A season of high expectation has failed to deliver, and has culminated in the sacking of Steve Bruce.
Star man: Sebastien Larsson
Notable mentions: Nicklas Bendtner
Must do better: Young striker Connor Wickham is one for the future but such is their situation Sunderland need him to deliver now.
Manager: Steve Bruce lost the support of the fans and the writing was on the wall after Saturday’s home defeat to lowly Wigan.
Grade: E
Verdict: Sunderland were big movers in the transfer market this summer, with the number of incoming players reaching double figures. Granted, manager Bruce could not have foreseen the shock departure of record signing Asamoah Gyan at the transfer deadline, but results have simply not been up to scratch.
One big win against a depleted Stoke City aside, Sunderland look far from a team tipped to reach the top eight at the start of the season. Fans have lost faith in Bruce, given that he delivered just two home wins in the whole of 2011.
Owner Ellis Short has provided enough of his money to expect improvement and he was rightly resentful at the thought of giving Bruce further funds in January, instead any cash will be at the whim of a new manager.
There are calls for the board to bring in Martin O’Neill, otherwise another name linked is Mark Hughes. You imagine the club will not want to hang around in appointing a successor, but this has to be balanced with making sure they get the right man.
image: © Ronnie Macdonald
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