Sunderland needs a big change
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What did you make of Sunderland’s performance against Leicester?
It was unexpected. It’s difficult when you’re trying to change things. People think that anyone can do it very quickly but it’s not that easy. I didn’t expect the first half. Maybe a lack of concentration or a lack of positioning. The first half an hour was disappointing. I wish them well but it was difficult to watch the first half.
With Di Canio, yourself and Advocaat, you all finished the season strongly but there were issues the following season. Why?
I think we all got different ideas which you want to put in place very quickly. We all know what it is we want but it’s not easy. I really feel for (Advocaat) because he’s in the situation where I was last year and you can see it’s not about experience, it’s not about how high you have managed, how well you’ve finished the season before, or if someone is better or worse than you. It’s about what you can achieve with the players you get and the team that played the other day, apart from Younes Kaboul and Jeremain Lens, is the same ones that have playing the whole season last year. I believe they need a big change. Now, can you do a big change and play better and stay in the Premiership? I think that’s the question people are asking themselves up in the north because they know there needs to be a big change. Di Canio changed sixteen players, then I brought nine and now they are talking about that they need another three when they’ve already signed four. I think it’s either that or something deeper. It’s difficult to know.
How do Sunderland get to the root of that problem?
I believe in change. I know it brings nerves to people and that you unsettle people at every level but you can see something starting there. If I was there now after watching this game maybe I would change the core of the team. It’s the players that need to really respond. Those players need to really believe what the manager is trying to achieve and pull everything together. I think it is more responsibility to the main leaders than the rest of the club.
How difficult a job has Dick Advocaat got now?
I suppose that for a moment after thirty minutes he was thinking, ‘Why? Why did I stay?’ Now he’s in, he needs to deal with it and he will because he’s a strong character, he’s got massive experience and he’s been at the highest level and he will do it but it will bring sleepless nights and bad moments. I think next week’s game against Norwich, it becomes a massive game. If you don’t win then nerves will start and maybe you will buy a couple of players, normally we would call them the panic buys, the ones you buy because something is not right.
Which part of the table do you think Sunderland will finish in?
I think Sunderland are not ready to get out of the bottom ten. It’s not up to the club or the fans, it’s mostly up to the group on the pitch week in, week out. It’s getting tougher and tougher. To get to the level of Stoke or Swansea you have to do something very special. I think it will take time and needs a big change.