Today’s piece comes from Gareth Barker.
THERE was some cause for optimism at The Boleyn Ground on Saturday evening. Having said that, I’m starting to get pretty worried. Dick Advocaat has eight games to rescue our season, and I’m beginning to doubt whether he has the resources at his disposal to keep heads above water.
Yet again, it wasn’t pretty from Sunderland. Lots of huff and puff, but little end product. Jermain Defoe will be having nightmares about his first half miss. You’d have put everything you own on him finishing the opportunity. Instead, he looked as comfortable in front of goal as the man that went Toronto as part of the deal to bring him to Wearside.
We were more organized, but that wasn’t exactly challenging given results in recent weeks. I don’t want to be too harsh though. Advocaat only had a few days to work with a group bereft of confidence and lacking quality. He’s got a fortnight to prepare for another massive Wear-Tyne derby.
You can read the rest here.