Sunderland manager Jack Ross is now living on borrowed time following another poor performance at Lincoln City. In a recent Twitter poll, 86% of Sunderland fans wanted Ross out. Saturday’s 2-0 defeat has put many Black Cats fans into the ‘Ross Out’ group. For many, it is not the defeat, but the manner of the defeat which frustrates.
Performances for much of this calendar year have not been of the standard expected of a team fighting for promotion. If Jack Ross is to stay at Sunderland, results, and especially performances, must improve quickly.
Sunderland Manager Jack Ross Living on Borrowed Time
Another Poor Performance
Saturday’s performance at Lincoln has to go down as one of the worst in recent times. Whilst the Black Cats were defeated by a larger scoreline at Peterborough United, fans could at least say there was some fight from the players that day.
Against Lincoln, the team were devoid of ideas, creativity and fight. Lincoln, who had been struggling of late, deserved their win as they took advantage of their opposition’s poor play.
Although this is just the Black Cats’ second defeat of the season, the signs of this display have been coming for some time; Sunderland have won five and drawn four of their other games this season. Apart from some spells in games, Jack Ross’ men have looked nowhere near their best.
Sunderland Manager Jack Ross Comments on Lincoln
The manner of this recent setback proved to be not only embarrassing for supporters but to manager Jack Ross too. Speaking after the game he said:
“We got absolutely what we deserved from the game. I accept anytime we don’t win a game we have been criticised and I have sometimes been defensive of that and I have been justified. But today, any criticism of me or the team, we deserve that. That is nowhere near good enough, not just for Sunderland. For any football team.”
Manager Jack Ross on Criticism
Manager Jack Ross has had his say on the recent criticism aimed towards him.
“It doesn’t have any impact on how I do the job is perhaps the best way to describe it,” he says. “Rather than being blasé and making a throwaway comment saying it doesn’t bother me, it’s probably best to just say that it doesn’t have an effect on the way I do my job.”
“It’s modern-day football. The turnaround between getting criticised and praised is so quick, not just for me, but for every other manager too. It’s okay, it’s part of the industry. If you can’t deal with it, then you’re probably in the wrong job. I’m still learning my trade, so it’ll probably be of benefit to me further along the line.”
The Basics Not Being Done
Sunderland are struggling to do the basics correctly at present. In a league where the Wearside club are arguably the biggest club, other teams want to beat them that little bit more.
Being competitive, giving 100%, working hard, being creative in the right areas and defending well are basics that are not being done enough. On their day, Sunderland can beat anyone in this league and on paper they should have more points than they currently have. Jack Ross and his coaching staff, should they stay, have much to do on and off the training field.
Too Many Draws
One of the main criticisms of Jack Ross’s reign has been the sides inability to kill off the opposition. Many games have seen Sunderland take the lead but allow the other team back into the game. Also, too many games have seen the Black Cats scrape a draw after a poor performance.
23 draws in Jack Ross’s 57 league games in charge have seen his struggle to maintain any real momentum in their bid for promotion. This season four draws and two defeats have indicated that the side are not on course to achieve promotion, unless something changes.
Transfers
Since joining in the summer of 2018, Jack Ross and Sunderland have signed 24 players, either permanently or on loan. Of these a handful can be considered as a success. Big money was spent on Northern Ireland international Will Grigg in January. It was hoped he would score the goals to get his new team promoted. As yet, he has failed to replicate the form he has shown elsewhere.
Unable to Keep a Clean Sheet
Last season 13 clean sheets were kept in 46 league games. This season, not one clean sheet has been kept in the opening 11 league games. Only once this season have fans not seen the opposition score, a 1-0 victory at Sheffield United in the Carabao Cup.
This inability has cost the Black Cats dearly in recent times. Although Sunderland are hard to beat, with seven league defeats in 57 games, they do struggle to finish off their opponents. This is especially crucial when a goal for their opposition is likely.
Failure to Win Promotion a Huge Disappointment
Last seasons failure to win promotion was a huge disappointment for all. Sunderland missed out on automatic promotion place due to some inconsistent performances at the end of the season. After negotiating the play-off semi-finals, Black Cats fans had everything crossed a playoff final win would be theirs.
They failed in the cruelest of fashions; a Charlton Athletic last-minute winner condemned Sunderland to another season in League One. A lot had been put into the season from the club and from the huge number of fans who turned up to watch their team. Maybe the hangover from last season is still being felt by too many.
However, Is It Really That Bad?
Two defeats in 14 league and cup games, suggests it isn’t as bad as it currently seems. The two defeats they have suffered have been due to very poor performances.
However, on the whole, on paper at least, Jack Ross’s men are difficult to beat, but, on current form, 19 points from 11 games will not be good enough to mount a promotion challenge.
In a Good Position But Things Must Change
Sunderland, despite this latest set back, are still in an excellent position to gain promotion. However, performances have to change. If not, Jack Ross may not be deemed the man to take the club forward.
In an era where managers don’t have the luxury of time, they must get it right more often than wrong. At present, in the eyes of many, Jack Ross is doing more things wrong than right.
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