Tough start to life at Sunderland for Gus Poyet
Gus Poyet
The Black Cats have had a bizarre start to the 2013/14 season picking up just a single point in 8 games so far in what’s turned out be their worst ever start to a Premier league campaign. A managerial stint that started with so much promise for Italian, Paolo Di Canio, in January ended with an unceremonious sacking following their 2-1 loss to Premier League Champions, Manchester United.
Uruguayan Gus Poyet, into his second week as Sunderland manager, is no novice to the Premier League having enjoyed a fruitful stint at Chelsea from 1997 to 2001 winning the FA Cup and UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup in the process and eventually ending his career at Tottenham Hotspur. He started off his Managerial Career at then League One outfit Brighton & Hove Albion. In his first full season, Poyet secured Brighton’s progress into the Championship division with 4 games to spare and winning a handful of Managerial awards and accolades.
Poyet arrives at Sunderland, with a plethora of experience and with a clear objective, to save the Black cat’s Premier League campaign. The 4-0 drubbing at the hands of the Swans did little to up the spirits of the team and fans in a game where their attacking and defensive frailties were brutally exploited. With Sunderland hosting the Werarside Derby on Sunday, Poyet must ensure his players break off the shackles and look to put forth a buoyant and spirited performance in what promises to be a fiery encounter.
Alan Pardew’s men who were last beaten 3-0 back in March by Di Canio-led Sunderland arrive at the Stadium of Light on the back of a spirited 2-2 draw over Liverpool and would like to bounce back after enduring a difficult start to the season. With an attack that boasts of in-form French stars like Loic Remy, Yohan Cabaye and Hatem Ben Arfa, Newcastle will have the odds in their favour when the Wearside derby kicks-off come Sunday although the absence of Coloccini continue’s to cast doubts over their defensive strength. The defending of set pieces of a Coloccini-less Newcastle against Liverpool left a lot to be desired and it’s exactly this weakness Poyet would look to exploit.
Interestingly, Gus Poyet has a splendid record against Newcastle both as a player and manager, the last of his encounters saw his Brighton side eliminate Newcastle from the FA Cup last season for the 2nd time running. Given the title of “The Scourge of Newcastle” by his erstwhile manager Sir Bobby Robson, Sunderland fans would dearly hope Poyet manages to uphold that Legacy in his first derby game on the 26th. The hot seat at Sunderland has seen many shake-ups in the last few seasons with personalities like Roy Keane, Ricky Sbragia, Steve Bruce, Martin O’Neill and Paolo Di Canio taking up the top job over the last 7 years. Will Poyet join the list of axed managers or will he spark a remarkable turn around of fortunes for the club? The Sunday derby should give an insight into that.
Coming in with still 2 months to go for the January Transfer window, Poyet will have to work with his available resources and adopt suitable tactics if he is to bring any hope to this depleted Sunderland side. It’s a new start, a new Gameweek, a new Manager, and Sunderland must take it up from here if they are to dream of staying in the Premier league for the 2014/15 season. While the world turns it’s attention to Camp Nou for arguably the most anticipated “Clasico” in recent memory, Wearside will have it’s very own Clasico, as the bitter rivalry between Sunderland and Newcastle enters a new chapter at The Stadium of Light on Sunday.
Prediction:-
I will go with a win for Alan Pardew’s men. If they manage to put up a performance like they did against Liverpool, they possess a decent chance at securing 3 points and continue their good run of form. Despite defensive worries, I don’t believe the Magpies would be tested heavily by this Sunderland side that lacks in the attacking instinct to score goals.