised him.
As noted in the aforementioned piece, the prosecution claimed Johnson and the girl first made contact in December 2014 on Facebook.
Halliday outlined some of the exchange said to have taken place between the footballer and the girl:
"When you 16?" Johnson asked schoolgirl on New Years Eve 2014. "November," she replied.
"In light of Johnson's guilty pleas, the club has today terminated his contract with immediate effect. The club will make no further comment," noted Sunderland in an official statement.
Johnson Admits Two Charges
Wednesday, Feb. 10
"Since his arrest last March, Johnson had denied four charges. But after some legal argument this morning, two of the charges were put to him again, and he has admitted them," reported Martin Brunt of Sky.
Further, the count Johnson pleaded guilty to regarded "the kissing and touching of his victim," whom he confessed he was aware was underage. Laura Hill of the Chronicle reported Johnson will be added to the sex offenders register following his admission of guilt.
The 28-year-old was arrested on March 2, 2015, and he was eventually charged with three counts of sexual activity with a 15-year-old girl and one count of grooming.
After Johnson denied two of the four charges against him, the BBC's Jonathan Swingler provided a likely timeline for the trial:
The Black Cats winger began his career at Middlesbrough before signing for Manchester City in 2010. Johnson made almost 100 appearances with the Sky Blues and joined Sunderland in 2012.
Gumtree Trolls Sunderland's Jan Kirchhoff After Horror Debut vs. Spurs
Jan 16, 2016
LONDON, ENGLAND - JANUARY 16: New signing Jan Kirchhoff of Sunderland is brought in during the Barclays Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur and Sunderland at White Hart Lane on January 16, 2016 in London, England. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty
For Sale: Jan Kirchhoff. Used once for 20 mins. #TOTSUN
The site—known more for posting classifieds than football analysis—tweeted as Jan Kirchhoff's Sunderland went down 4-1 to Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday afternoon, with the German playing a forgettable cameo off the bench.
Kirchhoff, who joined the Black Cats from Bayern Munich earlier in January, came on in the 59th minute with the scores locked at 1-1.
Within a minute, the visitors were 2-1 down. Christian Eriksen's second goal deflected in off Kirchhoff less than 10 minutes later, and the former Bayern man conceded a penalty, which Harry Kane converted, after 79 minutes.
Sunderland striker Jermain Defoe is Bleacher Report's Man of the Week after scoring a hat-trick in the 4-2 win at Swansea City on Wednesday.
It was former the Tottenham Hotspur striker's first Premier League triple since Spurs' 9-1 win over Wigan Athletic in 2009, and it secured Sunderland three invaluable points over their relegation rivals.
Jermain Defoe’s hat-trick for Sunderland was the 9th of his career and his first in the PL since Tottenham’s 9-1 win v Wigan, Nov 2009
Fighting Spirit Could Be Key in Relegation Scrap but Sunderland Are on Back Foot
Dec 31, 2015
SUNDERLAND, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 30: Jermain Defoe, Adam Johnson and Yann M'Vila of Sunderland show their dejection after conceding the opening goal during the Barclays Premier League match between Sunderland and Liverpool at Stadium of Light on December 30, 2015 in Sunderland, England. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)
For Sunderland, the only consolation is that they are not as bad as Aston Villa. They lie second bottom, four points clear of Remi Garde’s side and seven from safety. If it hadn’t been for the events of the past two seasons, when teams that have looked doomed have mounted improbable rallies, the assumption would be that the bottom two have already gone and that it’s a case of perming one from Newcastle United, Bournemouth and Norwich City to join them.
West Bromwich Albion might conceivably be dragged into the dogfight, but nobody surely thinks that Chelsea, unbeaten if unlovely in the three games since Jose Mourinho’s departure, are in serious danger of going down.
Nobody has ever recovered from a situation as bleak as Aston Villa’s. They haven’t won since the opening day of the season and haven’t looked much like doing so.
If they manage to sign Loic Remy, it might add some cutting edge—Garde is interested in signing the player, according to Sky Sports. However, it’s hard to see how he and Jordan Ayew—who, for all his faults, has probably been one of Villa’s better players this season—could play together.
If Villa are to have any hope, they have to win at Sunderland on Saturday.
Sunderland had looked to be improving under Sam Allardyce, winning three of their first six games under him and being a little unfortunate in two of the others. A run of five straight defeats, though, has plunged them back into the gloom. Two of those losses were especially depressing: The games at Chelsea and Manchester City were as good as lost within the opening 15 minutes.
Sam Allardyce has work to do.
The one possible consolation is that those five games included matches against Arsenal, Chelsea, City and Liverpool—none of those are games Sunderland would necessarily expect to get anything out of. The home defeat to Watford was probably more painful but, given how Quique Sanchez Flores’ side have played this season, far from a disaster.
Allardyce may also reflect that he was unfortunate to face Chelsea immediately after Mourinho’s sacking, when the cloud of depression that had settled over the club had lifted, and that they faced City at the Etihad at a time when they were on a run of six wins out of seven at home; away, where City haven’t won in six, it might have been a different story.
But whatever excuses or mitigating factors there may be for the five successive defeats can’t disguise the fact that Sunderland have been left in a dismal position, or that they have defended abysmally at times in those games. Allardyce has spoken of his frustration at that, particularly given how well the back three performed in the wins away at Crystal Palace and at home to Stoke, and there’s little doubt that developing a resilience is his first priority.
On each of the three occasions in which Sunderland have kept a clean sheet this season, they’ve won. Sunderland have already had a bid accepted by Lorient for Cote d’Ivoire international Lamine Kone, per the Press Association, a player Allardyce has tracked since his time at West Ham. He will arrive on Wearside for contract talks next week. At least one other signing is thought to be imminent.
Sloppy as the defending was for Christian Benteke’s winner for Liverpool against the Black Cats, there were also some signs of improvement, at least at the back, on Wednesday. The problem there was that the Reds’ pressing unsettled Sunderland to such an extent that by the end they seemed incapable of stringing two passes together in the Liverpool half.
The disaffected Jeremain Lens seemed to have decided to do away with passing altogether, mounting a series of head-down charges towards the box, culminating in his frustrated foul on Mamadou Sakho for which he might have been sent off. It would be no great surprise were he offloaded during the window.
Christian Benteke's goal felled Sunderland.
Perhaps the best way for Sunderland to consider their position is not to look at the table but to set themselves a target of 37 points, enough to survive in each of the last four seasons. That means they need 25 points from the second half of the season, which doesn’t sound so impossible. Though, that probably means a minimum of two league wins in January, a month in which they face not only Villa, but also Swansea and Bournemouth.
Already, the Tyne-Wear derby on March 19 is looking like a vital game in the relegation battle. Newcastle seem hamstrung by the problems that have dogged them persistently under Mike Ashley’s ownership. They have decent players but no leaders and nobody who is truly committed to the club.
On good days, they will win games, but on bad days, there is no spirit to battle for results. Back-to-back games against Arsenal and United at the start of January could mean any lingering positivity from the successive wins over Liverpool and Tottenham could be lost rapidly.
For Bournemouth and Norwich, the threat of relegation is simply the result of their resources. Bournemouth in particular have played some excellent football this season, despite a spate of injuries to key players, but either side, for all the excellence of their respective young managers, could find themselves overwhelmed by fatigue and the limitations of their squad.
Swansea’s situation is more baffling, particularly given how well they started the season. It seems bizarre that a club that has so prided itself on its planning should end up without a manager, sacking Garry Monk without apparently having a replacement lined up. There does seem to have been a greater doggedness about them since Monk’s departure, but the sense of uncertainty can’t be good in the long term.
Two years ago, after Sunderland survived with a run of 13 points from five games that included wins at Stamford Bridge and Old Trafford, their manager Gus Poyet gave a gleeful press conference in which he pointed out that nothing would ever be the same again. “It’s going to be remembered forever,” he said. “People will say in years to come that even if you’re seven points behind you can do it.”
Leicester’s surge last season seemed born of the same spirit. There can be a magnificent irrationality behind the relegation battle. That’s the spirit all the threatened sides have to try to harness. But that doesn’t alter the fact that a seven-point deficit is never an ideal place to start. And that’s why Saturday’s game against Villa is a must-win for Sunderland.
