This article is part of Football FanCast’s Opinion series, which provides analysis, insight and opinion on any issue within the beautiful game, from Paul Pogba’s haircuts to League Two relegation battles…
Sunderland have been on the decline for several years and not much has changed since Stewart Donald took over.
There has been managerial changes and underperformance from several players in the squad, something that’s evident in the fact the club sit 11th in the league. Meanwhile, there have been some pretty lacklustre decisions made in the transfer market.
That is best evidenced by what has happened in the previous two transfer windows. The Black Cats have lost the energy and drive of players like Josh Maja, who has gone onto score five for Bordeaux this term, as well as George Honeyman and Lee Cattermole.
These were players that had a level of affinity to the club that not many players out there have, with two of the three coming through the club’s academy and Cattermole coming from the local area.
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Unfortunately for the fans, that is not the only area where Sunderland have failed in recruitment. Will Grigg and Chris Maguire, while good players on their day, have so far not shown they are up to the task of mounting a promotion push. Grigg has scored just once in the league this term while Maguire has taken pelters from the fans. However, there are worse performers than them.
The likes of Max Power and Joel Lynch have further come under scrutiny this season, and overall there seems to be a lack of direction in Sunderland’s transfer movements. On top of that, there is a lack of identity in the squad being built.
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Bringing in a Director of Football would address that issue. Several clubs have looked to install a philosophy at the club and chosen managers accordingly – Swansea achieved great success with that model in their rise up the leagues.
Fans are already against Phil Parkinson, just as they were against Jack Ross. The problem wasn’t in getting rid of the latter, but in failing to prepare for his departure, and now the team is suffering as a result.
If the owners chose a Director of Football they could depend on to oversee recruitment in coaching and playing personnel, then an identity could be established. Even if it doesn’t produce results straight away there would at least be signs of encouragement that the club is moving in the right direction on and off the pitch.
They can make such a difference. One only needs to look at Paul Mitchell’s arrival at Sheffield United in the summer of 2016, as the Blades subsequently won promotion in two out of three years with him acting as Director of Football, and they now sit in eighth place in the Premier League.
Sunderland could replicate that if they find someone with lower league experience, like Mitchell had from stints at Chesterfield and Portsmouth, and though it is another expense it would surely save more in the long run.
Meanwhile, Keith Andrews has shared his view on Phil Parkinson’s situation, and his view may not sit well with some Sunderland fans.